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

Updated January 2024

The United Kingdom has streamlined entry procedures for travelers from Qatar. This includes the removal of the passenger locator form, as well as other requirements. Therefore, travellers from Qatar can now travel to the UK without any stringent entry restrictions.

Read on to discover the UK tourist visa requirements for Qatari citizens, how to apply for one, the documents and other requirements, along with the visa cost.

Table of Contents

UK tourist visa latest news & updates 2024

The United Kingdom has officially launched its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system for citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan. Commencing on 22 February 2024, nationals from these regions must secure an ETA before embarking on their journey to the UK. The primary goal behind this initiative is to fortify UK border security while simultaneously enhancing the travel experience for genuine visitors. This marks a significant stride toward modernizing and streamlining entry procedures for those intending to explore the charms of the United Kingdom.

All international visitors will be able to apply from home without having to visit a UK Embassy, and the application form should take only a few minutes to fill out. The personal data that need to be provided are valid passport data, some personal information, travel plan details, and a debit or credit card.

Do Qatar residents need a tourist visa to the UK?

GCC nations, including Qatar, can travel to the United Kingdom visa-free, making them the first batch of countries to benefit from the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) visa scheme.

The UK started private beta testing of its ETA scheme on 1 January 2023, and full-fledged operations began last year. Therefore, as of now, Qatari residents need to apply for an ETA to travel to the UK from 22 February 2024.

The Qatari residents can apply for the Standard Visitor Visa to visit or the UK Tourist Visa for tourism, as well as business, study (courses up to 6 months) and other purposes. You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months. However, you might be able to apply to stay for longer in certain circumstances, such as for medical treatment purposes.

UK Tourist Visa: How to Apply for Standard Visitor Visa to the UK?

Types of UK tourist visas for Qatari residents

The short-term standard visitor visa

Residents from Qatar can apply for the Standard Visitor Visa to visit the UK as a Standard Visitor for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months) and other permitted activities, including:

for tourism, for example on a holiday or vacation
to see your family or friends
to volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity
to pass through the UK to another country (‘in transit’)
for certain business activities.
to take part in a school exchange programme.
to do a recreational course of up to 30 days.
to study, do a placement or take an exam
as an academic, senior doctor or dentist
for medical reasons

You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months. However, you might be able to apply to stay for longer in certain circumstances, such as for medical treatment purposes.

The long-term standard visitor visa

Residents from Qatar can also apply for a long-term Standard Visitor Visa that lasts 2, 5 or 10 years if they need to visit the UK regularly over a longer period. You can stay for a maximum of 6 months on each visit. If you’re under 18 years old when you apply, your long-term Standard Visitor visa will only be valid for up to 6 months after you turn 18. You cannot get a refund for the fee.

The UK tourist visa from Qatar requirements

The following are some of the requirements that have to be met while applying for a Standard Visitor Visa or the UK Tourist Visa from Qatar:

A passport or travel document to enter the UK, that should be valid for the whole of your stay in the UK. Additionally, there must be a blank page in your passport for your Standard Visitor visa.
You must be able to show that:
- you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit
- you’re able to support yourself and your dependents during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)
- you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey)
- you’ll not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home

Book cheap flights from Qatar to UK now

Please note that you may need to meet extra eligibility requirements if you’re visiting the UK:

When to apply for the UK tourist visa from Qatar?

Qatari residents who require a Standard Visitor visa or UK Tourist Visa must apply online before they travel to the UK and attend an appointment at a visa application centre. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

The UK tourist visa application process

There are a few steps to follow when applying for the UK Standard Visitor Visa or the UK Tourist Visa in Qatar:

Complete the online application form

If you need a visa, you must apply online before you travel to the UK. Usually, the UK visa online application form contains questions on personal information such as:

your name & surname.
nationality.
country of residence.
marital status.
personal number.
passport number.
reason for wishing to enter the UK.
other information about your application.

Collect the required documents

As a part of your UK visa application, you should submit some mandatory required documents to support your case.

You must provide a passport or travel document. Your passport should be valid for the whole of your stay in the UK and must contain a blank page for your visa. You’ll be told what other documents and information to provide when you apply online.

