Recent developments for international credit card holders in Qatar include information about how long it takes for some major brands to process your visa. Some people have taken advantage of this knowledge and saved money by leaving their country earlier or staying longer!
If you’re thinking of traveling, these tips can help ensure that you don’t run out of time due to slow processing times at the airport. Luckily, we've gathered all the info here for you so that you're well-informed!
We'll cover which countries are affected, what companies are listed as taking too long, and if there's anything you can do about it.
Depending on where you apply for your visa, how long it takes to process can vary. Some countries seem to move at lightning speed while others take much longer.
The length of time needed for processing varies from days to weeks depending on the country. This is due to several reasons, some internal, some external. For example, when things go quickly, this may be because there are not too many people working at the embassy or consulate. Therefore, their workload is lower than it could be.
It also depends on what questions they ask you during the interview. If they do not bring up any issues, then that helps make the process faster as well.
Another reason why processing times differ so much is because some embassies and consulates are more efficient than others. People who work at these agencies know the system very well, which helps them complete tasks quicker.
On the other hand, some agencies have poor timing software or equipment which makes it difficult for them to track all of the information correctly. This causes them to waste time looking through incorrect data or files, making the whole process take longer.
It is not worth waiting around for your visa to be processed after you have already traveled here.
There are several ways to apply for a tourist visa in Qatar, so it does not matter which method you use, it will take about the same amount of time.
However, there can be significant differences in how long it takes to process your visa depending on what kind of passport you use and where you send your application.
We have gathered some information that may help reduce the stress of having to wait for your visa. So keep reading!
If you need more detailed information or want to do this job yourself, we have provided all the documents needed below.
It’s important to remember that even though it seems like there is no movement at all with respect to getting your passport or visa, things can move quickly in Qatar.
Qatar is known for its fast-moving events, so keep up with the latest developments!
That means it’s helpful to be as well prepared as possible before traveling here. Check out our tips below if you’re struggling to find how long visa processing takes in Qatar. Also, don’t forget to visit the Qatari Embassy website to see what documents they require from you while processing your visa.
General information
You must have proof of an onward ticket (for example, a return flight) once you arrive in Qatar.
If you do not have this, then you will need to spend some time looking for work here or buying a new one. This can take days, depending on your situation. So, make sure you have enough money to last you until you find employment and/or buy a plane ticket home!
Another thing to check is whether you are allowed to enter and live in Qatar with only your national identity card. You should know this before you travel because most people are required to carry both their national ID card and passport when entering the country.
Having a visa on arrival is usually preferred as it saves you time, but only if there are no passport requirements for when you enter the country.
As of October 2017, there are now some restrictions on how many days you can stay in Qatar with just your passport.
Visas that allow exit trips from Qatar typically expire within 90 days of entry, so if you have to leave the country during this period, you’ll need to renew the visa before leaving.
But even though most visas give you an extended departure date, it is not guaranteed! The Qatari immigration department may decide they do not want you to leave Qatar at all during this time frame, so make sure your plans are solid before applying for the visa.
Another thing to note is that having a confirmed flight means different things depending on whether you apply online or through a Qatar Airways agent. For example, if you apply via Agent, you will be given a boarding pass which you must show to board the plane, whereas if you apply Online then you will simply upload your ticket and proof of payment and wait for approval after that.
If you are traveling for less than two weeks, then there is no need to worry about visa processing!
You do not need to speak with an immigration officer nor do you need to send a representative while you are away.
However, if you plan to spend more than two weeks outside of Qatar, then you should know how long it takes to process visas here.
Most people find that receiving their visa within one week is very difficult unless they are well connected or pay a lot of money for a visa agent. Even then, this can take several days.
We could not confirm exactly when visa processing times are the longest but we were able to gather some information. Many people seem to be aware of at least one situation where it took over a month to get their visa.
Another thing that can eat up your time is the bank statement review. This means getting into your online banking account or sending them an email, depending on which method they use for transactions.
By this stage of the process, most people have already done their paperwork so there isn’t much else left to do!
However, if something looks off, then it comes back to be checked again. This could take some more time depending on how careful the agent reviewing it is.
At the Kuwait Embassy, it took just over one business day for processing of documents. This includes both receiving your documents and having them reviewed before being given visa approval or rejection.
At the Saudi Arabian Embassy, it can take anywhere between 1-3 days to process paperwork. They also charge an additional 2,500 QAR (per person) for each extension request!
At the UAE Embassy, it takes around two weeks to get your visas processed. During this time, you will be notified every step of the process via email as well as by phone.
In fact, it is not easy to get a visa for more than 30 days in Qatar. This includes tourist visas as well as business or work visatils.
There are two main reasons why this happens. The first one is that there just aren’t enough seats at the Qatari embassies around the world for all of the applications that they receive.
The second reason has to do with the way that some countries process visa applications. Some nations require you to send over lots of documents and proofs before issuing a visa, which can take weeks or even months depending on how busy their offices happen to be at any given time.
This article will go into detail about what kind of documentation you need to pack when traveling to Qatar, what embassy locations are able to issue longer term visas, and whether or not it’s worth the effort to try and obtain a longer stay.
