ETA required
Qatari visitors need a UK ETA
First ETA nationality — travel from 15 November 2023
Qatar was the pilot nationality for UK ETA: applications opened 25 October 2023 for travel from 15 November 2023. Everyone else on the list joined later. Qatar Airways at Hamad will look for an approved ETA on a Qatari passport before a London flight. Fee £20 on the official service. The pilot is over — the same rules now apply as for other ETA nationalities (six-month visits, two-year or passport-life validity, no work). If you transit Doha toward the UK on another passport, follow that other nationality’s page, not this one.
Qatari travel facts
| Passport | Qatar |
|---|---|
| Roll-out | First ETA nationality — travel from 15 November 2023 |
| What you need | UK ETA (£20) |
| Stay | Usually up to 6 months as a visitor |
| Work | Not allowed on visit permission |
| Landside transit | ETA required if you pass UK border control |
Mistakes qatari visitors make
- Thinking the ‘pilot’ means Qataris are exempt now. They are not; they were first in, and they still need it.
- Using a Hayya-style event pass logic. UK ETA is unrelated to World Cup passes.
London notes for Qatari arrivals
QR into Heathrow T4 is the usual pattern. After a Gulf afternoon departure you often land late evening — TfL contactless still works; night Tube coverage is limited, so check the last Elizabeth line or a licensed black cab from the rank, not a tout.
FAQs
- Why was Qatar first?
- The Home Office rolled ETA out in waves. Qatar was wave one. The requirement remains.
- Does a Qatari ID replace a passport ETA?
- No. The ETA is bound to the passport you travel on.
Other passports
Bodhixt is not affiliated with UKVI. Confirm on GOV.UK before you book. Apply via https://www.gov.uk/eta only.