Qatar Added to Visa Waiver Program

Starting December 1, 2024, citizens of Qatar will be eligible to visit the United States for business or leisure for up to 90 days without a visa. They will be admitted under the Visa Waiver Program (“VWP”). 

Currently, the following countries are part of the VWP: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Qatar is the first Gulf country to be added to this program.

Citizens of these countries do not need visas to enter the United States for business or leisure for up to 90 days. But, they are required to obtain an approved travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (“ESTA”) at least 72 hours in advance of travel.  

Individuals in the US on the Visa Waiver Program generally are not eligible for extensions or changes of status.    

This alert is for informational purposes. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this development further.