Qatar Cancels Visa-on-Arrival for Pakistanis Amid Concerns Over Extremism

❐ International Desk

Qatar has temporarily suspended visa-on-arrival facilities for Pakistani citizens, the Pakistani embassy in Doha said in a statement on Tuesday.

Qatar has accused Pakistanis of promoting terrorism. The country’s government has given priority to this reason behind the cancellation of on-arrival visa facilities, sources said.

The embassy’s statement said that previously, Pakistani citizens who arrived in Qatar without a visa had the opportunity to obtain an ‘on arrival’ visa from the immigration counter at the airport.

However, due to the current situation, this facility has been temporarily suspended. As a result, Pakistani citizens may face obstacles, complications, or various types of inconveniences at the immigration counter if they arrive in Qatar without obtaining a visa in advance.

The notification further said, “Due to the prevailing situation, the on-arrival visa facility for Pakistani citizens wishing to travel to Qatar is currently suspended. Therefore, to avoid any kind of problem, it is essential to obtain the appropriate visa before traveling to Qatar.”

Embassy officials said that from now on, it has been made mandatory for Pakistani citizens to obtain a visa in advance when traveling to Qatar.

A new travel guide has also been issued in this regard, which provides detailed instructions on the visa application process and required documents.

The notification only mentions “the prevailing situation” as the reason for the temporary suspension of the on-arrival visa facility, but does not elaborate on any specific reason. Although there are allegations that Pakistani citizens have been promoting extremist ideologies in the country for a long time.

There have even been cases of Pakistani citizens being arrested and deported because of this.

Meanwhile, Pakistani citizens wishing to travel to Qatar have been asked to monitor announcements on government and official media. The embassy also advised them to check the latest information by contacting the relevant authorities or visa centers in Qatar before traveling.

The Pakistani Embassy in Doha said it is ready to provide necessary assistance to Pakistani citizens residing in Qatar or wishing to travel there. However, it is specifically requested to ensure that all necessary information and documents, including visas, are available before traveling.