Qatar Business Visa 2026: Price, Visa Types and How to Apply

Qatar Business Visa Price - 2026 Quick Answer

There is no single price for a Qatar business visa. What you pay depends on your passport and on who invites you. As of October 2026, official Qatari sources give these costs:

• Visa-free entry for eligible passports, including GCC nationals: free
• Indian, Pakistani and Thai passports: free entry for up to 30 days, but only with a hotel booked through Discover Qatar
• Hayya e-visa A1, A2 or A3: QAR 100, single entry, non-refundable
• US citizens: USD 21 (QAR 76), paid on the first entry, for a visa valid two years
• Ministry of Interior (MoI) Businessmen Visa arranged by a Qatari company: QAR 200 for one month
• Hayya Conference and Events Visa arranged by the event organiser: free

The MoI labels its free entry categories as tourist visas. If your trip involves business with a Qatari company, ask your host whether it will sponsor a Businessmen Visa.

Visarun is a visa agency. We help business travellers pick the route that fits their passport and check documents before applying. The Qatari authorities make every visa decision, so no agency can promise approval.

Do You Need a Visa - Visa-Free Entry by Passport

Many business visitors can land in Doha without applying in advance. Qatar Tourism now calls this "visa-free entry" instead of "visa on arrival", and only the name changed.

GCC nationals

Citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE do not need a visa for Qatar.

90-day and 30-day visa-free groups

• 90 days, not extendable: many European passports such as Germany, plus Malaysia, South Korea, Turkey, South Africa, Russia and Brazil. Conditions are a passport valid at least three months, a return ticket, a hotel booking or a friend's or relative's address, and health insurance.
• 30 days, extendable for another 30: a group that includes Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia and Kazakhstan.
• US citizens: a visa valid two years or until the passport expires, with multiple entries of up to 90 days each, for USD 21 (QAR 76) paid on the first entry only. It can be pre-registered on Hayya or issued on arrival.

Official totals differ, so check your passport on the MoI lists or Qatar Tourism's visa checker.

Indian, Pakistani and Thai passports

The MoI grants these nationals a free on-arrival visa for up to 30 days, or for the length of the hotel booking. The conditions as of October 2026:

• Passport valid for at least three months
• Confirmed round-trip ticket
• Hotel booked only through the Discover Qatar website, as bookings from other sites are not accepted
• Health insurance from an accredited insurer

Qatar Tourism's visa checker currently points Pakistani passport holders to the same path: a Discover Qatar booking, then the entry visa at the airport or a Hayya A1 in advance. The MoI rule governs. Hayya lists A1 to A4 for Pakistani passports at QAR 100 each, though the A1 fee can be waived under certain conditions.

We found no current Qatari rule on polio vaccination, but an older MoI page mentioned it for travellers coming directly from Pakistan, so carrying your vaccination record and checking with your airline is sensible.

Philippine and other visa-required passports

Qatar Tourism's visa checker currently sends Philippine and many other visa-required passports to the Hayya A1, with the fee paid after approval. Holders of a valid US, UK, Canada, Schengen, Australia or New Zealand visa or residency are pointed to A3, and GCC residents to A2.

Only Iranian and Belarusian nationals have a paid on-arrival option that the MoI calls a "Tourist or Business Visa".

Hayya Visas for Business Visitors (A1, A2, A3)

Hayya is Qatar's official e-visa platform, run by Qatar Tourism. None of its visit visa types (A1 tourist, A2 GCC resident, A3 visa with ETA, A4 companion of a GCC citizen, F1 for US citizens) is called a business visa.

As of October 2026, the e-visa fee is QAR 100. It is non-refundable whatever happens to your trip. Payment is due within 14 days of the status changing to "Pending Payment", otherwise the application is cancelled.

A1 Tourist Visa

Hayya describes A1 as a visa for tourism or visiting friends and family. It needs a passport valid three months from arrival, a hotel booking or a Hayya host, and a return flight ticket. Indian applicants may book accommodation on any platform, because the Discover Qatar-only rule applies to visa-free entry, not to the e-visa.

