Qatar recently announced Visa Free Entry to nationals of 81 countries including Pakistan (to find out which other countries get visa on arrival in Qatar, read here). I was ecstatic at the news, because Qatar has been my home for the last 13 years and I absolutely love the place! I wrote a post on 26 countries that offer Visa Free entries to Pakistani citizens and I got an over whelming response and queries about Qatar.

Pakistani Citizens can now visit Qatar with a FREE Visa on Arrival or transit through Doha on their Qatar Airways flight and take advantage of the FREE Transit Visas and explore this amazing country. So pack your bags and get ready to experience Qatar. And just so you know that despite of all the news around the diplomatic crisis, life in Qatar has been business as usual for us residents.

1. FREE Visa On Arrival**

Pakistani nationals DO NOT require prior visa arrangements and can obtain a visa waiver upon arrival in Qatar.

• The waiver will be valid for 30 days from the date of issuance and entitle its holder to spend up to 30 days in Qatar, during either a single trip or on multiple trips.
• This waiver may be extended for a further 30 days.
• It is FREE of charge
• The conditions for this visa is
• at least 6 month passport validity
• a confirmed return or onward ticket.
• the passenger must hold an amount of (5000 QAR) or the equivalent of a valid credit card
• a certificate of vaccination against polio for those coming directly from Pakistan.
• a valid address for your place of stay in Qatar i.e. the address of your hotel or friends/family home with whom you intend to stay. It is NOT compulsory to have a hotel reservation.

If you have any questions regarding the visa waiver , please check Visit Qatar’s FAQs.

2. FREE Qatar Transit Visa**

If you are flying Qatar Airways, you can get a  Transit Visa FREE of cost when you add a stopover between 5 and 96 hours in Doha to your itinerary WITHOUT any additional fare charges.

Add Doha as a stopover using the multi-city booking option to include the stop in Doha when booking your flight on Qatarairways.com or contact your nearest Qatar Airways office/travel agent.

• It is FREE of charge
• Valid for up to 96 hours (4 days)
• Open to passengers of all nationalities (Read here for step by step instructions on how to add Doha as a transit and apply for the transit visa)
• Since Pakistani nationals are now eligible of the Free Visa Waiver, a pre-approved transit visa is no longer needed but it is recommended
• The conditions for this visa is
• at least 6 month passport validity
• a confirmed onward ticket on Qatar Airways ONLY. Passengers traveling on code-share flights will not be eligible.
• FREE City Tours (courtesy Qatar Airways and Qatar Tourism Authority) to four amazing landmarks including The Pearl-Qatar, Katara Cultural Village, Souq Waqif, and the Museum of Islamic Art.  (Read here for more information on the timings of the tour and the terms and conditions for the tour).
• Sheraton Doha – One of the most iconic landmarks of the country