Qatar To Tighten Visit Visa Regulations For UK, US Nationals

[saly4]

:rolleyes:Thursday, Apr 08, 2010

DOHA (Zawya Dow Jones)--Qatar, the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, will tighten its visit visa policy next month forcing nationals of 33 mostly European countries visiting the Gulf Arab state to arrange entry before travel.

Both the U.K. and U.S. embassies in Doha have posted travel advice for citizens on their Web Sites, confirming the shake-up in visa regulations.

"We have been advised by the government of Qatar that from May 1 they will withdraw the provision whereby British passport holders can obtain a visitors visa on arrival in Qatar," the U.K. embassy in Qatar said in its travel advice section on its Web Site.

The U.S. embassy also confirmed that the current visa-on-arrival scheme is to be scrapped.

"The government of Qatar recently informed the U.S. embassy that as of May 1 U.S. citizens will no longer be able to apply for tourist visas on arrival in Qatar," a message on the embassy's Web Site said.

Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, France and Italy are among other countries affected.
:confused:

[togaluck]

That's great for tourism!!


the real reason behind it, qataris want visa-on-arrival in the US and UK,

yeaaah....em... that will never happen.


get over it, and get in line.

[loc22550]

Not only those countries...
all the countries that used to have the "privilege" of getting a visa on arrival...I recieved as well a E-mail from my embassy.Indeed all the visa have to be requested through Qatari embassies in respective countries BEFORE travelling to doha, or Via hotels or maybe Families members in Doha.

I can "smell" that this is a direct consequence of the killing of an Hamas member in Dubai few months back by the Mossad using European Passport....:}.
GCC Autorities have indeed realised that we might have "Mossad" people living in the gulf area using european(western) passport.

Another step "Forward"...:}
When i think Qatar Bids for the World Cup 2022....
Good luck!

[togaluck]

another factor perhaps...

but if any intelligence angency wants to get in, they'll get a gcc passport!! as simple as that

[Bypass ratio]

This is why......
Incident: United Airlines B752 near Denver on Apr 7th 2010, unruly passenger leads to fighter escort (http://www.avherald.com/h?article=429d154a&opt=0)

[loc22550]

Bypass ratio,
This rule(visa) came BEFORE the incident you mention.
By the way we are talking about Visa To enter Qatar not to enter US
(Most if not all European countries are concerned..)

[Panama Jack]

I think Bypass ratio is eluding to a tit-for-tat, for Qatar having been somewhat humiliated in the international press (evidently though, by the behaviour of its own diplomat). Fortunately, it seems like the country has taken the incident very seriously, to their credit.

Qatar's visa policy seems to be a departure from their strategy of making Qatar a business-friendly location, perfect for conferences, meetings and other international. Additionally, it should hurt Qatar Airways.

Fortunately, other nearby countries are open and eager for business.

Business Friendly Bahrain (http://www.bahrain.com/home.aspx)

[Bypass ratio]

Well hang on, the incident in the USA occurred on the 7th and the press release in Qatar was on the 8th??

[loc22550]

Sorry Bypass ratio..:Wrong...:=
The press release regarding this new visa rule appears already almost 2 weeks ago. i Got already two e-mail from my embassy (10 days ago and one week ago).

[togaluck]

This could be another arab solution:

If one slurps soup at dinner,
Ban soup.

Simple solutions for simple minds.

:eek:

[togaluck]

Another genious solution:

If pilot gets more than 6 days off in a row.
ban more than 3 days off in a row.

Simple soultions, Simple minds.

I'm honestly surprised they haven't banned days off.

[jammydonut]

Do all theses snide remarks about the Middle East help in any way?

[togaluck]

This will be temporary, you will see.
They say they want to increase tourism in the country, yeah right.

Who? in their right mind, would come to doha, before dubai, abu dahbi, barhain, muscat?

Does it really affect you?
maybe if you have relatives visiting, but then again.. there is nothing to do. Take them to dubai, abu dhabi, barhain, muscat where they don't have that sort of problem. or even better, go see them!!

Spend your money elsewhere.

[A330 man]

back to the subject please…. So now how do we bring our family members for a visit? Do we need to apply weeks ahead to the immigration department?
Any info on the new procedure?
Will it be possible to apply and pay online?
------------------

I am adding this part after reading Togaluck post.... great idea, why come and spend money in Doha? will go spend the money somewhere else and enjoy :) thank you Qatar !

