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Qatari Citizens Can Attend SPIEF Without a Visa

Qatari Citizens Can Attend SPIEF Without a Visa

An agreement regarding the mutual waiver of visa requirements between Russia and Qatar will go into effect on 23 February 2020.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, based on the agreement, Russian and Qatari citizens not intending to work, study or reside in the territory of the other state are exempted from the requirements for obtaining visas to enter, stay, leave or transit through the territory of that state.  The duration of each such stay cannot exceed 90 days. Citizens of Russia and Qatar are permitted to stay in the territory of the other state without visas for a total of no more than 90 days for each period of 180 days.

“The agreement to waive visas will certainly simplify preparations for Qatar’s participation in SPIEF as a guest country. It will simplify business trips in anticipation of the Forum and the Qatari delegation’s visit in June of this year. Crucially, this new visa regime will also facilitate the development of business and cultural ties in the years to come, aiding in the development of mutual investment, tourism, and economic ties,” said Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the SPIEF Organizing Committee Anton Kobyakov.

“The government of the State of Qatar and the government of Russia have recently signed an agreement on the mutual cancellation of visa requirements for our citizens. This means a visa-free travel regime between the two friendly nations which will definitely result in further deepening and strengthening of our cultural connections and ties. This year Qatar will participate in St. Petersburg International Economic Forum as a guest country and we hope to contribute to this remarkable initiative and to pave the way for strengthening relations between our countries together with our friends and partners at Roscongress Foundation,” said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar to the Russian Federation Fahad bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah.

Earlier during his meeting with Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev stated that the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin is expecting Emir to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June 2020. This meeting took place during the official two-day visit of Russia’s Secretary of the Security Council to Doha dedicated to security discussions between the two countries.

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