Qatar visa on arrival is open to Pakistanis again

On 31 March 2026 Qatar suspended visa on arrival for Pakistani nationals, with immediate effect. The Pakistan Embassy in Doha issued the advisory, and Khaleej Times reported it.

Six months later it’s back. When we checked on 28 September 2026, both official Qatari tourism sites, Visit Qatar and Discover Qatar, listed Pakistan for visa on arrival again.

We haven’t found a dated government notice for the restoration yet. When we do, it goes into our change log with the link.

The short version

• Is it open? Yes, as of 28 September 2026.
• What does it cost? QAR 100.
• What’s the catch? Your hotel must be booked and paid through Discover Qatar before you fly.
• Is there another way in? Yes, the Hayya A1 tourist e-visa, also QAR 100.

How we got here

Qatar’s rules for Pakistani visitors have moved around a lot. Here is the timeline, from the sources in our change log.

Date	What happened
August 2017	Qatar opens visa on arrival to Pakistani nationals. Reports described a 30-day stay with a 30-day extension.
April 2022	A hotel booking through Discover Qatar becomes compulsory for Pakistani, Indian and Iranian passports.
31 March 2026	Visa on arrival suspended for Pakistanis, with immediate effect.
28 September 2026	Visit Qatar and Discover Qatar list Pakistan for visa on arrival again.

The 2022 hotel rule never went away. It’s still the part most people get wrong.

What you need at Hamad International Airport

Pack these before you leave for the airport in Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad.

• Passport valid for at least three months from the day you land.
• Discover Qatar hotel confirmation, for at least two nights, printed and on your phone.
• A card or cash for the QAR 100 fee.
• Your return ticket. Qatar’s official page doesn’t list it, but airlines and immigration officers often ask.

At immigration, the officer checks your booking and issues the visa on the spot. How long you can stay follows your hotel dates.

The hotel rule, explained

This is where most trips go wrong.

A booking on Booking.com, Agoda or a hotel’s own website does not count, even at the same hotel. For a Pakistani passport it has to go through Discover Qatar, the booking platform run by Qatar Airways.

Pick your hotel from their approved list, pay in full, and keep the confirmation email. If your plans change, change the booking there too, so your dates still match.

Visa on arrival or Hayya e-visa?

Both routes cost the same. What you’re choosing is when you find out.

	Visa on arrival	Hayya A1 e-visa
When you get it	At Hamad airport	Before you fly
Fee	QAR 100	QAR 100
Hotel	Discover Qatar booking, paid	Hotel reservation
Best for	Flexible trips	Fixed dates, family trips, first-timers

If you’re travelling with family or on a non-refundable ticket, the e-visa is worth the extra step. You’ll know the answer before you leave Pakistan.

Who this doesn’t cover

This change is about short tourist visits on an ordinary Pakistani passport.

It doesn’t change work or residence visas, which still go through the Qatar Visa Center. If you live in the UAE or another Gulf country, check the Hayya options for GCC residents as well.

Check again before you book

This rule changed twice in 2026. Before you pay for flights, open Visit Qatar and look for Pakistan on the visa on arrival list. It takes a minute and could save a non-refundable ticket.