[stansdead]

Simple Minds. Great band. Glad to hear they are so popular in Qatar. Do they have the requisite Visa needed?

Back to the crusades mentality...

[SIUYA]

To paraphrase other quotes here on Knoteetingham at the moment:

The Qatari nation lacks innovation...[Doha's] tourist appeal is about as exciting as having to watch paint dry...[and] the lure of Doha in its present form...[doesnt] exist.

If you're familiar with Qatar and Doha, you've gotta laugh at that 'travelogue' and the deadly accurate accurate picture that it paints of the unfriendly, unwelcoming and totally boring place that Qatar ALREADY is!

But wait, there's more!!!

To make it even WORSE, Qatar's now decided to tighten its visit visa policy next month forcing nationals of 33 mostly European countries visiting the Gulf Arab state to arrange entry before travel. Talk about dumb! Tourism's never been big in Qatar, but with this latest initiative, it's about to disappear altogether I'd say! :ugh:

Qatar - was, and always will be, a total cluster-:mad: so it seems. :}

[mohd340]

this because whats happened in dxb , so don't jump hear and their, some of these passports forged from an officially departments and their embassy know that , so let them fix their passport quality first .

[wastafarian]

kinda have to agree with mohd340 here

ol' buddy of mine, a hispanic fella, went for an interveiw at qr. on his way out the airport police freaked out, asked him why hes got pilot manuals and all sorts of pilots stuff in his bag. he told him cause he is a pilot and because he came for an interveiw with gutter airways. after makeing him empty out his bags they let him go.

i told him he should have told them that it wasnt hispanics who were the terrorists. fix the dam problem.

[togaluck]

mohd340

Passport quality problem?
how naive are you?

you seriously think that the problem lies on the "officially department" or the embassies?

when any of these intelligence agencies want anything done, they do it, passports i.d.'s any document, hence the name... intelligence...
besides western passports have the most security measures anyway.

but then again, why even bother explaining to you.

[bdidy]

wow, what a big deal, just coz UK, USA and some more nationals are now required to get visa before arriving to Doha you all are making such a big deal, by the way there are more countries that need prior visa to enter Qatar ,i thought this was a professional pilot rumor network not an immigration requirement forum, u all must be sooooo bored . i think pay rise , upgrades etc should be the focus here.

Peace.

[togaluck]

This is lonely planet's opinion of doh


Qatar Tourism | Not to miss - Yahoo! Travel Guide UK (http://uk.holidaysguide.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-1230089-_qatar_not_to_miss-i)


too bad for those not getting visa on arrival anymore

[Tintin]

You go on the web site fill the blank and 1 minute after you have the visa number. How dificult or problematic can it be ???:ugh::ugh:

You guys really need a break

[Tiennetti]

Wich site? I suppose is for UK only, because for Italy you should fill a form with photo and so...

[Captain_djaffar]

That's great for tourism!!

They don't depend on it do they?

I don't see what's the problem, if coming to Europe or to US requires Visas and entry clearances, some taking as long as 3 months...

so can't they?

[serf]

Just looked at the Qatar embassy website, I certainly would not go as a casual visitor, looks like too much hassle!


Qatar Embassy, London (http://www.qatarembassy.info/)

[flyerdad]

http://www.qatarembassy.info/visainfo.pdf

[mohd340]

i feel sorry for lonely drivers , with no life , his life just a forum.

[411A]

Hmmm, last time I was in Doha, it reminded me of Jeddah...twenty five years, before.
IE: hardly worth the time to visit..:\

[Gulfstreamaviator]

However if I need a visa to transit, then they will loose my business, and I suspect many of the premium passengers who transit.

Qatar have built thier business model on Transit Passengers.....lets see how long this plan lasts.

Also when I arrive as crew, do I need a visa......

glf

[intaomri]

togaluck,
Why are you so worried about tourism and bussiness being affected in Qatar because of the new entry visa requirements, do you know what the rest of the world go through when applying for visas to vist the US , UK and the EU. So have a taste of your own medicine.;)

[FlyingCroc]

The visa regulation are enforced for a good reason in the US, UK and EU. But who wants to come to Doha? :eek:

[tonker]

Having not been to the UAE, and debating wether i should leave a sound job in the UK i can't help feeling dismayed by the posts here. Maybe it is because it is not what i want to hear, but nonetheless i still have this itch to come and see for myself.

