According to information available on the website of Qatar’s Ministry of Interior, Pakistani, Indian and Thai nationals can obtain a free visa-on-arrival if they meet the required conditions.
The announcement is titled “Free Tourist Visa on Arrival for Pakistani, Indian and Thai Nationals for a Maximum of 30 Days.”
Qatar Visa-on-Arrival Requirements for Pakistanis
According to Qatar’s official website, travellers seeking to benefit from the facility must meet the following requirements:
A passport valid for at least three months.
A confirmed return or onward airline ticket.
Hotel booking through the Discover Qatar platform.
Health insurance from an approved provider.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also published additional instructions for Pakistani travellers planning to visit Qatar under the visa-on-arrival facility.
Hotel Booking and Health Insurance
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, hotel reservations must be made through the Discover Qatar platform.
Travellers must also obtain health insurance for at least one month. The insurance costs 50 Qatari riyals, approximately Rs3,800, according to the ministry’s website.
The ministry has recommended Qatar Insurance Company (QIC) and QLM Life and Medical Insurance Company for obtaining the required insurance.
Once the insurance process is completed, travellers will receive an email at their registered address containing the receipt and insurance certificate.
Passengers are required to carry both documents during their journey.
What Happens After Arriving in Qatar?
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, passengers arriving at Hamad International Airport in Doha must first visit the Discover Qatar desk before proceeding to immigration.
Officials at the desk will verify the travellers’ documents and stamp them after completing the required checks.
Passengers can then proceed to the immigration counters, where visa processing, eye scanning and biometric procedures will be completed.
Why Was the Facility Suspended?
The restoration comes months after Pakistan’s embassy in Doha announced that the visa-on-arrival facility for Pakistani citizens was temporarily unavailable.
In March 2026, the embassy advised Pakistani travellers to obtain visas before departure to Qatar to avoid potential difficulties.
In a statement posted on X on March 30, the embassy said the facility was temporarily unavailable due to the prevailing circumstances.
The embassy had urged travellers to secure their visas in advance before travelling to Qatar.
Qatar’s Previous Visa-on-Arrival Policy
Qatar has previously offered visa-on-arrival facilities to Pakistani citizens.
In May 2018, Pakistan’s embassy in Doha shared a post on X referring to Qatar’s revised free visa-on-arrival policy for Pakistani nationals.
The post included a notice issued by Qatar Airways on May 8, 2018, outlining the conditions for travellers seeking to use the facility.
At the time, the requirements included a passport valid for at least six months, a confirmed return ticket, a credit card in the traveller’s name, a confirmed hotel reservation and a polio vaccination certificate for passengers travelling directly from Pakistan.
The visa was free for 30 days and could be extended for another 30 days. The facility was subsequently suspended for Pakistani citizens in March 2026.
However, Pakistan has now been included again on Qatar’s Ministry of Interior website among the countries whose citizens can obtain a free tourist visa on arrival, provided they fulfil the specified requirements.
