According to findings by KogiTribune, the new rules impose tighter eligibility criteria for tourist and transit visas. Under the policy, applicants must secure a confirmed return transfer along with hotel reservations before their applications can be processed.
Significantly, the new guidelines exclude single male travellers from eligibility. Only female applicants and families are allowed to apply, while men will only be considered if travelling with their families.
In addition, Qatar now requires that only 5-star hotel bookings will be accepted as part of the visa application process.
The Ministry confirmed that the measures take immediate effect and will apply not only to new requests but also to all pending visa applications.