What should I do if I lose my e-visa PDF?

Log in to your Hayya account, access “My Applications,” and download the PDF again at no extra cost.

How to Apply Qatar Tourist Visa | Hayya A1 Extension 2025

Q: Can I enter Qatar before my visa start date?

No. Your entry date must fall within the 30-day validity period of your A1 visa.

Q: Do I need a transit visa if I am stopping over?

No. The Hayya A1 tourist visa covers transit stays up to 24 hours without requiring a separate transit visa.

Q: Can I work on a Hayya A1 visa?

No. Employment in Qatar requires a proper work permit; the A1 visa is strictly for tourism.

Q: How soon can I apply for an extension?

You can request an extension any time before your initial 30-day visa expires by logging into your Hayya account and paying the QAR 100 fee.

Q: What happens if my application is rejected?

You will receive a notification in your Hayya dashboard with reasons for rejection and instructions on how to correct and resubmit your documents.

Q: Can I apply for multiple family members under one account?

Yes. After registering, you can add family members to your application and pay for each A1 visa separately.

Q: Is travel insurance mandatory?

Yes. You must upload proof of travel insurance covering at least QAR 100,000 during your stay.

Q: How will I receive my e-visa?

Your approved e-visa is sent via email as a PDF. Download and print it before travel.

Applying for the Hayya A1 Tourist Visa lets you enter Qatar for leisure without a consular visit. The online e-visa takes 1–3 days to process and costs QAR 100. It’s valid for 30 days from entry and has a QAR 100 extension option.

Steps for Application

Steps for Extension

What is the Hayya A1 Qatar Tourist Visa?

The Hayya A1 visa is an electronic permit for visitors planning leisure travel to Qatar. It removes the need to visit an embassy and works at any port of entry.

Purpose and Benefits

No embassy appointment needed.
Entry via Hamad International Airport or land/seaport.

Who Can Apply

Non-GCC nationals with valid passports.
A passport must be valid for at least 3 months on arrival.

Eligibility Criteria for Qatar Tourist Visa

Nationality Requirements
Almost all citizens of non-GCC countries can apply online via the Hayya Portal.
Age and Travel History
There is no upper or lower age limit. Past visa refusals can affect approval, so declare any refusals honestly.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Access the Hayya Portal

Navigate to www.hayya.qa and click “My Hayya” in the top-right corner of the homepage to begin your application.

Welcome to hayya portal for hayya A1 via

Create Your Account

Select “Sign Up”, enter your email address, then input the verification code sent to you to activate your Hayya account.

Log In and Start

Use your newly created credentials to log into My Hayya, then choose “Apply for Hayya” on your dashboard.

Select “Tourist Visa (A1)”

From the visa category dropdown, pick Tourist Visa (A1) to proceed with the Hayya A1 application.

Specify Your Purpose of Visit

Choose from options such as leisure, cultural tourism, business meetings, or visiting friends, and add brief context if selecting “Other.”

Upload Your Photograph

Provide a recent passport-style photo (max 2 MB) with a plain background and sharp resolution, following the on-screen guidelines.

Submit Your Passport Details

Upload a clear scan of your passport’s data page; the system will auto-extract your details, but you can enter them manually if needed.

Enter Personal and Residency Information

Fill in your full name (matching your passport), date of birth, nationality, country of residence, and any previous nationalities held.

Provide Accommodation Details

Either confirm a hotel booking through Discover Qatar or enter your host’s address in Qatar. (Nationals of over 90 countries are exempt from this requirement.)

Add Contact and Emergency Information

Supply your local and emergency contact numbers, ensuring Qatar immigration can reach you if necessary.

Provide accomodation and contact details

Review & Submit

Carefully check every field for accuracy, then submit your application.

Pay the Fee & Receive Permit

Once pre-approved, you’ll receive an email with a payment link for the QAR 100 visa fee; after payment, your Hayya A1 entry permit will arrive by email (and in the Hayya mobile app).