You’ll need to provide the following information in your online application:

the dates you’re planning to travel to the UK
where you’ll be staying during your visit
how much you think your trip will cost
your current home address and how long you’ve lived there
your parents’ names and dates of birth (if known)
how much you earn in a year (if you have an income)
details of any criminal, civil or immigration offences you may have committed

Depending on your circumstances, you might also need to provide:

details of your travel history for the past 10 years
your employer’s address and telephone number
your partner’s name, date of birth and passport number
the name and address of anyone paying for your trip
the name, address and passport number of any family members you have in the UK
a certificate proving that you’ve had tuberculosis (TB) test if you’re visiting for more than 6 months

You need to provide additional documents if you’re visiting the UK:

Please note that you must provide certified translations of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Pay your fees

To complete your application you’ll need to pay for your visa, and for the healthcare surcharge, if applicable, after applying. Once you’ve paid your fees, you’ll be given a reference number that starts with GWF. Please make sure to take note of this, as it will be helpful regarding any changes to your visa application or appointment.

Schedule a UK visa appointment

After completing and paying for the visa application online, you’ll be directed to the VFS Global website to book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre. The Visa Application Centre will capture your biometric data (fingerprints and photographs).

Furthermore, you will also have the opportunity to select additional, optional services from VFS Global, to make your application process faster and easier.

Upload your supporting documents

You can submit all the documents required to support your application online. However, if you do not have a scanner at home or need help, you can scan the documents at the Visa Application Centre with their Document Scanning Assistance option. In most cases, a fee applies for this service.

Check out the Visa Application Centre’s guidelines for supporting documents.

Visit the visa application centre

Visit your UK VFS Visa application centre in Qatar and take all required documents with you on the day of your appointment:

aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment time
you must attend the appointment for your visa application. You cannot send someone in your place.
please bring your valid passport or travel document with at least one page that is blank on both sides.
at the Visa Application Centre, you will need to submit your fingerprints and photograph. This is known as biometric information. A digital finger scanner collects images of all 10 digits, and you will have a digital photo taken. The digital fingerprint scanner uses no inks, liquids or chemicals and will not mark your skin.
your digital photograph must be taken with a full face and without sunglasses or tinted spectacles, or head covering unless it is worn for religious or medical reasons.
your face should be clearly visible with no hair across the eyes
ensure your fingertips are free from any forms of decoration, cuts, abrasions or other markings, as these may affect your ability to provide acceptable finger scans
if you are applying for a visa on behalf of a child under 5 years old, they must also attend an appointment and have their digital photograph taken, but they don’t have to provide their fingerprint information
children under 16 years old need to be accompanied by an adult (18+) and this cannot be a member of VFS Global staff
without biometric information, your visa application will not be processed
you can upload your documents yourself after booking your appointment, or bring your supporting documents and use our Document Scanning Assistance service at the Visa Application Centre (fee applies)
if you have purchased, or plan to use our Document Scanning Assistance service, bring the originals or good-quality copies of your supporting documents to the Visa Application Centre

UK tourist visa tracking from Qatar

You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

Alternatively, you can refer to our article on the UK Visa Check 2022: How to Check your UK Visa Progress and Status? to get more information regarding the UK Tourist Visa tracking process.

UK Visa Check 2024: How to Check your UK Visa Progress and Status?

The UK tourist visa from Qatar processing time

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. However, it is currently taking 4 weeks on average to get a decision on Standard Visitor visas, due to a huge influx of travellers to the UK.

Please note that you will get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

The UK tourist visa from Qatar fees

Qatari residents travelling to the UK and applying for the UK Tourist Visa or the Standard Visitor Visa will be subject to the following fees, depending on the type of the visa:

Standard Visitor visa (for 6 months) – £100 (QAR 431.07)
Standard Visitor visa for medical reasons (for 11 months) – £200 (QAR 862.14)
Standard Visitor visa for academics (for 12 months) – £200 (QAR 862.14)
2-year long-term Standard Visitor visa (6 months per visit) – £376 (QAR 1,620.82)
5-year long-term Standard Visitor visa (6 months per visit) – £670 (QAR 2,888.16)
10-year long-term Standard Visitor visa (6 months per visit) – £837 (QAR 3,607.38)