Travelers from Russia have lately been trying to develop new territories, and the eastern state of Qatar is one of them. More and more tourists gather there every year, and indeed, there is something to look at in this country. Many people ask: Is a visa to Qatar required, and how to apply for it? Today it can be done upon arrival, however, prior consent must be obtained. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Qatar processes the application and decides whether it is possible to let a tourist into the country. The Russians want to look at unusual architectural structures, enjoy all the charms of an eastern country. To do this, you need to apply for a visa. And how exactly to do this, we will tell in the article.
Difficulty in getting
Issuing a visa to Qatar is formally a simple matter. However, as often happens, in practice everything looks very different. Almost all foreigners who want to visit the country in 2017 need an entry permit. The vast majority of travelers should have all the necessary documents with them, including a visa. It is simply necessary for all tourists, regardless of the goals that they pursue. Whether it is a business trip or just a tourist trip - make permission to enter and stay in the territory of the state.
If we talk about formalities, then for the Russians there are several ways to get this document. As you know, in Qatar, the visa regime, and getting the necessary paper in practice seems quite difficult. For you to be allowed into the country by all the rules, you need a good reason. However, this is not always enough, personal contacts, acquaintances and a lot of luck will help.
A kind of visa. Upon arrival
A visa to Qatar for the Russians of this type is the most popular. People who managed to get permission from the Ministry of the Interior of the eastern state often receive a document upon arrival. It is worth noting that in this case, all questions and costs are borne by the host. It can be either a civilian or a travel company or hotel. Tourists mainly land in Doha ( Hamad Airport ) and there they solve all the problems.
The traveler is required to provide the receiving party with information about himself no later than two days before the flight. Information should include: name, citizenship and nationality, information about the passport, religion, work, purpose of arrival. In addition, it is necessary to provide copies of round-trip tickets, a copy of the hotel reservation confirmation, as well as other necessary information. How much does a visa to Qatar cost for Russians? For adults, about $ 50; for children, about $ 20.
Registration through the consulate
The above method is not the only way to get a document. In order not to deal with formal issues on arrival, you can pre-arrange a visa to Qatar. To do this, you need to send the following documents to a special authority: a passport, a photo of a passport in the amount of 3 pieces, a questionnaire in 3 copies and a confirmation of the hotel reservation or invitation from the country.
The questionnaire must be filled in English or Arabic. Particular attention should be paid to the compilation literacy, they can find fault with this. Employees of the Qatar Consulate in Moscow reserve the right to ask for evidence of financial security for their arrival in the country. The duration of the visa depends on how long you have booked the hotel. It is worth noting that the cost of registration through the consulate will be 77 dollars. At the same time, the application review period is about 30 days. Therefore, you need to worry in advance about all kinds of permissions so that unforeseen situations do not happen later.
Transit
It should be noted that Qatar is forbidden to visit with only a transit visa on hand. But there are times when you need to wait out time to board your next flight. There is an option that you will be allowed to stay at the airport of Hamad or any other for 72 hours.
However, this rule applies if you follow these tips:
- it is forbidden to leave the transit zone while waiting;
- if you want to look at the sights and leave the airport, you must obtain permission in advance to obtain a visa and apply for it upon arrival;
- if the final goal of your trip is the city of Oman, then you are allowed to leave the transit zone without a national document;
- if the airport is overloaded with people, workers may allow tourists to leave the transit zone, but this should not be hoped for.
Traveling with children
Most people travel to countries with families. And many have children who are not yet 16 years old. What to do in this situation? A visa to Qatar for a child is not issued separately, information about it fits into the permission for the mother to enter.
In this case, it is necessary to prepare a passport for the child, an internal document proving the identity or birth certificate, as well as the father's power of attorney to leave the minor child. The last paper is needed only if the child travels only with his mother. The document should be certified by a notary and legalized at the consulate. It is worth noting that tourists with children are less likely to miss. Therefore, you must try hard if the family wants to travel in full force.
Terms of registration and decision
We examined the country's visa regime above and came to the conclusion that obtaining a document is rather difficult. The application processing time is 30 days. A visa is usually issued within a month. If you submit documents through the online service, then the answer will come in 10 days. At the same time, you can still track the status of your application on the site.
Recently, the situation in Syria is extremely unfavorable, and because of this, cases of refusal to issue a permit have become more frequent. Especially often do not give a visa to men, without explanation. In 2017, the number of travel agencies that issue entry documents to the country has significantly decreased. It is becoming increasingly difficult for Russians to get to Qatar, and forecasts for the next year are also not encouraging. It remains only to wait and hope that the situation will change for the better.
Import Rules
Going to a specific country, you need to familiarize yourself with customs regulations. We found out that a visa is needed in Qatar, and what about import? This is one of the few eastern states that can be visited after a stay in Israel. You can also bring into the country any currency, some tobacco and perfumes. If you are an animal lover and travel with your pet, you need to get a veterinary certificate. It is issued by the Ministry of Agriculture.
There are also things that are forbidden to be brought into the country. These include: weapons, drugs, alcohol, pork, as well as medicines that are contrary to the rules of Islam. Qatar is a Muslim country, and entering its territory, it is necessary to respect the laws and traditions of the state. Otherwise, the trip will not end in anything good.
Transport
For every traveler traveling to any country, the availability of accessible vehicles is important. When applying for a visa to Qatar, you must familiarize yourself with all the rules for visiting the state, as well as collect information about transport services. After all, upon arrival you will have to move around in any case, but you don’t want to overpay for this.
Oddly enough, in Qatar, taxi is the most popular. This is the cheapest and most affordable way to get around. In addition to these advantages, there is one more thing - the cars are brightly colored, they are easy to recognize. If you want to use taxi services during the day, then for 200-300 m of travel in urban areas you will require about 30 cents. Agree, a ridiculous amount for a taxi. If you needed a car at night, then there is a double tariff. However, this still does not translate into a tidy sum, as in most European countries. To ride out of town, you will need to pay about 1 dollar.
It is worth noting that Qatar is a hospitable country, after visiting which only positive impressions remain.
Culture of behavior
Modern technologies are moving forward, but this does not cancel the fact of the existence of religious states, and the object of our journey is just one of them. Having issued a visa to Qatar, you should learn about the rules of conduct in the country. Consider the main ones:
- Before entering the room, do not forget to take off your shoes;
- eat in the order of precedence, take the cutlery with your right hand, use rice with a pinch, we’re not using the tables and chairs we are used to;
- a woman should wear closed clothes, you can not behave defiantly;
- if the tourist is not a Muslim, he cannot enter the mosque.
Although Qatar is a small country, tourists should visit it. The state is quite rich, and most of the money is spent on providing citizens. If you still get a visa to Qatar - do not hesitate for a second. Believe me, you will get unforgettable impressions that will be remembered for a long time.