With scheduled services at Doha’s Hamad International Airport still severely curtailed, the Indian Embassy in Qatar has asked tourists and other short-term Indian visitors to register their details via a new Google Form. The notice, issued on 8 March, follows a system crash that saw earlier registration attempts fail under heavy traffic. Only Hayya A1 and other visit-visa holders without Qatari residency are required to sign up, but compliance is strongly advised. Embassy officials say the data will guide any future repatriation flights—similar to 2021’s “Vande Bharat” missions—and allow consular teams to prioritise medical cases, students and elderly travellers. Approximately 15,000 Indians have already returned from the wider Gulf since airspace closures began on 28 February after a U.S.–Israel strike on Iran triggered regional retaliation. Qatar remains the most affected hub because over-flight restrictions force wide-body jets to make costly detours via the Strait of Hormuz. For corporate mobility departments the directive is a reminder to map employees’ exact visa status. Staff on business visas who entered Qatar via neighbouring Saudi Arabia, for example, are exempt from the list but may still need exit permits if they cross land borders. Employers should also verify that health insurance covers extended stays and liaise with payroll teams about any tax-residency thresholds that may be breached if assignments are unexpectedly prolonged.
Source: Times of Visa
