Qatar Citizens Can Travel to the UK Visa Free From October

Qatar citizens will no longer require a visa to enter the UK starting from October 2023, British Ambassador to Qatar Jon Wilks announced.

Qataris will instead be able to apply for entry and be granted a two-year stay via a quick mobile application process.

This move is expected to boost the number of Qatari tourists in the UK and facilitate smoother travel between the two countries.

"The technical team is present in Qatar, and we have met with officials to test the new application system. In October, we will introduce and activate the new system, and Qatar will be the first country in the world to have access to this new system and be exempted from visas," the UK envoy said.

"Any Qatari citizen is free to choose between applying for the regular visa that still exists and obtaining a ten-year visa, or applying through the application with extreme flexibility, and within five minutes, any Qatari can obtain a two-year visa with a multiple visit system," he added.

Wilks highlighted that he bilateral relation between the UK and Qatar "is very strong," adding that this step is "very important to strengthen the relationship between the two countries in all aspects."

"Trade and investments figures are taking a very positive direction, partially recovering from the COVID-19, but more generally, we are seeing businesses moving from both directions," he said.