2 May 2023
Immigration
High
Summary
In a continuous effort to enhance the country’s tourism sector, Qatar Tourism has updated the Hayya Platform to unify its tourist visa process.
The Detail
Tourists and business travellers who require a visa can apply through the Hayya Platform through their smartphone app or the official website.
Hayya holders will also be eligible for e-gate entry at the Hamad International Airport. The platform will also be applicable for those travellers entering Qatar through its land borders. The updated Hayya Platform will provide a pre-registration form to be completed during application submission to facilitate a faster entry.
The updated unified Hayya Platform will allow for an application to be submitted for tourists, business travellers, GCC residents and companions of citizens from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
The updated platform will also allow Electronic Travel Authorisation for holders of visas and residency holders from countries such as; America, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia and Schengen countries.
Visitors applying for a visa through the Hayya Platform will need to ensure their passports are valid for at least three months and the passports should include a Machine Readable Zone code (MRZ).
The duration of the visa is granted conditionally depending on the nationality of the traveller and the maximum duration that is granted is for 30 days. The following are the steps to request for the visa through the Hayya Platform.
1- Visit Hayya application www.hayya.qa
2- Choose the required visa
3- Submit the application online
4- Receive the approval through the Hayya Platform.
What this means
Previously, the Hayya platform was used to allow entry of over a million visitors during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The updated platform will come into effect immediately for all tourists who intend to secure a visa to enter the country. The platform aims to become a single portal for all Qatar business and tourist visas, and will facilitate the ease of applying for a visa and travel to the country.
How we can help
We can provide assistance with an assessment to determine the type of visas to apply based on intended activity under the Hayya Platform such as tourist entry, GCC residents entry, entry with ETA etc.
We will continue to closely monitor and provide timely guidance on any further updates announced by Qatar Tourism and the Ministry of Interior.
Contact us
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Rekha Simpson, Director, Middle East Immigration | rekha.simpson@vialto.com
Ananth Prasad, Manager, Middle East Immigration | ananth.prasad@vialto.com
Marilyn Serrao, Senior Associate | marilyn.serrao@vialto.com
Further information on Vialto Partners can be found here: www.vialtopartners.com
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