On September 24, 2024, the secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, and the State Department, Antony Blinken, designated the State of Qatar for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
Starting no later than December 1, 2024, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) online application and mobile app will be updated to allow citizens and nationals of Qatar to apply to travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days without first obtaining a U.S. visa. These authorizations are generally valid for two years.
What to Expect
- Travelers with valid B-1/B-2 visas may continue to use their visa for travel to the United States, and B-1/B-2 visas will remain an option for Qatari citizens.
- ESTA applications may be found on the ESTA website, or travelers can download the “ESTA Mobile” app through the iOS App Store or the Google Play store.
- U.S. citizens already enjoy visa-free travel to Qatar, and beginning October 1, 2024, will be eligible to stay in Qatar for up to 90 days instead of the previous 30-day limit if they have a passport that is valid for at least three months from arrival and a confirmed hotel booking on arrival.
By meeting the VWP requirements, Qatar becomes the first Gulf country to enter the program.
More Information about the VWP
The VWP builds comprehensive security partnerships between the United States and designated countries that meet strict requirements related to counterterrorism, law enforcement, immigration enforcement, document security, and border management. These requirements include that the country have a rate of nonimmigrant visa refusals below 3% during the previous fiscal year; issue secure travel documents; extend reciprocal entry privileges to all U.S. citizens and nationals without regard to national origin, religion, ethnicity, or gender; and work closely with U.S. law enforcement and counterterrorism authorities.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Qatar will be the 42nd member of the VWP and the third country added under Secretary Mayorkas’s tenure (Croatia in 2021 and Israel in 2023). More information on the VWP can be found on the Visa Waiver Program page. Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.