Qatar Visa for UAE Residents: Hayya and Arrival Guide

Last checked: 15 July 2026. Qatar temporarily suspended visa on arrival for Pakistani nationals on 31 March 2026. Some official hotel pages still display older Pakistan arrival instructions, so Pakistani travellers should obtain advance entry permission.

Introduction

A Qatar visa for UAE residents may be available through the Hayya GCC Resident Visa, a nationality-based visa on arrival or another Hayya eVisa category.

The correct route depends on the traveller’s passport nationality, UAE residence status, occupation and accommodation arrangements.

The most predictable option for an eligible expatriate UAE resident is to apply before travel through Hayya, usually under the GCC Resident Visa A2 category.

The official Hayya A2 fee is QAR 100. The permit is generally issued for a single entry and allows a stay of up to 30 days.

This guide also explains Qatar visa-on-arrival rules, mandatory Discover Qatar hotel bookings, the current suspension affecting Pakistani passport holders, road travel from the UAE through Saudi Arabia and Qatar’s QAR 100 transit visa.

Table of Contents

Do UAE Residents Need a Qatar Visa?

GCC citizens can enter Qatar without a visa using a valid passport or GCC identity card.

Expatriate UAE residents must qualify through one of the available entry routes, such as:

• Passport-based visa-free entry

• Visa on arrival

• Hayya GCC Resident Visa A2

• Hayya Tourist Visa A1

• Another eligible Hayya category

• Employer-sponsored visa

• Family visa

• Event-related visa

UAE residency does not create one universal entry rule for all expatriate residents.

The traveller should use the official Hayya questionnaire and Visit Qatar visa checker with the nationality shown in the passport.

For other destinations with easier entry arrangements, read our guide to visa-free countries for UAE residents:

Hayya GCC Resident Visa A2

The Hayya A2 category is designed for legal residents of GCC countries, including eligible UAE residents.

The official Hayya information describes the A2 entry permit as:

• A single-entry visa

• Permitting a stay of up to 30 days

• Subject to passport and GCC residence validity

• Available through the Hayya portal or official application

• Charged at QAR 100

• Non-refundable

Typical Eligibility Conditions

Applicants should normally have:

• A valid passport

• A valid UAE residence permit

• An eligible occupation where required by the live system

• Confirmed accommodation

• Return or onward travel

• Medical insurance where required

• No unresolved immigration restriction

The exact occupation, passport-validity and residence-validity criteria shown by Hayya control the application.

Do not rely on profession lists copied from an older website or social media post. Hayya’s live questionnaire should be treated as the current source.

Visa Validity Versus Permitted Stay

The visa-validity period and permitted length of stay are different.

The entry permit has a period during which the traveller must enter Qatar. The permitted stay begins after entry and is normally up to 30 days for an A2 visa.

Read both dates carefully.

An approved permit does not allow the traveller to enter Qatar after the final entry date printed on the document.

Documents Required for Hayya A2

Prepare:

• Passport bio-data page

• Passport valid for at least three months at the time of travel

• Physical Emirates ID

• UAE residence evidence

• Recent colour photograph

• Occupation evidence

• Hotel booking or approved host accommodation

• Return or onward flight ticket

• Active email address

• Active mobile number

• Internationally enabled payment card

• Health insurance evidence where requested

Photograph Requirements

Use a recent colour photograph with:

• A white background

• The full face clearly visible

• No heavy shadows

• No sunglasses

• Correct image dimensions

• Correct file size

Avoid cropped, blurred or heavily edited images.

Accommodation Requirements

Hayya may require one of the following accommodation arrangements:

• Hotel booking

• Discover Qatar hotel booking

• Hosted accommodation approved by a Qatar resident

• Family-and-friends host registration

• Another accommodation type accepted by the portal

The application may remain pending until the accommodation is verified.

Do not upload a hotel booking and then cancel it before travelling. Airline staff or immigration officers may check whether the accommodation remains valid.

How to Apply for the Hayya A2 Visa

The application is completed online through the official Hayya portal or mobile application.

Step 1: Open the Official Hayya Portal

Visit https://hayya.qa

You can also use the official Hayya mobile application.

