Qatar — Visas and Healthcare
Passports and Visas
Visitors should have tickets and documents for return or onward travel and sufficient funds to cover their stay. If on a tourist visa, visitors should have proof of confirmed hotel reservation and a minimum of US$1,400 or a major credit card. Those without diplomatic representation in Qatar require passports valid for at least six months upon arrival. If holding a visa for Oman an additional visa for Qatar is not required. As of 1 May 2010 Qatar has decided to remove visas on arrival for the citizens of 33 countries. The government of Qatar does not accept temporary passports. It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources. The Government of Qatar does not accept temporary passports.
Americans
United States citizens with a valid passport may obtain a visa on arrival, allowing for a one-month stay. US passport holders with a valid visa for Oman do not need a visa.
UK Nationals
British passport holders whose passports are endorsed British Citizen may obtain a visa on arrival, allowing for a one-month stay. Holders of other British passports are advised to check on entry requirements for Qatar. British passport holders with a valid visa for Oman do not need a visa.
Canadians
Canadian citizens with a valid passport may obtain a visa on arrival, allowing for a one-month stay. Canadian passport holders with a valid visa for Oman do not need a visa.
Australians
Australians with a valid passport may obtain a visa on arrival, allowing for a one-month stay. Australian passport holders with a valid visa for Oman do not need a visa.
South Africans
South Africans require a valid passport and a visa to enter Qatar. South African passport holders with a valid visa for Oman do not need a visa.
Irish Nationals
Irish citizens with a valid passport may obtain a visa on arrival, allowing for a one-month stay. Irish passport holders with a valid visa for Oman do not need a visa.
New Zealanders
New Zealanders with a valid passport may obtain a visa on arrival, allowing for a one-month stay. New Zealand passport holders with a valid visa for Oman do not need a visa.
Healthcare
No vaccinations are a health requirement for entry to Qatar, but it is recommended that visitors be up to date with routine vaccinations. Modern medical care and medicine is available in Doha. Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for medical services, and treatment is expensive; it is advisable for travelers to hold comprehensive medical insurance. Traveller's diarrhoea is a risk, therefore visitors should drink bottled water and avoid under-cooked food and unwashed fruit and vegetables, particularly outside of the hotels and resorts.
Safety
Safety in Qatar is generally not an issue but the country, like most in the Gulf region, is rated as being under high threat of indiscriminate terrorist attacks against Western interests. The most recent event was a suicide bomb blast in Doha in March 2005, in which a British national was killed. Visitors should therefore be vigilant in public places. There is a low incidence of crime, but women are advised to take care when traveling alone at night.