A2 GCC Resident Visa

A2 is single entry and allows up to 30 days from the date of entry. Applicants need a passport valid three months from arrival, a GCC ID copy valid at least three months from arrival, a return ticket if flying, and the QAR 100 fee. Hayya also expects you to travel from your country of residence, and some Hayya screens mention six months of residence permit validity, so applying with six months left is safer.

A3 Visa with ETA

A3 is for holders of a valid visa or residency from the US, UK, Canada, the Schengen area, Australia or New Zealand. That document has to be valid when the e-visa is issued, and the passport needs three months of validity from arrival. The fee is QAR 100, and a return ticket is required.

Other Hayya options with a business purpose

The Conference and Events Visa is for people invited by organisers to attend or take part in a conference, event or exhibition. It is free, its validity follows the event, and the organiser applies on your behalf.

The Hayya Official Visa (60 days, single entry) is only for governmental or semi-governmental inviters. Private companies cannot use Hayya Business Services unless a government entity authorises them. Hayya says the choice between an MoI visit visa and an A1 depends on your profile and the purpose of your visit.

Business Visit Visa Sponsored by a Qatari Company

The MoI's Businessmen Visa is meant for business people brought in by trading and investment companies and establishments in Qatar. As of October 2026, the MoI service page lists it at QAR 200, valid for one month.

Who applies

The traveller does not apply on Hayya for this visa. The Qatari company is the applicant. It needs prior approval from the relevant departments, and its PRO or owner files the application with the MoI, either at a service centre or through MoI e-services.

From the visitor, the company typically needs:

• Documents showing that the visitor is a business person
• A return air ticket
• A clear copy of the visitor's passport

An older MoI business visa form, last updated in 2017, also lists the company's ID card and a document proving the visitor's profession. The sponsor may be asked for more than this.

Extensions

MoI pages disagree here. The current service page says the Businessmen Visa cannot be extended, while older MoI pages describe extensions charged at QAR 200 a month. We recommend confirming with your sponsor before planning more than one month.

Embassies and older options

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists businessmen visas at QAR 200 among the visas Qatari embassies issue when a case cannot go through the electronic system, without describing the embassy procedure. Older MoI pages still describe a 72-hour business visa issued on arrival, but it is not in the MoI's current on-arrival list.

Prices and Fees by Route

These are the official fees as of October 2026. The MoI says visitor visa rules can change without notice, so check the official page for your route before paying.

• GCC nationals: no visa needed
• 90-day and 30-day visa-free groups: free
• Indian, Pakistani and Thai passports with a Discover Qatar hotel: free, up to 30 days
• Hayya A1, A2 or A3: QAR 100 per application, single entry, non-refundable
• US citizens: USD 21 (QAR 76), paid on the first entry, valid two years
• MoI Businessmen Visa through a Qatari company: QAR 200 for one month
• Hayya Conference and Events Visa through the organiser: free

We found no official page offering six-month or annual multiple-entry business visit visas to ordinary visitors.

Costs beyond the visa fee

According to the MoI, health insurance from an insurer registered with the Ministry of Public Health is required to enter Qatar. Qatar Tourism says travellers without a policy can buy one on arrival. We could not confirm an official premium, so compare prices with insurers before you travel. Visa-free travellers on Indian, Pakistani and Thai passports also pay for their Discover Qatar hotel.

Documents and Processing Time

Documents by route

• Hayya A1: passport valid three months from arrival, hotel booking or Hayya host, return flight ticket
• Hayya A3: the A3 guide revised on 25 May 2026 lists a recent photo, a scanned passport copy, accommodation details and a copy of the qualifying visa or residence card
• Conference and Events Visa: a personal photo, a passport valid three months from arrival and any extra documents the organiser requests
• MoI Businessmen Visa: passport copy, proof of business status and a return ticket from the visitor, plus the company's ID card under the older 2017 MoI form

Current MoI and Hayya pages set passport validity at three months from arrival. We recommend travelling with six months left, because airlines and older MoI pages may apply the stricter figure.

Processing time

Hayya does not publish a processing time, and the MoI gives none for the Businessmen Visa. We recommend applying well ahead of your meeting dates.

