Qatar: Hayya Platform Expanded to Process Tourist Visas

UPDATED May 12, 2023:

Effective immediately, visa-required individuals can now use an updated version of the Hayya platform or its smartphone application to apply for entry visas for various purposes including tourism, medical treatment or business meetings, among other activities. Specifically, the following categories of individuals can use the Hayya platform: visa-required foreign nationals; Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) residents; companions traveling with GCC citizens; and individuals who qualify for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) (including foreign nationals holding a valid visa or residence permit issued by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, a Schengen Member State, the United Kingdom or the United States). Foreign nationals should be aware that hands-on work is not permitted under visas obtained through the Hayya platform. However, it is expected that foreign visitors who specify their purpose of travel as attending business meetings can do so with an electronic visa, provided the purpose of visit is noted as such. As a reminder, foreign nationals eligible for a visa-on-arrival may continue to enter Qatar without having to apply for a visa in advance.  Lastly, the revamped portal provides an optional pre-registration for individuals travelling from Saudi Arabia by land which allows drivers to avoid queues by using a dedicated lane at the Abu Samra border crossing. The Hayya platform was originally launched in August 2022 to facilitate entry processing for visitors during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.