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LIST: Qatar waives visas for 80 nationalities amid Gulf boycott

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Reuters

DOHA - Qatar announced on Wednesday a program to allow visa-free entry for citizens of 80 countries to encourage air transport and tourism amid a two-month boycott imposed on the Gulf state by its neighbors.Nationals from dozens of countries in Europe and elsewhere including India, Lebanon, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States only need present a valid passport to enter the gas-rich country which hosts the soccer World Cup in 2022.Nationals of 33 countries will be allowed to stay for 180 days and the other 47 for up to 30 days.&quot;The visa exemption scheme will make Qatar the most open country in the region,&quot; Hassan al-Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development officer at Qatar Tourism Authority told reporters at a press conference in Doha.Nationals of the 33 countries listed below do not require prior visa arrangements and can obtain a visa waiver upon arrival in Qatar. The waiver will be valid for 180 days from the date of issuance and entitle its holder to spend up to 90 days in Qatar, during either a single trip or on multiple trips.1. Austria 2. Bahamas 3. Belgium 4. Bulgaria 5. Croatia 6. Cyprus 7. Czech Republic 8. Denmark 9. Estonia 10. Finland 11. France 12. Germany 13. Greece 14. Hungary 15. Iceland 16. Italy 17. Latvia 18. Liechtenstein 19. Lithuania 20. Luxembourg 21. Malta 22. Netherlands 23. Norway 24. Poland 25. Portugal 26. Romania 27. Seychelles 28. Slovakia 29. Slovenia 30. Spain 31. Sweden 32. Switzerland 33. TurkeyNationals of the 47 countries listed below do not require prior visa arrangements and can obtain a visa waiver upon arrival in Qatar. The waiver will be valid for 30 days from the date of issuance and entitle its holder to spend up to 30 days in Qatar, during either a single trip or on multiple trips. This waiver may be extended for a further 30 days.1. Andorra 2. Argentina 3. Australia 4. Azerbaijan 5. Belarus 6. Bolivia 7. Brazil 8. Brunei 9. Canada 10. Chile 11. China 12. Colombia 13. Costa Rica 14. Cuba 15. Ecuador 16. Georgia 17. Guyana 18. Hong Kong 19. India 20. Indonesia 21. Ireland 22. Japan 23. Kazakhstan 24. Lebanon 25. Macedonia 26. Malaysia 27. Maldives 28. Mexico 29. Moldova 30. Monaco 31. New Zealand 32. Panama33. Paraguay 34. Peru 35. Russia 36. San Marino 37. Singapore 38. South Africa 39. South Korea 40. Suriname 41. Thailand 42. Ukraine 43. United Kingdom 44. United States 45. Uruguay 46. Vatican City 47. Venezuela Oil giant Saudi Arabia along with Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates imposed a boycott on Qatar on June 5 and cut off all transport links with the country after accusing it of supporting terrorism and of close ties to Iran.Arab states draw up Qatari &#x27;terror list&#x27; http://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/06/09/17/arab-states-draw-up-qatari-terror-listDoha denies the charges. Since the boycott began, Qatar has sought to build up its diplomatic and trade ties beyond the Gulf region. The visa scheme is just the latest in a series of measures aimed at preparing Qatar for greater economic independence in the long term. Efforts led by Kuwait to resolve the rift are ongoing.Qatar has flown in food supplies from Turkey and Iran and chartered new shipping routes via Oman to bring in construction materials but hotel occupancy rates have fallen with Saudis, a key source of tourism, barred by their government from visiting the country.Visitors from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council usually account for almost half of all visitors to Qatar.Air links suspended by the four Arab states represented around 25 percent of flights by state-owned Qatar Airways, one of the region&#x27;s big three carriers.On August 3, Qatar approved legislation allowing certain permanent residents to benefit from parts of the state&#x27;s generous welfare system, including education and health-care services, a first for the Gulf.Under the law, children of Qatari women married to foreigners and people with special skills &quot;needed by the state,&quot; can benefit from the new status.Foreign workers from countries including India and Nepal account for around 90 percent of Qatar&#x27;s population of 2.7 million.Qatar&#x27;s World Cup organizing committee has said the Arab sanctions will not affect preparations for the World Cup.<div> </div>

DOHA - Qatar announced on Wednesday a program to allow visa-free entry for citizens of 80 countries to encourage air transport and tourism amid a two-month boycott imposed on the Gulf state by its neighbors.

DOHA - Qatar announced on Wednesday a program to allow visa-free entry for citizens of 80 countries to encourage air transport and tourism amid a two-month boycott imposed on the Gulf state by its neighbors.