Complete Guide to Applying for Schengen Visa for Qatar Residents in 2023

This article is reviewed regularly by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.

Updated July 2023

The European countries have always been alluring to the Middle East, especially for Qatari travellers. The lush green courtyards, the scenic landscape bordering mountains and the local streets etched with culture make a trip to Europe a fulfilling travel experience.

If you are looking to travel to Europe from Qatar, here is everything you need to know about the Schengen Visa; the documents required, the detailed procedure and guidelines, and how to apply in Qatar.

What is a Schengen Visa?

A Schengen Visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any member of the Schengen area per stay for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. Currently, the Schengen area consists of 26 member countries. All of these countries are located in Europe. The 26 Schengen countries are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Croatia
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

Book cheap flights to Europe

 

Digital Schengen Visa

The European Parliament has approved a new strategy to digitize the physical Schengen visa application and sticker process. Travellers from outside the Schengen zone, including Qatar passport holders, will soon be able to apply for and receive their digital Schengen visa online.

The new platform allows individuals to apply for visas online without appointments or submitting physical passports. Instead of a sticker, a digital version will be provided, streamlining the process and enhancing security measures. The platform also allows visa seekers to input information, upload documents, complete payments, and receive notifications about their application status.

Check out our article to learn all about the Digital Schengen Visa for more details:

Do Qatar residents need to apply for Schengen Visa?

Yes, Qatari passport holders must obtain a Schengen Visa to enter any European country in the Schengen zone. Qatari residents must go through all the processes of meeting requirements and attending interviews to obtain a visa that permits them to enter the Schengen area.

The following categories can submit a visa application at a Schengen embassy/consulate/Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Qatar:

• Qatar passport holders.
• Other nationals who need a visa visit to Europe and are living in Qatar under a permanent or temporary residence permit.

Depending on the purpose under which you need to enter the Schengen area, you can apply for one of the following Schengen Visa types:

• Transit visa
• Tourism visa
• Visa for visiting family or friends
• Business visa
• Visa for culture and sports activities
• Visa for official visits
• Study visa
• Visa for medical reasons

Depending on your reasons for visiting the Schengen countries and the frequency of your visits, the Schengen consulate can issue you a single-entry visa, double-entry visa, or multiple-entry visa.

When to apply for Schengen Visa?

You should submit your Schengen Visa application at least 15 days before your planned trip and no earlier than six months.

Sometimes processing times can be delayed, so it’s in your best interest to submit your application more than 15 days before your trip just in case your visa is not issued on time.

Where to apply for Schengen Visa?

Applicants cannot submit their documents at whichever embassy/consulate of a Schengen country they wish to.

The Schengen area has rules in terms of where to submit your visa application, and according to these rules, depending on the number of countries you visit and the number of days you spend in each, you will have to apply at one of the following:

• if you are visiting one Schengen country – then apply at the body responsible for visa submission of that country in Qatar (the embassy/consulate/visa centre).
• if you are visiting more than one Schengen country – then where you need to apply depends on the number of days you plan to spend in each country:
  • if you are spending an equal amount of days in two or more countries – apply to the body responsible for visa submission of the country you will be visiting first.
  • if you are spending an unequal amount of days in two or more countries – apply to the body responsible for visa submission of the country where you will be spending more days.

Visa application centres in Qatar

VFS Global Visa Centre 
Address: Oqba Bin Nafie St, Doha, Qatar
Phone: +974 4423 1159

Germany Visa Application Centre
Address: 1.2 Floor Al Nuaimi Building, Next To Oqba Bin Nafee Metro Station, Zone 45 Airport Road, Al Matar St, Qatar
Phone: +974 4423 1162

Spain Visa Application Centre 
Address: Aamal Tower, 4th Floor (VIP Lift), West Bay، Qatar
Phone: +974 4000 0705

Italy Visa Application Centre 
Address: 6 Floor Tower 3 Gate Mall Omar Al Mukhtar St.Al Salam Plaza, Zone 63 West Bay), ( AlDafna Area Doha City, Qatar
Phone: +974 4423 1222

Belgium Visa Application Centre 
Address: Al Nuaimi Building, Next To Oqba Bin Nafee Metro Station, Zone 45 Airport Road, Al Matar St, Qatar
Phone: +974 4423 1157

Switzerland Visa Application Centre 
Address: 2 Floor Al Nuaimi Building Next To Oqba Bin Nafee Metro Station, Zone 45 Airport Road, Al Matar St, Qatar
Phone: +974 4423 1158

VFS Netherlands Visa Application Centre 
Address: Oqba Bin Nafie St, Doha, Qatar

BLS Visa Application Centre 
Address: 5th Floor, Office 22, Al Reem Tower (Opposite Intercontinental Hotel, Al Wehda St, Doha, Qatar
Phone: +974 4000 0705

Norway Visa Application Centre 
Address: 2 Floor Al Nuaimi Building Next To Oqba Bin Nafee Metro Station, Zone 45 Airport Road, Al Matar St, Qatar
Phone: +974 4424 1163

Czech Republic Visa Application Centre 
Address: 2 Floor Al Nuaimi Building Next To Oqba Bin Nafee Metro Station, Zone 45 Airport Road, Al Matar St, Qatar
Phone: +974 4423 1188

How to apply for Schengen Visa in Qatar?

