Entry Restrictions for Certain Travelers Using Visitor Visas for GCC Residents

The situation

Foreign nationals traveling under a visitor visa for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country residents based on a residence permit issued by the United Arab Emirates are likely to be denied entry to Qatar.

A closer look

Further details on this practice include:

• No official policy. There have been no official announcements regarding the denial of entry for these foreign nationals; however, in practice, GCC residents with a resident permit issued by the United Arab Emirates are being denied entry to Qatar.
• Unaffected foreign nationals.  Foreign nationals holding UAE residence permits but who are eligible for other categories of visas based on their nationality, including visitor visas-on-arrival, can still travel to Qatar without restrictions.

Impact

Foreign nationals traveling under a visitor visa for GCC country residents based on a residence permit issued by the United Arab Emirates must look into alternative visa options for entry to Qatar. The appropriate visa category will depend on a purpose of travel, amongst other factors. Please contact your Fragomen representative to seek advice on available options.

Background

In June 2017, a number of Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, severed their diplomatic ties with Qatar. The crisis has resulted in increased restrictions on mobility within the Gulf, primarily to and from Qatar, due to the closure of land, marine and airspace borders, and withdrawal of staff from consular posts in Qatar.

On June 8, 2017, the United Arab Emirates discontinued issuing visitor visas for GCC residents based on a residence permit issued by Qatar.

Looking ahead

Announcements by the UAE government in early 2019 have indicated that relations between Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will not be normalized in the near future and therefore, mobility restrictions are likely to continue. Fragomen is monitoring the situation and will provide any updates as they become available. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].