Qatar Stops Visa on Arrival for Pakistanis as Hayya Portal Jams

Qatar has stopped the visa-on-arrival facility for Pakistani passport holders effective March 2026. Travelers now need to get visas in advance through the Hayya portal, but many applicants say their forms have stayed pending for months without any decision. Reports from Pakistani media like Business Recorder and Profit on September 16, 2026, note that major Gulf media have not covered this much. Pakistan’s Foreign Office stated they got no official notice from the Qatari government about a formal visa ban. Even without official confirmation, officials plan to bring up the issue through diplomatic channels. This situation affects over 200,000 Pakistani expats living in Qatar, which is the second-largest South Asian community after India. Migrant workers cannot bring their parents and families to the country right now, and family visit visa requests stay stuck. Also, some Pakistani citizens cannot visit Doha’s VFS center to give biometrics for residence permits for countries like Finland.

Visa Rules and Security

Industry analysts blame these stricter visa rules on the regional security situation after the conflict involving Iran. For travelers and residents, changing rules mean they must check visa needs through official portals and embassy advisories before they make travel plans. This report uses data from Business Recorder and Profit Pakistan Today on September 16, 2026, and an advisory from the Pakistani Embassy in Doha in March 2026.

Impact on Expats

Qatar has suspended the visa-on-arrival facility for Pakistani passport holders effective March 2026. Travelers must now get visas in advance via the Hayya portal. Numerous applicants report that their submissions have remained pending for months without a decision. Pakistan’s Foreign Office stated they have not received an official notification from the Qatari government regarding a formal visa ban. The situation impacts more than 200,000 Pakistani expatriates residing in Qatar.