Qatar Joins U.S. Visa Waiver Program: What Travelers Need to Know
Starting December 1 2024 Qatar becomes the 42nd – and first Arab Gulf state – to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, allowing 90-day visa-free travel for citizens and longer stays for Americans. Here are the steps for ESTA authorization and what it means for future trips.
In a landmark development for U.S.-Qatar relations, the U.S. Department of State has confirmed that Qatar will become, effective 1 December 2024, the 42nd country admitted to the prestigious U.S. Visa Waiver Program. This designation makes Qatar the first Arab Gulf state to receive this coveted status, underscoring the rising global significance of the small emirate.
A Reinforced Partnership
Reaching this milestone followed years of close cooperation between Washington and Doha. Qatar met stringent U.S. benchmarks on security, counter-terrorism and border management to qualify for the program. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas praised Qatar’s accomplishments, citing the strengthened strategic partnership as a key outcome.
Streamlined Travel
From 1 December onward, Qatari citizens will be able to travel to the United States for tourism or short-term business for up to 90 days without a visa, provided they first obtain an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). In return, U.S. passport holders will enjoy visa-free stays in Qatar of up to 90 days beginning 1 October 2024, up from a previous limit of 30 days.
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How to Obtain an ESTA
Travelers from Qatar can submit their ESTA application via the official site esta.cbp.dhs.gov or via the official mobile app ESTA Mobile. Completing the simple online form and paying a 21 USD fee secures travel authorization good for two years—unless the passport expires sooner. Applicants may also use authorised private agencies to assist with the process.
Aside from Qatar, 41 Visa Waiver Program countries currently allow their citizens to enter the United States for business or tourist stays of up to 90 days without a prior visa, provided they obtain ESTA approval beforehand: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
Nationals of these countries must still complete an ESTA application and hold a valid e-passport before departure. The addition of Qatar is expected to further energise two-way economic exchanges, particularly in energy and technology sectors, by removing previous visa constraints on business travel.
On the security front, integrating Qatar into the VWP deepens information-sharing collaboration. Al-Udeid Air Base outside Doha—already central to U.S. military operations across the Middle East—epitomises the strengthened coordination now under way.
