Need an insight about qatari visa problem...?

Question

I'll be going to Madrid, Spain next month and my flight requires to have a stop-over in Doha, Qatar to change plane. I have to wait for 14 hours before I can board the plane to Madrid (my main destination). I have a friend who's in Doha and she said she'd be very much willing to take me out of the airport and show me around to save me from the 14-hour hassle and boredom that I'm about to endure. But I need to have a visa. I'm flying with Qatar Airways and they required me to have a hotel booking in Qatar for me to obtain my visa from them. I won't be needing a hotel coz my friend will take me with her until the time I have to get back to the airport for the Madrid flight. They can't also give me a visa upon arrival in Doha coz my nationality is not included in the list they follow on giving visas upon arrival. I'm hoping that there may be some exceptions to the rule and that I can be one of them.

Any related experiences or insights shared would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

Answer 1

The information you have is right. Tourists on transit longer than 8 hours need a transit visa. Many times a one night/day in a hotel is included in the fare when flying Qatar Airlines.

Anyway, if you wish to visit your friend in Doha and your friend holds a valid Qatar residence visa, you have to ask her to apply for a visa at the Immigration Department in Doha on your behalf. Immigration's phone# Telephone: [phone]

Website address: www.e.gov.qa

Depending on your Nationality the visa prosessing can take 1 day up to 3 weeks.

All the best and have a good time.

Answer 2

This link will give you a good information

http://www.destdoha.com/visainfo.html

Thank you

Edit: Else, you have to ask your friend to arrange a business visit visa which is valid for 1 month from date of entry.