Avoid unofficial agents or websites that promise guaranteed approval.

Step 2: Create a Hayya Account

Register using an active email address.

Use the same email address that you will monitor while the application is being processed.

Important messages, document requests and payment notifications may be sent by email.

Step 3: Start an eVisa Application

Begin a new eVisa application.

Select GCC Resident Visa A2 when the questionnaire offers that option based on your details.

Step 4: Enter Passport and UAE Residence Details

Enter your:

• Full name

• Passport number

• Passport issue date

• Passport expiry date

• Nationality

• UAE residence information

• Emirates ID information where requested

Ensure that all names, dates and identification numbers match the uploaded documents exactly.

Step 5: Add Your Occupation

Select the occupation that matches your UAE residence or employment record.

Do not choose a similar but more senior profession merely to continue with the application.

A mismatch between the selected occupation and the UAE documents may delay the application or result in refusal.

Step 6: Upload the Photograph and Documents

Upload clear, complete files.

Make sure:

• All document edges are visible

• Text can be read

• The passport page is not blurred

• The photograph meets the portal requirements

• The UAE residence evidence is current

Step 7: Add Your Accommodation

Enter the required accommodation information.

This may include:

• Hotel name

• Hotel address

• Reservation number

• Host details

• Approved hosted-accommodation information

The application may remain incomplete or pending until the accommodation is accepted.

Step 8: Pay the Visa Fee

When the portal activates the payment stage, pay the applicable amount online.

Save:

• Payment receipt

• Application reference number

• Confirmation email

• Screenshot or PDF of the payment confirmation

Step 9: Download the Entry Permit

After approval, download the Hayya entry permit.

Carry:

• A digital copy

• A printed copy

• Passport

• Physical Emirates ID

• UAE residence evidence

• Accommodation booking

• Return or onward ticket

• Insurance evidence where applicable

Qatar Hayya Visa Fees and Payment

The official Hayya A2 eVisa fee is:

QAR 100

The fee is non-refundable.

Hayya A2 Payment Method

Payment is completed online using an accepted:

• Debit card

• Credit card

Cash is not accepted through the online Hayya application process.

Visitor Health Insurance

Mandatory visitor health insurance may add a separate charge.

Qatar’s standard visitor insurance is commonly QAR 50 for 30 days where the insurance requirement applies.

However, the applicant should follow the amount and insurance instructions displayed by the approved insurer or official application system.

Additional Bank Charges

Your bank may add:

• Foreign-card transaction fees

• Currency-conversion charges

• International payment fees

These charges are separate from the official Qatar visa fee.

Qatar Visa on Arrival

Many passport holders can enter Qatar visa-free or obtain entry permission on arrival.

The rules and conditions vary by nationality.

Common requirements may include:

• Passport valid for at least three months

• Confirmed return or onward ticket

• Valid hotel booking

• Visitor health insurance

• QAR 100 visa fee for paid-arrival categories

• Discover Qatar hotel booking for specified nationalities

Use the Visit Qatar live visa checker immediately before travelling.

Visa-on-Arrival Fee and Payment

Paid visa-on-arrival categories are commonly charged:

Visa fee: QAR 100

Visitor health insurance: Often QAR 50 for 30 days where required

Airport immigration systems generally use electronic payment.

Carry an internationally enabled physical payment card.

Do not rely only on:

• Cash

• Contactless mobile payment

• A mobile wallet

• A virtual card

Is Qatar Visa on Arrival Guaranteed?

No.

Airline staff or Qatar immigration authorities may refuse boarding or entry when:

• The nationality is not currently eligible

• The accommodation booking is invalid

• The return or onward ticket is missing

• Passport validity is insufficient

• Required visitor insurance is absent

• The visa-on-arrival policy has been temporarily suspended

• The traveller does not meet another current entry condition

A hotel booking or payment does not guarantee entry.

Discover Qatar Mandatory Hotel Booking

Discover Qatar states that certain passport holders must book approved accommodation before travelling for an applicable visa-on-arrival route.

