Entry/Exit Requirements

Passports and visas are required. U.S. citizens can purchase a visa upon arrival at Doha International Airport valid for thirty (30) days.  To facilitate entry with Qatari Immigration, former resident permit holders should carry a “no objection letter” issued by their former sponsor.  Current residents who have a Family Residence Visa do not need an exit permit to leave Qatar.  All other sponsored residents who have a Work Residence Permit must obtain an exit permit each time they leave Qatar. This must be arranged by the sponsor.  Certain employers may offer multiple entry/exit permits.

Some HIV/AIDS entry restrictions exist for visitors to and foreign residents of Qatar.  Qatar does not allow individuals with HIV/AIDS to live in the country.  Medical exams are required for all long-term visitors and residents.  Individuals who have HIV/AIDS may be subject to deportation.  Please verify this information with the Embassy of Qatar before you travel.

Travelers who are planning to arrive at a port of entry other than Doha International Airport or travelers who previously held residency in Qatar but whose visa had been cancelled early or for whom a sponsor may have filed a complaint, should obtain a tourist or business visa in advance of their arrival from a Qatari embassy or consulate abroad or online at Qatar’s E-Government English language web site.  Travelers should also note that the Qatari Government charges $55 for each day that an individual overstays a visa, up to a maximum amount of $3,300.

For additional information on visas, residence permits, and entry requirements, please visit Qatar’s E-Government English language web site. Travelers may also contact the Embassy of the State of Qatar at 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, telephone (202) 274-3150; fax (202) 237-9880. They may also contact the Consulate General of the State of Qatar in Houston, 1990 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 810, Houston, TX 77056, telephone (713) 355-8221, fax (713) 355-8184, or via email.  The Consulate General of the State of Qatar in New York can be reached  at 50 Central Park S, Suite 1707, New York, NY 10019, telephone (212) 497-2757, or via email.  The Consulate General of the State of Qatar in Los Angeles can be reached at 9355 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, telephone (310) 246-0005, or via email.

Military personnel are subject to different entry/exit requirements and should contact the Department of Defense for specific information pertaining to their travel requirements. Additional information may be obtained by calling either the Host Nation Coordination Cell of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at 011-974-5551-0815.

Information on dual nationality and the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.