By The Qatari Ministry of Interior has dismissed claims circulating on social media that Nigerian passport holders face new visa restrictions.
An official of the ministry told BBC Pidgin on Wednesday that the alleged policy was false and that Qatar had not introduced any ban on Nigerians.
Recent viral reports suggested that Qatari authorities had barred Nigerian men from entering the country unless they travelled with their families. The same reports also alleged that only women and families were eligible to apply for visas, with additional requirements of a five-star hotel booking and return ticket. The claims further linked the supposed restrictions to incidents of Nigerians overstaying their visas.
But Qatar’s digital visa platform, Hayya, clarified that the process remained 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 said.
The clarification comes amid rising numbers of Nigerian visitors to Qatar in recent years. This trend partly followed the diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates, which from 2021 to 2024 led to visa restrictions and a suspension of flights.
