The Government of Qatar has dismissed reports circulating on social media that it has introduced new visa restrictions on Nigerian passport holders.
An official of the Qatari Ministry of Interior told the BBC Pidgin on Wednesday that there are no changes to the country’s visa policy for Nigerians.
The clarification follows viral claims that Qatari authorities had barred single men from applying for visas unless they were travelling with their families, and that only women or families could apply if they presented a five-star hotel booking and a return ticket.
The reports also alleged that the purported restrictions were linked to frequent cases of overstays by Nigerian travellers.
However, Qatar’s e-visa platform, Hayya, 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.
Qatar has witnessed a surge in Nigerian visitors in recent years, partly due to the diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between 2021 and 2024, which saw visa restrictions and suspension of flights.
