Qatar: Visa on Arrival Program Expanded to Additional Job Titles

Qatari authorities have broadened the Visa on Arrival program for holders of residence permits from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, adding thirteen new job titles to the list of occupations that qualify for the program. The revised list has not been officially released, but an unofficial English translation includes the following job titles: auditor, general manager, general CEO, investor, partner, banking manager, marketing executive, sales executive, special needs tutor, general specialist, general counselor, programs designer, and aircraft mechanic.

To qualify for a Visa on Arrival under new rules announced in January, a foreign national must hold a residence permit from a GCC country (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, or the United Arab Emirates) and must work in a job title designated on a list published by the Qatar Ministry of Interior. While an English translation of the original list is available, Qatari officials rely exclusively on the original Arabic list and will interpret it strictly. If a foreign national’s proposed job title in Qatar is not exactly the same as an entry on the Arabic list, he or she may be denied entry.

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Source: Fragomen