A pending Hayya application does not let you travel. Only full approval issues the single-entry e-visa, and entry is refused without it. Hayya advises booking flights only after approval and says any losses from travelling earlier fall on the applicant.

Approval or rejection is at the discretion of the authorities. A rejection usually shows a reason in the Hayya dashboard, but not always. Visarun checks documents against your route's requirements before submission, which helps to resolve gaps early, but cannot shorten official processing.

What You Can Do on a Business Visit vs a Work Visa

We found no official Qatari list of business activities, such as meetings or site visits, allowed on visa-free entry or Hayya A1. The MoI labels its free on-arrival categories as tourist visas, and Hayya describes A1 as a visa for tourism or visiting friends and family.

One rule is explicit. By law, a visitor on a Hayya e-visa may not work in Qatar. If your trip involves business with a Qatari company, ask the host whether it will sponsor a Businessmen Visa. For an exhibition or conference, an organiser registered with Hayya can arrange the free Conference and Events Visa.

Work permits are a different track

A work visa on company sponsorship is a separate permit for people coming to Qatar for employment, with an MoI fee of QAR 300 and requirements such as attested certificates, a police clearance certificate, an employment contract and a medical test outside Qatar.

For short assignments in rare professions, the MoI has a Multiple Entry Work Visit Visa: one month, extendable to six months at most, QAR 200 a month for private companies, RARC approval, and a medical test for stays over 30 days.

Recent Changes (2025-2026)

• Hayya A2 events season: Qatar Tourism announced that from 30 November 2025 the A2 for GCC residents would allow up to two months with multiple entries, linked to the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup and the events season. Hayya's live terms now show single entry and up to 30 days again.
• Temporary visa extension ended: according to an MoI statement reported by The Peninsula, the MoI extended all entry visas that had expired or were close to expiring in an announcement on 3 March 2026, then ended that measure from 7 June 2026. Normal validity periods and fees apply again.
• New name, same rule: Qatar Tourism now says "visa-free entry" instead of "visa on arrival".
• Indian Hayya applicants may book any accommodation, while visa-free entry still needs a Discover Qatar hotel.
• US citizens pay USD 21 (QAR 76) for a two-year visa.
• The Hayya contact centre answers around the clock in Arabic, English, Tagalog, Urdu and Hindi.

The MoI states that visitor visa rules can change without notice, so check the MoI and Hayya pages close to your travel date.

FAQ

How much is a Qatar business visa in 2026?

It depends on the route: QAR 200 for the one-month MoI Businessmen Visa filed by a Qatari company, QAR 100 for a Hayya A1, A2 or A3, USD 21 (QAR 76) for US citizens, and nothing for visa-free entry.

Can Pakistani citizens visit Qatar for business without a visa?

They can enter free for up to 30 days with a Discover Qatar hotel, a three-month passport, a round-trip ticket and health insurance, but the MoI calls this a tourist visa. For business with a Qatari company, ask about a Businessmen Visa.

Can I attend meetings on visa-free entry or a Hayya A1?

We found no official Qatari page listing business activities allowed on these routes. Hayya says only that e-visa holders may not work.

Can the Businessmen Visa be extended?

The current MoI service page says it cannot, while older MoI pages describe extensions at QAR 200 a month. Check with your sponsor before planning more than one month.

Do I need an invitation letter?

The MoI page for the Businessmen Visa asks for documents proving the visitor is a business person, not a specific letter. An invitation letter is named only on the MoI page for Iranian nationals, and we found no official template.

How long does processing take?

Neither Hayya nor the MoI publishes a processing time. We recommend applying early and booking flights only after approval.

Can I extend a Hayya e-visa inside Qatar?

Extensions are handled in person, before the e-visa expires, at the Directorate of Passport at Hamad International Airport. Hayya publishes no maximum extension period.

What is the fine for overstaying?

An MoI guidance page on visit visas lists QAR 200 for each day of delay when a visa is not extended before expiry, up to QAR 12,000. The page does not tie this to any business route.

Is the Hayya fee refunded if my plans change?

No. Hayya says the QAR 100 fee is non-refundable whatever happens to your travel plans. It is paid after final approval, within 14 days of the "Pending Payment" status.