Qatar has unveiled a significant expansion of its visa facilitation program for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) residents, announcing the extension of visit permits from one month to two months with multiple-entry privileges. The new regulations, set to take effect on November 30, 2025, through the Haya digital platform, represent a strategic move to enhance regional tourism integration.
The initiative, announced by Qatar Tourism, aims to capitalize on the nation’s post-FIFA World Cup 2025 infrastructure and event hosting capabilities. The enhanced visa scheme will enable GCC residents to more conveniently attend Qatar’s growing calendar of sports tournaments, cultural exhibitions, and entertainment events. This policy adjustment particularly supports the upcoming Arab Cup 2025 tournament, facilitating smoother entry procedures for regional spectators.
The Haya platform serves as a comprehensive digital ecosystem for visa processing and event management, offering five distinct electronic visa categories: standard tourist visas (A1), GCC resident visas (A2), electronic travel notification visas (A3), companion visas for GCC citizen guests (A4), and visa waivers for US citizens (F1). This streamlined approach significantly simplifies trip planning for international visitors while maintaining robust security protocols.
Tourism analysts view this development as part of Qatar’s broader strategy to position itself as a regional hub for major international events. The extended visa duration and multiple-entry feature address previous limitations that potentially constrained visitor mobility within the GCC region, particularly affecting those wishing to combine Qatari events with visits to neighboring countries.