How to Travel Between Qatar and Restricted Countries

The most popular route for traveling from Qatar to the UAE, and vise-versa, is via Oman. Muscat International Airport (MCT), formerly Seeb International Airport, is the main international airport in Oman and is situated 32 km from the old city and capital Muscat within the Muscat metropolitan area. The airport serves as the hub for flag carrier Oman Air and Oman's first budget airline Salam Air features flights to several regional destinations as well as some intercontinental services to Asia, Africa, and Europe. Terminal 2 was built and opened in 1970 and has been expanded several times. In March 2018, the newly constructed and state-of-the-art Terminal 1 was opened with the goal of Phase 1 to handle the capacity of 20 million passengers per year. It is a beautifully designed terminal with global and local food options and vendors.

Another option for transit between Qatar and the UAE is to transit via Kuwait. Kuwait International Airport (KWI) is an international airport located in Farwaniya, Kuwait, 15.5 km south of Kuwait City. It serves as the primary hub for Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways. Terminal 4, inaugurated in 2018, is dedicated to Kuwait Airways flights and operations. Terminal 5 is attached to Terminal 1 but has dedicated entrance/exit points also opened in 2018 as Jazeera Airways’ dedicated terminal.

As a passenger, you may transit through Oman and Kuwait easily, however, if you wish to exit the airport a visa is required for several nationalities. You may apply for a tourist visa for Oman through the Royal Oman Police.

For Kuwait, a tourist visa is available. The Kuwait eVisa allows visitors to enter and travel around Kuwait for touristic purposes. Those eligible to apply for a Kuwait eVisa (all foreign nationals and residents in GCC Countries: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, regardless of their citizenship) can complete an online application which only takes a few minutes.

It is necessary to check if you are eligible for an eVisa as eligible countries are subject to change. If you do not qualify for an eVisa, a Kuwait visit visa must be sponsored by a Kuwait company or by a relative that is a resident foreigner staying in the country. Some nationalities are banned from entering Kuwait so ensure you check before planning a trip via Kuwait.

Individuals who are not eligible for visa-free entry, but who hold a valid residence permit or visit visa to either Schengen countries, Australia, Canada, UK, USA or New Zealand, can obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) free of charge* by completing an online application prior to travelling.

The form is easy to fill in. You will be asked to provide:

• proof of accommodation in Qatar (e.g. hotel booking, or your host’s address)
• details of your return (or onward) travel
• a copy of your passport (with a minimum validity of six months)
• a copy of your residence permit or visa to any one of the eligible countries stated above (with a minimum validity of 30 days).

Once your request has been approved** you will receive an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) allowing you to obtain a visa-on-arrival to Qatar, which in turn allows you to stay in the country for up to 30 days during a single visit. The visa may be extended for an additional 30 days, to be used during the same visit. If you leave the country and wish to return, you will need to apply for the new ETA before travelling back to Qatar. Apply for an ETA here: www.qatarvisaservice.com.