Its current public page lists:

• India

• Pakistan

• Thailand

• Iran

Where the nationality rule requires it, the accommodation must be booked through the designated Discover Qatar visa-on-arrival hotel service.

An ordinary booking made directly with a hotel or through another booking website may not meet the requirement.

Important Conflict for Pakistani Travellers

The Discover Qatar page still displays Pakistan in its hotel-booking list.

However, a later immigration alert reported that Qatar suspended visa on arrival for Pakistani nationals with immediate effect on 31 March 2026 following an advisory from the Embassy of Pakistan in Doha.

The later suspension should be treated as controlling until Qatar’s authorities or the embassy confirms that the facility has been reinstated.

Pakistani travellers should not book a Discover Qatar visa-on-arrival hotel and assume that entry has been secured.

Pakistani UAE Residents: Current Qatar Rule

As of this review:

• Visa on arrival is temporarily unavailable for Pakistani passport holders

• Pakistani travellers should obtain appropriate entry permission before departure

• UAE residence does not override the temporary suspension

• A Discover Qatar hotel booking does not itself grant entry

• Airline confirmation should be obtained before travel

• Hayya should be used to check whether an advance eVisa route is available

A Pakistani applicant may be offered:

• Hayya GCC Resident Visa A2

• Hayya Tourist Visa A1

• Another advance Hayya category

• Family visit visa

• Business visa

• Event-related visa

Approval remains at the discretion of Qatar’s Ministry of Interior.

Do not describe the situation vaguely by saying that Pakistani travellers may not be receiving visas on arrival.

Use the clearer statement that the visa-on-arrival facility was temporarily suspended from 31 March 2026 and must be rechecked before every trip.

Driving From the UAE to Qatar

There is no direct land border between the UAE and Qatar.

The road route passes through Saudi Arabia.

Every traveller needs valid entry or transit permission for:

1. Saudi Arabia
2. Qatar

A Qatar visa or Hayya permit does not provide permission to enter or cross Saudi Arabia.

Traveller Documents for a UAE-to-Qatar Road Trip

Carry:

• Passport

• Physical Emirates ID

• UAE residence evidence

• Saudi visa or transit permission

• Qatar Hayya permit or visa-on-arrival eligibility proof

• Hotel bookings

• Return or onward travel plans

• Saudi and Qatar insurance documents where applicable

Vehicle Documents

Carry:

• UAE driving licence

• Vehicle registration card

• Saudi-valid motor insurance

• Qatar-valid motor insurance

• Owner no-objection certificate for a borrowed vehicle

• Rental-company permission for a rental vehicle

• Finance-company or bank approval where required

• Roadside-assistance information

Do not assume that one motor-insurance policy automatically covers both Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Common UAE-to-Qatar Road Route

The route commonly uses:

• UAE–Saudi border at Al Ghuwaifat and Al Batha

• Road journey across Saudi Arabia

• Qatar entry through the Abu Samra border

Read the related Saudi multiple-entry visa for UAE residents guide before planning the journey:

Hayya Application for Road Arrival

Select the intended travel method honestly when applying.

Hayya may request:

• Vehicle details

• Road-arrival details

• Border information

• Expected arrival date

Border procedures can change during:

• Public holidays

• Eid travel periods

• Major sporting events

• Conferences

• Other high-demand periods

Check both Saudi and Qatar requirements shortly before departure.

Qatar Transit Visa

Transit requirements depend on whether the passenger remains inside the international transit area or needs to enter Qatar.

Airside Transit at Hamad International Airport

A visa is usually not needed when:

• You remain airside

• Your baggage is checked through to the final destination

• You have a confirmed onward flight

• You do not need to leave the airport

• You hold all required final-destination documents

Hamad International Airport is designed for international connections.

However, separate tickets may require the traveller to:

• Collect baggage

• Pass through immigration

• Check in again

• Enter Qatar temporarily

Confirm the baggage and immigration arrangement with the operating airline before departure.

Discover Qatar Transit Visa

Discover Qatar offers an online transit visa for eligible passengers who do not otherwise qualify for entry.

