I returned to Qatar on 30/4 and aked the officer on the passport control about this. They don't know. I wouldn't be surprised if MOI/MFA introduce the new regulation without any notice anytime soon. The old system will remain in place (for now) despite announced new rules which were set to be introduced on May 1st. Under the regulations, the nationals of 33 countries would have to apply for a visa prior to arrival in Qatar. But media in Qatar reported that the move had been delayed after Qatar’s Foreign Ministry received requests from some countries to continue with the old system and allow their nationals time before the new entry visa rules are enforced. According to Qatar News Agency (QNA), a source at the Consular Affairs Section of the Foreign Ministry said that the requests of these countries were being studied. “It has, therefore, been decided that the existing visa-on-arrival scheme at the Doha International Airport for the citizens of the 33 countries will remain unchanged,” QNA quoted a senior Foreign Ministry official as saying.
I returned to Qatar on 30/4 and aked the officer on the passport control about this. They don't know. I wouldn't be surprised if MOI/MFA introduce the new regulation without any notice anytime soon. The old system will remain in place (for now) despite announced new rules which were set to be introduced on May 1st. Under the regulations, the nationals of 33 countries would have to apply for a visa prior to arrival in Qatar. But media in Qatar reported that the move had been delayed after Qatar’s Foreign Ministry received requests from some countries to continue with the old system and allow their nationals time before the new entry visa rules are enforced. According to Qatar News Agency (QNA), a source at the Consular Affairs Section of the Foreign Ministry said that the requests of these countries were being studied. “It has, therefore, been decided that the existing visa-on-arrival scheme at the Doha International Airport for the citizens of the 33 countries will remain unchanged,” QNA quoted a senior Foreign Ministry official as saying.