Hayya Visa Types

Code	Name	Who It’s For	Duration & Renewals
A1	Tourist Visa	General leisure, sightseeing, visiting friends	Up to 30 days; 1×30-day extension
A2	GCC Resident Visa	Expatriates living in any GCC country	Up to 30 days; extendable once
A3	ETA-Based Visa	Holders of valid US, UK, Schengen, Canada, Aus, NZ visas/residence permits	30 days; extendable once
A4	Companion of GCC Citizen	Household staff or relatives accompanying GCC nationals	30 days; extendable once
F1	Visa-Free Entry	Citizens of over 100 visa-waiver countries	Single entry; up to 30 days

You can read the guide for Qatar Transit Visa.

Hayya A1 vs. Visa-on-Arrival

Pre-Approval Required: The Hayya A1 must be secured before departure via an online application, ensuring no surprises at the border.
Visa-on-Arrival Has Tighter Rules: While certain nationalities can get a visa upon landing, they often must pre-book their hotel through Discover Qatar or meet other stricter criteria.

Required Documents for a Qatar Tourist Visa Application

Passport: Must be valid for at least six months from your date of entry.
Photograph: A recent, passport-style colour photo is required for your online application.
Entry Permit (e-Visa): After approval (usually within 10 business days), you’ll receive an email with your Hayya A1 entry permit—print or save this to present on arrival.
Return/Onward Ticket: Present confirmed flight tickets showing your exit from Qatar within the 30-day validity period.
Accommodation Details: Provide a hotel reservation or host invitation covering your entire stay. (Citizens of ~90 countries may be exempt—see the local “visa-free” list.)
Travel Health Insurance: Mandatory for visits longer than 30 days; recommended for shorter stays to cover medical costs.
COVID-19: No vaccination or PCR-test requirements at present.

Qatar Tourist Visa Fee

Standard Cost: QAR 100 (approximately USD 27) per person for the Hayya A1 Tourist Visa.
Fee Exemptions: Nationals of about 90 countries pay no visa fee on arrival or online application.

Validity of Qatar Tourist Visa

Initial Validity: Once you enter Qatar, the Tourist Visa permits a single-entry stay of 30 days.
Extension: Before your visa expires, you may apply to extend your stay by an additional 30 days through the Ministry of Interior.

Entry-Permit Validity

Issue Window: After approval, your Entry Permit (the electronic visa) remains valid for 90 days from the date of issue. You must arrive in Qatar within these 90 days.

Step-by-Step Extension Process for Hayya A1 Visa

Visit the MOI Visa Extension Service portal.
Enter Credentials: Provide your passport or visa number and nationality.
Complete Verification: Pass the reCAPTCHA and review your details.
Submit & Pay: Click “Extend,” then pay QAR 100 using a debit/credit card.
Confirmation: You should receive an updated electronic permit—print or save it alongside your passport.

Visit the MOI Visa Extension Service porta

Eligibility to extend the Qatar Tourist Visa

Passport Validity: Must remain valid for at least 3 months from your date of entry.
Adult Applications: Each adult traveller needs a separate extension submission.
Children as Dependents: Minors (< 18 years) may be added on a parent’s application rather than filing separately.

Important Conditions for the Hayya A1 visa extension

No Employment: Work is prohibited under a Hayya A1 Tourist Visa.
Single-Entry: Each extension applies only to your current single-entry permit; departing and re-entering requires a new visa.
Processing Time: Approval is often instant, but allow up to 24 hours for the system to update.

Recent Updates to Qatar Tourist Visa (Hayya A1)

Processing times have lengthened to roughly two to three weeks, so be sure to factor this into your travel plans.
The Hayya portal now includes three additional electronic visa categories.
Once issued, your entry permit remains valid for 90 days, giving you greater flexibility in scheduling your arrival.
Since June 2024, nationals from several countries, such as India and Pakistan, have been unable to extend their Hayya Tourist Visa.
It’s strongly recommended to wait for visa confirmation before purchasing any airfare.

Hayya Qatar Visa Changes 2025

Qatar ETA (Hayya A3) Launch

The A3 visa stream for ETA-eligible travellers (Australia, New Zealand, the UK, USA, Schengen, Canada) is now live, simplifying short-term business or leisure visits.

