…New visa guidelines demand 5-star resort bookings, return transfers, others
By Favour Ulebor
Nigerian males travelling alone will not have the ability to get hold of vacationer or transit visas to Qatar, following new guidelines launched by the nation’s Ministry of Inside.
The choice, which authorities say is supposed to curb overstays, has sparked considerations that it might have an effect on enterprise, household connections, and wider relations between each nations.
The coverage, which took impact round September 5, 2025, was first reported by trade sources and journey companies final week.
It applies instantly to each new and pending visa purposes.
Underneath the revised guidelines, solely girls or households are eligible to use for visas, whereas males travelling independently are excluded except accompanied by household.
Candidates are additionally required to e-book a confirmed return switch and safe lodging solely in five-star accommodations earlier than visas might be processed.
For a lot of Nigerians, significantly male enterprise executives, college students, and people utilizing Doha as a connecting hub to Asia and Europe, the brand new guidelines come as a significant setback.
Unbiased journey for males has successfully been minimize off, elevating prices and limiting alternatives for individuals who depend on Qatar as a transit level.
“That is going to have an effect on a whole lot of Nigerians who fly Qatar Airways to Asia or Europe.
“For males, it’s virtually a journey ban if they don’t seem to be going with their household,” Vanguard gathered.
Qatar says the coverage is aimed toward stopping overstays, however for Nigeria, the restrictions threat straining ties and reducing people-to-people exchanges.
Male travellers particularly now face the burden of both cancelling plans or restructuring journeys underneath stricter and dearer situations.
This isn’t the primary time visa restrictions have created friction.
In 2019, then Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, appealed to Qatar to ease entry limitations for Nigerians, whereas in 2023, former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, urged for a fairer visa system.
But the brand new guidelines seem even more durable, particularly on Nigerian males.
The publish Qatar bars Nigerian males from solo journey appeared first on Vanguard Information.
