By Peter Omopo
The Government of Qatar has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that it introduced new visa restrictions for Nigerian passport holders.
An official of the Qatari Ministry of Interior told the BBC Pidgin on Wednesday that no such restrictions exist, stressing that Nigerians remain eligible to apply for visas under existing procedures.
The clarification followed viral reports alleging that male Nigerian applicants would no longer be allowed entry into Qatar unless accompanied by family members. The reports further claimed that only women or families could apply for visas, with additional requirements such as five-star hotel bookings and return flight tickets.
According to the BBC, Hayya, Qatar’s official digital platform for e-visa services, also confirmed that the application process remains unchanged.
“There has been no suspension or changes to the current procedures. If any updates are to be made, they will be announced on our official platforms,” the platform stated.
The false claims had suggested that the restrictions were linked to cases of Nigerian travellers overstaying their visas.
Qatar has become an increasingly popular destination for Nigerians in recent years, partly due to the diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between 2021 and 2024, which led to visa restrictions and flight suspensions by the UAE.
The Qatari authorities reiterated that Nigerians can continue to apply for travel and transit visas under the existing rules without any new limitations.