My reasons for any move be it Qatar/Etihad etc are not only financial, but with children to educate and a wife unable to find a job in the UK, i cannot find the stomach to wade through another year of just getting by without a pot to piss in and a **** old car.

I understand considering my position of having a secure job that i like, i am lucky compared to many still looking or having recently made redundant but is it really that mad to move to the region to better my position?

Regards :ok:

[Tintin]

It will be interesting to see how many people will have travel on april 30th at night and will be put back on the same flight may 1st. That will make them a very good publicity..

[Desert Budgie]

Do you actually need to get a visa in your passport before travel or is it just a pay online thing to get a visa number you quote at the immigration desk on arrival.

If it is the latter it's no big deal. Should speed things up on arrival. I don't see the difference between paying online and paying at the counter. Nobody complains about checking in online for our flights as opposed to checking in at the airport??!!

What should be of hotter topic is having to get a membership card for every bar you want to visit before you are allowed in! I find that hallarious!

DB :ok:

[loc22550]

Entering a Bar in Doha is like entering a military camp..

[Boeingrestricted]

:ok:
Hear hear,
Support the move is only an initial, look 10 years from now I would
say. West is gonna meet East. Qatar is leading on this :D

[QatarA340]

COMPANY EMAIL:


Dear All,
Visa on Arrival
We have received notification of a change to the Visa Rules for citizens of 33 countries who currently receive ‘visa on arrival’ to Qatar. Effective 1st May 2010, there will be no issuance of Tourist Visa to citizens of 33 countries (listed below) on arrival at the airport. The 33 countries are:
The United States, Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece , Finland, Spain, Monaco, the Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Lichtenstein, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Korea.
The new process for obtaining Tourist Visas requires passport holders of the above-listed 33 countries to apply online viahttp://portal.www.gov.qa/wps/portal/homeAR (http://portal.www.gov.qa/wps/portal/homeAR).The steps are detailed out in the attached document. According to the website, following completion of the online application form:
1. You will get an immediate result for your request as soon as you send your application (approved or rejected)
2. If your request is approved, you will be directed to another web page to pay fees, using your MasterCard or Visa Card.
3. When the payment is complete, a web page will appear that includes visa information that has been requested.
4. Print out this visa form and present it to the authorized department (upon arrival at the airport)
<<tourist_visa.docx>>
Nationals of countries other than the 33 mentioned above will continue to apply for Tourist Visas through Hotels or Qatar Airways as may be applicable.
There is no change in the process for obtaining Business Visit Visa and the Immigration Team will continue to handle this for all business cases.
We will keep you informed of any further update on this subject.


BASICALLY ITS A PRINT-OUT OF YOUR VISA BEFORE YOU ENTER QATAR. STOP BITCHING GUYS!

[Ajax]

lol ... telling QR pilots to stop bitching ... you'd have better chance if you tell the sun to stop shining :O:O:O

[BIGBAD]

From Qatari Embassy London

1st of May visa's regulations will remain unchanged until further notice.

An official source at the Consular Affairs Department of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained in response to an inquiry
from Qatar News Agency about what was reported in the local
media of the intention of the State of Qatar to implement the
reciprocity principle in the granting of national of a number of
countries a visa to enter the country at the borders outlets. He
said that the ministry received notes from number of these
countries asking for more time to apply the reciprocity principle
and the ministry now is studying the content of such notes. The
official asserted that the system will remain unchanged.

The official added "Qatar will continue implementing the
content of the bilateral agreements concluded with other
countries with regards to the reciprocal exemption of entry
visas"

[A330 man]

I confirm, Visa on arrival is back to normal for the 33 countries.
Check the link from Qatari newspaper:

The Peninsula On-line: Qatar's leading English Daily (http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=local_news&month=april2010&file=local_news2010041915436.xml)


Visa on arrival rules for 33 countries stay
Web posted at: 4/19/2010 1:54:36
Source ::: THE PENINSULA

“It has, therefore, been decided that the existing visa-on-arrival scheme at the Doha International Airport for the citizens of the 33 countries will remain unchanged,” QNA quoted a senior Foreign Ministry official as saying.