Doha, June 23 (QNA) - Qatars Ministry of Interior, Qatar Airways and Qatar Tourism Authority, have launched an e-visa platform through which visitors to Qatar can directly apply for tourist visas.

Tourist visa applications can now be completed on the new e-visa platform, which is currently in pilot phase, at www.qatarvisaservice.com.

This new service is set to ease visitor access to Qatar, as it offers a more efficient and transparent visa application system, with standardized fees. Previously, applicants for tourist visas were required to submit their applications through accredited Qatar-based entities, such as hotels and tour operators. Now, travelers can apply directly and track the status of their application online.

Tourist visas will cost $42, including the service charge, with payments made online using a Visa or MasterCard. Documents required to complete the application include, passport scans, personal photographs, a scan of the passengers airline ticket, and the address they will be staying at when in Qatar. Passengers who are traveling on Qatar Airways will have the added convenience of having their ticket validated automatically as the visa service will be linked to the airlines booking platform.

The average timeframe for a response is 48 hours from when all of the applicants documents have been received. Once a traveler's application is accepted*, they will receive an e-visa by email.

The launch of the online visa service comes as Qatar steps up efforts to boost visitor arrivals, having introduced a new free-of-charge transit visa in November 2016. The new transit visa structure now allows passengers with a minimum transit time of five hours in Hamad International Airport, to stay in Qatar for up to 96 hours (four days), a significant increase from the previous scheme which allowed transiting passengers to remain in Qatar for 48 hours only.

The Qatar Visa Service is a result of partnership between Qatars Ministry of Interior, Qatar Airways, and Qatar Tourism Authority. The agreement was signed in September 2016 with the aim of enabling Qatar to identify and implement visa solutions for its visitors, while capitalizing on Qatar Airways expansive international footprint. (more)