| Know Before You Go |
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VISA INFORMATION |
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Visa on arrival is available for the residents of 33 countries including Britain, America, Canada and Australia (see below for full list) at a cost of 100 riyals (currently equal to 27 dollars). A joint tourist visa for Qatar and Oman is available, although Qatar must be the first port of entry. According to Qatar E-government, the tourist visa is valid for two weeks, with the joint Qatar-Oman visa lasting for three weeks, after which it can be extended for a further week. Those applying for a tourist visa should have funds of QAR5000 or its equivalent (a credit card will do). If you are staying with friends or relatives, you should also have their address. Passengers are supposed to have return tickets on a Qatar Airways flight in order to get a visa. Note that passports must be valid for six months after the date of return. Exit visas are not required.
They are valid for two weeks. They can be extended for two weeks at airport immigration although it may be possible to extend them for longer. An exit visa is only needed if the individual on the business visa has stayed longer than four weeks.
People working in Qatar can sponsor family and relatives for a period of up to six months. (The initial stay is for one month, and this can be renewed up to a total of six months.) Wives and children can come for up to a year. To apply for the visa the applicant will need a copy of their id or passport and a copy of the visitor’s passport (a scan will do), a letter from the applicant’s own sponsor (i.e. their employer) and proof of their relationship such as birth and marriage certificates. You also need two photographs of the visitor.. The visit visa lasts for one month but can renew for up to five months for immediate family and for up to two months for other family residents. Residents in the country should apply at the Gharaffa immigration department near Landmark. CLIMATE The climate in Qatar comprises of summer with low rainfall, spring, winter and autumn. Usually summer will start from June to September in which the atmosphere is very hot whilst on spring and autumn it is warm and pleasant. Lightweight cottons and linens are advisable to wear during hot days. Warm and heavyweight clothes on cooler evenings during winter. WHEN TO GO The best time to visit Qatar is during November or late February to first weeks of March since the weather is much milder and more pleasant. During spring and winter, the sandstorms are very common whilst on summer the heat is fiercely hot. If you are into exciting sports, a trip to Qatar and its cities is worth to go in any season. One more thing, avoid visiting the country during Ramadan since most of the business and commercial establishments are closed. CURRENCY The national currency of the country is Qatari Riyal (QR), which is divided into 100 Dirham. Banknote comes in 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 denominations whilst coins include 25 and 50 dirham. NIGHTLIFE Like in most Muslim countries in any parts of the world, nightlife is limited or none at all. Qatar’s public and live entertainment is slightly restricted but there is a movie house in Doha showing English-language flicks and National Theater. There are also several international artists do perform in the country but it is infrequent. BUSINESS AND BANKING HOURS Every morning except for Fridays, bank offices are open. Government agencies are open from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturdays to Thursdays and private offices operate from 8:00 am-12:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 7:00pm (Saturday and Thursday). Most major establishments in big cities accept credit cards and traveler’s check. ELECTRICITY 240V + 6% with frequency of 50 Hertz TIME ZONE GMT +3 hours KEEP HEALTHY Always stay healthy when you are touring around the urban and rural areas of Qatar. Drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration but take necessary precautions if ever you will drink tap water. In addition, protect your skin from the sizzling of the sun with sunscreen lotion. And as much as possible, avoid foods particularly the ones in outside major hotels and resorts as it may bring food-related disease/s to your health. DO’S AND DON’TS
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