Last week, Qatar launched a portal for the online application of visa, making life easier for people who wished to visit the country for short durations. It also announced that citizens from more countries were now eligible for a visa on arrival in the country. 

The move has been widely hailed by many countries. South African nationals are some of the beneficiaries of the new system.

The South African embassy in Qatar posted an official document, titled ‘Official notification that South Africans can now obtain tourist visas for Qatar on arrival’ on its Facebook page.

“The embassy of the State of Qatar presents its compliments to the Department of International Relations in the Republic of South Africa, and has the honour to inform the esteemed department that the authorities in the state of Qatar have decided to grant the citizens of the Republic of South Africa tourist visas valid for one month, upon arrival in the state of Qatar, effective from 21 June 2017,” said the notification.

Many South African residents in Doha let their appreciation be known.

“It’s a good move that South African citizens can get visas on arrival. There’re a good number of South Africans and presence of our products in Qatar. This new move will attract more South African tourists to Qatar and help those who wish to visit their friends and families for a short time,” a South African expatriate working in the retail sector told The Peninsula. 

Taiwan is another country that has benefited from the new initiative. Focus Taiwan reported that Taiwanese passport holders who visit Qatar can stay there for up to 30 days with a landing visa.

It said that the new move came after Taiwan began granting e-visas to Qatari citizens last October.

Lebanese nationals coming into Qatar are also now eligible for visa on arrival and the move has been widely hailed.

For the families of thousands of Lebanese expats who live in Qatar, the step is set to make traveling to see their loved ones more convenient.

Many Lebanese in Qatar welcomed the move. 

“I honestly think it’s a great move. It makes it so much easier for our families and friends to visit us here given that at times we can’t make it back home due to work commitments,” said Rima, a Lebanese expatriate who has been living in Qatar for sic years.