Qatar joins US Visa Waiver Program

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Qatari citizens will in the coming days be able to travel visa-free to the US for up to 90 days, thanks to its admission to the Visa Waiver Program(VWP).

The move, according to a joint statement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the State Department of Homeland Security(DHS) will deepen strategic partnership between the two countries by bolstering movement of people and commerce.

“The Visa Waiver Program is one of our most successful security initiatives. Qatar’s participation in the program increases information sharing regarding one of the world’s busiest travel and transfer hubs, strengthening the security of the United States,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.

“I commend our Qatari partners for meeting the stringent requirements in this agreement entails and look forward to our continued work together on behalf of our respective countries.”

The requirements to join the Visa Waiver Program include that the country have a rate of nonimmigrant visa refusals below 3% during the previous fiscal year; issues secure travel documents; extends reciprocal entry privileges to all U.S. citizens and nationals without regard to national origin, religion, ethnicity, or gender; and works closely with U.S. law enforcement and counterterrorism authorities.

Qatar put forth a significant whole-of-government effort to meet all program requirements, including entering into partnerships with the United States to share information on terrorism and serious crimes.

As with all Visa Waiver Program countries, DHS will continually monitor Qatar’s compliance with all program requirements.

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.

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.

Under the Visa Waiver Program, citizens and nationals of Qatar will be able to apply for authorization to travel to the United States through the ESTA online or mobile app at a date to be announced shortly after Qatar’s VWP admission. Participating countries are reviewed at least biennially, as required in statute, to ensure they continue to meet all program requirements.

Qatar will be the 42nd member of the Visa Waiver Programand the third country added under Secretary Mayorkas’s tenure (Croatia in 2021 and Israel in 2023).

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