Documents and requirements

The required documents are a crucial part of your visa application. You must prepare these documents for your Schengen Visa from Qatar:

• Schengen Visa application form (downloadable from embassy/visa center websites)
• Qatari passport (original + copy, with 3-month validity from date of leaving Schengen area, issued within last 10 years, and containing 2 blank pages)
• 2 identity photographs (following Schengen Visa photo guidelines)
• Civil status certificate (birth, marriage, family, or death certificate)
• Proof of accommodation (hotel bookings/reservations, Airbnb reservations, or proof of stay with a family member/friend)
• Round-trip flight itinerary (including internal flights)
• Travel health insurance (with medical coverage of EUR 30,000 or QAR 115,163)
• Proof of paid visa fee
• Cover letter (explaining purpose of visit, activities planned, duration of stay, etc.)
• Copies of previous Schengen Visas (if applicable)
• Birth certificate and parental consent (for minors traveling alone or with only one parent/legal guardian)
• Proof of financial means (original bank statements for the last 3-6 months, account balance or proof of regular income, and additional documents depending on employment status)

Steps to apply for Schengen Visa in Qatar

In order to apply for a Schengen Visa from Qatar you must follow these steps:

1. Check which Schengen Visa type you need. There are different Schengen Visa types depending on your purpose of travelling from Qatar to Europe.
2. Check where you need to apply for a Schengen Visa. Visit the country’s embassy, visa centre or consulates accordingly.
3. Decide when to apply for a Schengen Visa in Qatar. The earliest time you can lodge your Schengen Visa application in Qatar is 6 months before your planned trip, while the latest time to file your visa application is at least 15 working days before you intend to travel to Europe.
4. Collect the documents required for a Schengen Visa.
5. Book an appointment. Depending on the country, you may make an appointment online, by phone, or in person.
6. Fill out the visa application form. Download the application form and fill it out correctly and honestly. The Schengen Visa application form has the same format, no matter which country’s visa it is that the applicant is applying for.
7. Attend the interview on the day of your appointment. On the day of your appointment, show up on time at the facility where you will be interviewed. There you will meet a visa consular to whom you need to hand the collected documents, as required.
8. Pay the visa fee. You will need to pay a non-refundable administration fee when applying for a Schengen Visa, in order for your visa application to be processed.
9. Wait for the processing of your visa.

ETIAS for Qatar nationals

The European Commission has submitted a proposal to lift visa requirements for Qatar nationals to travel to the EU. This means that these nationalities would be eligible for ETIAS once it is introduced.

Once the visa-free agreement has been finalised, holders of a passport issued by Qatar or Kuwait will be able to cross European borders without a visa for short-term stays. They will still need a passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of entry.

Additionally, this year, they will also need to register online with ETIAS (the European Travel Information and Authorisation System). This is a mandatory requirement for citizens of all 60+ visa waiver countries.

What is the processing time for Schengen Visa in Qatar?

In most cases, it takes no more than 15 days to process a visa. That period can be extended from 15 to 45 days for some citizens.

If your Schengen Visa is approved

If you get your visa, make sure to understand carefully the labels attached to the visa sticker, including the period it permits you to remain in Europe. Otherwise, overstaying in the Schengen area might have consequences.

If your Schengen Visa gets rejected

If your visa application gets denied, read the reason why it didn’t grant you a visa and try to fulfil it the next time you apply. If you think that your application was correct and the decision on its refusal was a mistake, you can always appeal the visa rejection.

What is the cost of a Schengen Visa in Qatar?

The following is the current price cap for Schengen Visa for Qatari residents:

• Adults: 80 Euros (around QAR 308)
• Child between 6-12 years of age: 40 Euros (around QAR 154)
• Child younger than 6 years of age: FREE
• Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports travelling for official purposes: FREE
• A family member of an EU/EEA national: FREE
• Pupils, students and accompanying teachers during a school trip: FREE
• Researchers travelling to carry out scientific research: FREE

Again, in case the visa is denied, there is no refund of the money paid.

What is the validity of the Schengen Visa?

Different restrictions apply to Schengen visas depending on the type issued by a particular embassy/consulate, based on the purpose of travel and other relevant circumstances. Schengen visas are short-stay visas that allow stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The duration of the visit is indicated on the visa sticker, with single-entry visas allowing only one entry and double/multi-entry visas allowing multiple entries.