Current conditions include:

• Maximum stay of four days

• Maximum hotel duration of up to three nights

• Visa cannot be extended

• Minimum processing time of three working days

• Passport validity of at least three months

• Colour passport copy

• Photograph measuring 6 × 6 centimetres

• Files submitted as JPEG or PDF

• Maximum file size of 1 MB

Qatar Transit Visa Fee

Transit visa fee: QAR 100 per applicant

Payment method: Online card

Cash payment: Not accepted online

Rejection refund: Refunded minus a QAR 25 service fee under the current Discover Qatar terms

Entry remains subject to the final decision of Qatar’s Ministry of Interior.

Stopover Hotel Versus Transit Visa

A Qatar Airways stopover hotel does not automatically include permission to enter Qatar.

Accommodation and immigration permission are separate.

Secure the visa or confirm visa-free eligibility before relying on a landside stopover hotel booking.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming all GCC residents qualify for visa on arrival

• Choosing an occupation that does not match UAE records

• Treating a Discover Qatar booking as a visa

• Following an outdated Pakistan visa-on-arrival page

• Forgetting mandatory visitor health insurance

• Driving from the UAE without a Saudi visa

• Assuming Qatar vehicle insurance also covers Saudi Arabia

• Booking separate transit tickets without checking baggage collection

• Waiting until airport check-in to resolve a doubtful nationality rule

• Paying an unofficial agent for a Hayya application

• Cancelling accommodation before travelling

• Entering passport or Emirates ID details incorrectly

• Assuming approval is guaranteed after paying the fee

Conclusion

For most eligible expatriates, applying through Hayya before departure is the safest and most predictable Qatar visa route for UAE residents.

The Hayya GCC Resident Visa A2 costs QAR 100 and normally permits:

• One entry

• A stay of up to 30 days

Visa-on-arrival rules remain nationality-specific, and some travellers must arrange an approved Discover Qatar hotel booking.

Pakistani passport holders should not rely on visa on arrival because the facility was temporarily suspended on 31 March 2026.

Road travellers must obtain separate permission to enter or cross Saudi Arabia and prepare vehicle-insurance documents for both Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Always check Hayya, Visit Qatar, Discover Qatar and the operating airline shortly before travelling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Is the Hayya A2 Visa?

The official Hayya GCC Resident Visa A2 fee is QAR 100.

The fee is non-refundable.

Visitor health insurance may cost extra where required.

Can I Pay the Hayya Fee in Cash?

No.

Hayya payment is completed online using an accepted debit or credit card.

Cash is not accepted through the online application process.

Can Pakistani UAE Residents Get a Qatar Visa on Arrival?

The visa-on-arrival facility was temporarily suspended for Pakistani nationals from 31 March 2026.

Pakistani travellers should obtain advance entry approval and recheck the current position before travelling.

Do Indian UAE Residents Need a Discover Qatar Booking?

India is listed among the nationalities subject to mandatory Discover Qatar accommodation for applicable visa-on-arrival routes.

An Indian UAE resident can also check whether an advance Hayya visa route is available.

Can I Drive Directly From the UAE to Qatar?

No.

There is no direct UAE–Qatar land border.

The route crosses Saudi Arabia, so every traveller needs separate Saudi entry or transit permission.

How Much Is the Qatar Transit Visa?

Discover Qatar currently charges QAR 100 per applicant.

If the application is refused, the refund is reduced by a QAR 25 service fee under the current terms.

Does a Qatar Airways Stopover Include a Visa?

No.

A stopover hotel and permission to enter Qatar are separate.

Confirm or obtain entry permission before relying on a landside stopover booking.

Is UAE Residence Enough to Enter Qatar?

No.

UAE residence does not create automatic entry permission for every expatriate.

The traveller must qualify through passport-based entry, Hayya, visa on arrival or another Qatar visa category.

How Long Can I Stay With a Hayya A2 Visa?

The Hayya A2 visa normally allows a stay of up to 30 days.

Follow the exact dates and conditions printed on the approved permit.

Do I Need Health Insurance for Qatar?

Visitor health insurance may be mandatory depending on the traveller’s visa category and length of stay.

Follow the instructions shown during the visa application or entry process.