Qatar has approved free 90-day tourist visa access for passport holders from 34 countries, but only one African nation appears on the list.
Qatar’s Ministry of Interior published the eligible nationalities and outlined the conditions travellers must meet before entering the country.
The arrangement allows successful applicants to make multiple entries into Qatar and stay for up to 90 days during each visit.
The visa remains valid for 180 days from the date it is issued. It cannot be extended, and applicants do not pay a visa fee. The visa sticker is placed directly in the traveller’s passport.
Only one African country included
Seychelles is the sole African country to qualify for the 90-day tourist visa facility.
It joins a list dominated by European nations, with Malaysia and Turkey also included. Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Egypt are not part of the arrangement and remain subject to Qatar’s standard visa application process.
The full list comprises Austria, Greece, Portugal, Croatia, Italy, Denmark, Lithuania, Switzerland, Malaysia, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, Iceland, Slovakia, Liechtenstein, Sweden, France, Slovenia, Norway, Belgium, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Spain, Finland, Malta, the Bahamas, the Netherlands, Romania, Cyprus, Latvia, Estonia, Luxembourg, Turkey and Seychelles.
Conditions travellers must meet
Applicants must hold a passport with at least six months’ validity. They must also provide a confirmed return or onward ticket.
The visa is issued without charge, although travellers still need to satisfy the stated entry requirements.
For most African travellers, including Kenyans, the free 90-day multiple-entry option is not available. They must instead follow the usual visa application procedures, which may involve fees and additional documentation.