Family-Visit Conversions

Holders of an A1 Tourist Visa may, in certain circumstances, switch to a Family Visit Visa without departing Qatar. Applicants should contact MOI directly to learn the latest eligibility criteria.

What is the Processing time for the Hayya A1 Visa Application?

Under standard conditions, Hayya A1 applications are processed in approximately ten business days, though peak travel seasons or surges in submissions can extend this period.

How to Check Your Hayya A1 Status

Open the MOI Website

Go to moi.gov.qa and click “Visa Services” in the main menu.

Select “Visa Inquiry & Printing”

Within Visa Services, choose “Visa Inquiry and Printing” to proceed.

Enter Your Credentials

Input either your 15-digit Hayya visa number or your passport number.
Pick your nationality from the dropdown list.

Complete the CAPTCHA

Solve the on-screen verification to confirm you’re not a robot.

Submit & Review

Click “Inquire” or “Submit”, and your current visa status—approved, pending, or rejected—will display instantly, along with validity dates and permit details.

Reach Out if You Hit a Snag

If the portal shows errors or excessive delays, contact Hayya support via the form on hayya. qa or email the helpdesk as listed in the Hayya FAQ section.

Nationalities Exempt from the Tourist-Visa Fee

Nationals of the following countries pay no Qatar tourist visa fee on arrival.

Andorra	Antigua & Barbuda	Argentina	Armenia
Australia	Austria	Azerbaijan	Bahamas
Belgium	Bolivia	Bosnia & Herzegovina	Brazil
Brunei	Bulgaria	Canada	Chile
China	Colombia	Costa Rica	Croatia
Cuba	Cyprus	Czech Republic	Denmark
Dominican Republic	Ecuador	Estonia	Finland
France	Georgia	Germany	Greece
Guyana	Hong Kong	Hungary	Iceland
India	Indonesia	Iran	Ireland
Italy	Japan	Kazakhstan	Latvia
Lebanon	Liechtenstein	Lithuania	Luxembourg
Macedonia	Malaysia	Malta	Mexico
Moldova	Monaco	Netherlands	New Zealand
Northern Cyprus	Norway	Panama	Paraguay
Peru	Poland	Portugal	Romania
Russia	Rwanda	San Marino	Seychelles
Singapore	Slovakia	Slovenia	South Africa
South Korea	Spain	Suriname	Sweden
Switzerland	Thailand	Turkey	Ukraine
United Kingdom	United States of America (USA)	Uruguay	Vatican City
Venezuela	Pakistan	Costa Rica	– Total: 102 countries

Nationalities Exempt from Pre-Booked Accommodation

These travellers can obtain a visa on arrival without having to show a prior hotel reservation.

Andorra	Antigua & Barbuda	Argentina	Armenia
Australia	Austria	Azerbaijan	Bahamas
Belarus	Belgium	Bolivia	Bosnia & Herzegovina
Brazil	Brunei	Bulgaria	Canada
Chile	China	Colombia	Costa Rica
Croatia	Cuba	Cyprus	Czech Republic
Denmark	Dominican Republic	Ecuador	Estonia
Falkland Islands	Finland	France	French Guiana
Georgia	Germany	Greece	Guyana
Hong Kong	Hungary	Iceland	Indonesia
Ireland	Italy	Japan	Kazakhstan
Latvia	Lebanon	Liechtenstein	Lithuania
Luxembourg	Macao	Macedonia	Malaysia
Maldives	Malta	Mauritius	Mexico
Moldova	Monaco	Montenegro	New Zealand
Northern Cyprus	Norway	Netherlands	Panama
Paraguay	Peru	Poland	Portugal
Romania	Russia	Rwanda	San Marino
Serbia	Seychelles	Singapore	Slovakia
Slovenia	South Africa	South Korea	Spain
Suriname	Sweden	Switzerland	Taiwan
Thailand	Turkey	United Kingdom	Uruguay
United States of America (USA)	Vatican City	Venezuela	– Total: 104 countries