Visas for everyone!

20 Apr, 2010  Gov, Help & Guide

Ok not everyone… but there’s new news about the change to the Visa rules.

Limafoxtrot first made a post about the fact that Qatar was changing the rules so that everyone had to go and get visas from an embassy rather than on arrival at the airport. (New Visa Rules from 1st of May)

However it looks like things have changed again! Adam_new posted:

“Hi All

Am not sure if this is true and it would be useful if anyone else can either confirm or deny it but i have heard this morning from a reliable source that the introduction of the new visa regulations has been delayed for an indefinite period”

Lucky for everyone it IS true, read the Qatar News Agency article here (Visa on arrival rule for 33 countries stays)

To be honest, Qatar’s a neutral country. Just because there are other countries in the Middle East that might seem to have a bad image, the west has grouped the whole region as a ‘threat’. The Qatari population is around 250,000, getting into Qatar isn’t the easiest of things to do, and obtaining a Qatari passport is near impossible, so I don’t see a major threat from Qatar at all.

Let’s all pray that it’ll be easier for Qataris to travel :P I hated the fact that I had to go through so much paper work with the Japanese embassy. I’d like to pay for a visa on arrival please!


  • http://qatar.livejournal.com qatarperegrine

    I agree with you that the amount of red tape it takes for a Middle Easterner to travel to the US is ridiculous, and I am embarrassed every time I hear about how my colleagues and students are treated at immigration. However, I can’t imagine the US softening its rules the same month that a Qatari diplomat made a joke about blowing up a plane!!

  • smoke

    In my opinion Qatar is just behaving like a stubborn child. I mean come on what was the whole idea behind stopping visas on arrival for those 33 countries? Just coz Qataris dont get visa on arrival at those countries? Its pretty much the same for Indians too…does that mean all such countries have to stop issuing visa on arrival for the 33 countries?

    I think Qatar acted in haste while making that decision and now have to eat their words by putting a stay on the matter. Doesn’t look too good for Qatar’s image.

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