Quick answer
No prior visa is needed. Indian passport holders can enter Qatar visa-free for up to 30 days, free of charge, but must hold a confirmed hotel booking, and Qatar's Ministry of Interior requires that booking to be made through Discover Qatar. Alternatively, Indians can apply online for a Hayya Tourist e-Visa (A1) for QAR 100, with a hotel booked on any platform or a stay with family or friends.
Qatar visa for Indians at a glance
| Visa needed for tourism? | No prior visa. Visa-free entry with a confirmed hotel booking on arrival.1 |
|---|---|
| Visa-free stay | 30 days, multiple entries, extendable for another 30 days2 |
| Visa-free fee | Free of charge2 |
| Hotel rule for Indians | Hotel must be booked through Discover Qatar before travel (MOI requirement for India, Pakistan, Thailand, Iran)3 |
| Hayya Tourist e-Visa (A1) fee | QAR 100, non-refundable4 |
| Hayya A1 accommodation | Any hotel platform, or hosted by family and friends. Discover Qatar is not required for Indian Hayya applicants.4 |
Visa options for Indian passport holders
Visa-free entry (formerly 'visa on arrival')1235
- Who can use it
- Indian passport holders
- Stay
- 30 days
- Validity
- 30 days
- Entries
- Multiple
- Fee
- Free of charge
- Processing time
- At the airport on arrival
- Where to apply
- No application. Book your hotel on the Discover Qatar website before travel.
- Good to know
- A confirmed hotel booking is needed on arrival. MOI requires Indians to book this through Discover Qatar. Discover Qatar charges a QAR 100 cancellation fee if the authorities reject an application.
Hayya Tourist e-Visa (A1)46
- Who can use it
- Anyone travelling for tourism or to visit friends and family. Visit Qatar's checker shows Indians as eligible.
- Entries
- Single
- Fee
- QAR 100, non-refundable, paid within 14 days of 'Pending Payment'
- Processing time
- No fixed processing time; apply well in advance
- Where to apply
- https://hayya.qa or the 'Hayya to Qatar' app
- Good to know
- Accommodation proof is needed: a hotel booking or a host through 'Host Family and Friends'. Indians are not limited to Discover Qatar for Hayya.
Hayya Visa with ETA (A3)4
- Who can use it
- Holders of a valid visa or residence permit from the US, UK, Canada, Schengen, Australia or New Zealand
- Entries
- Single
- Fee
- QAR 100
- Where to apply
- https://hayya.qa
- Good to know
- The qualifying visa or residence permit must be valid when the e-Visa is issued.
Hayya GCC Resident Visa (A2)4
- Who can use it
- Residents of a GCC country with a GCC ID valid at least 3 months from arrival
- Stay
- Up to 30 days
- Entries
- Single
- Fee
- QAR 100
- Where to apply
- https://hayya.qa
- Good to know
- Applicant should travel from their GCC country of residence.
Documents to prepare
- Return or onward ticket.24
- Confirmed hotel booking on arrival (visa-free route), booked through Discover Qatar for Indian passport holders.13
- Hayya A1: passport valid at least 3 months from arrival, proof of accommodation (hotel booking or hosted by family and friends), return ticket and the Hayya e-Visa.4
- Hotel booking must cover the whole stay from arrival to departure without gaps.4
Before you fly and on arrival
- Visa-free entry is stamped in the passport at the airport with the entry date and the end of the permitted stay.2
- Hayya e-Visa holders should carry proof of accommodation, as it can be checked at any time during travel.4
Applying from Kerala
- Everything is online. There is no embassy or visa-centre step for tourists. Book your hotel on discoverqatar.qa for visa-free entry, or apply for a Hayya e-Visa at hayya.qa.136
Extending your stay
- Visa-free stay can be extended once for another 30 days through the MOI stay-extension service.2
- Hayya e-Visa extensions are handled by the Directorate of Passports at Hamad International Airport.4
How Albah Holidays can help
- We handle Qatar visit visa applications from our office in Kozhikode — we tell you the exact documents for your visa type and submit the application.
- Flights from Calicut, Kannur or Kochi, hotels and travel insurance — booked together with us.
- Send your passport copy and travel dates on WhatsApp, or visit our office in Eranhipalam, Kozhikode.
- Flights to Qatar from Calicut, Kannur or Kochi, booked with your visa so the dates line up and the name on the ticket matches the passport.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Qatar?
No prior visa is needed. Indians can enter visa-free for 30 days with a confirmed hotel booking made through Discover Qatar.123
Is the Qatar visa free for Indians?
Visa-free entry is free of charge. The optional Hayya e-Visa costs QAR 100.24
Must Indians book hotels through Discover Qatar?
For visa-free entry, yes: the Ministry of Interior requires it for Indian passport holders. For a Hayya e-Visa, no: any platform, or a stay with family and friends, is accepted.34
Can I stay with relatives in Qatar?
Yes, with a Hayya e-Visa. Your host registers you under 'Host Family and Friends' on Hayya.4
Official sources
- Visas | Qatar Visa Check (nationality: India) — Visit Qatar, Qatar Tourism. checked 24 September 2026.
- Tourist (30 days) visa-free list — Ministry of Interior, Qatar. checked 24 September 2026.
- Mandatory hotels for visa on arrival — Discover Qatar (booking platform named by Visit Qatar for the MOI hotel requirement). checked 24 September 2026.
- Hayya FAQ — Hayya Portal, State of Qatar. checked 24 September 2026.
- Visas FAQ: Visa-free entry; Visa on arrival - mandated hotel requirement — Visit Qatar, Qatar Tourism. checked 24 September 2026.
- Hayya eligibility result (country=India: Tourist Visa A1) — Hayya Portal, State of Qatar. checked 24 September 2026.
Rules, fees and processing times can change without notice. Every fact on this page was checked against the official sources above on 24 September 2026. Confirm before you travel — we recheck the current rules for every application we handle.