A new Qatar Visa Portal (http://www.qatarportal.gov.qa ), a unified platform to receive applications for visas to enter the country for major events and for various activities including business and investment, was launched Monday.
The Ministry of Interior's (MoI) Visa Support Service (VSS) Department director Maj Abdullah Khalifa al-Mohannadi told a press conference that the new facility is aimed at facilitating the visa application process for visitors from all countries through a simple and smooth process.
“The application form does not exceed one page. Any user can fill the form electronically from anywhere in the world within a very short time. If the application meets the required conditions, visa is issued within 48 hours," he explained.
The Qatar Visa Portal provides options to get details of the events and submit the visa application. The applicant has to register with an e-mail id first to log in to the portal. The application fee is QR100. The documents to be submitted include copies of passport, photo, flight ticket and hotel reservation or the applicant's residence in Qatar.
The applicant is then asked to choose the events that he wants to attend in Qatar. He can attend multiple events during the 30-day visa validity period, which could be extended for another 30 days. The applicant can track the status of the application on the portal as well.
Al-Mohannadi said that an application for a visa can be made within 90 days and at least four days before travel. The passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Qatar. This service cannot be used to obtain a visa for children registered with their parents' passports.
The official added that the Qatar Visa Portal is not connected with the Qatar Visa Centres (QVC) that are presently working in various countries for procedures connected to work visas.
The Qatar Visa Portal was opened in collaboration with various entities including those dealing with various events and the Qatar National Tourism Corporation. The portal lists the major events and gives all details in a bid to help potential visitors get a proper idea. Details of transportation, accommodation and tourist destinations are also available in the portal.
The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy's (SC) Security Committee's Technical Affairs Committee head Lt Col Jassim Abdul Raheem said the launching of the Qatar Visa Portal was an important achievement of the MoI in full co-ordination between the competent authorities, such as the VSSD under the General Directorate of Passports, the Security Committee of the SC, as well as the Qatar Olympic Committee.
The MoI's Security Systems Department director Lt Col Jassim Abdur Raheem al-Sayed, Public Relations Department assistant director Maj Mubarak Salim al-Bouainain and the SC's Security Committee spokesperon Lt Col Dr Jabr Hamoud al-Noaimi were also present at the press conference.
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