On Tuesday, Qatar became the second Muslim-majority country to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows its citizens to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. This achievement followed Qatar meeting stringent requirements set by the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security, including maintaining a low visa refusal rate, a low rate of visa overstays, and providing reciprocal treatment for American travelers, who can already visit Qatar visa-free for up to 30 days.
The announcement highlighted the growing strategic relationship between the U.S. and Qatar, underscoring the Gulf nation’s role in key diplomatic efforts, such as negotiating in Gaza and assisting with the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Qatar is now the 42nd country admitted to the program, alongside nations like Israel, which joined in 2023. Brunei remains the only other Muslim-majority country in the VWP.
Despite Qatar’s population of over 3 million, only around 320,000 Qatari citizens will be eligible for the program, as the majority of residents are foreign workers without Qatari passports. Although Qatari nationals will no longer need a visa to visit the U.S., they must still complete the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) process online. Starting October 1, U.S. citizens will also be permitted to stay in Qatar without a visa for up to 90 days.
