RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(01)/INF/7
3 August 2001
(01-3852)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fourth Session
Doha, 9 – 13 November 2001
WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING  VISAS1
In order to clarify the procedure for obtaining visas, the Qatari authorities remind
Delegations that there are three ways of obtaining a visa:
1. By completing Form G (which was contained in the Box File) and
sending it to the WTO Secretariat with a photocopy of the delegate’ s
passport.  (This is the preferred procedure.)
Once the Visa Request has been received, it will be registered and the
applicant will receive a confirmation number in return which will facilitate
the pre-travel arrangements and airlin e controls.  Upon arrival in Doha the
actual visa will be issued.
2. Through the Qatar Embassy in their country
3. Through the Permanent Mission of Qatar in Geneva
For those Delegates who will choose Option 2 or 3 above, the procedure will
be as follows:  they should send Form B (request for accommodation which
was included in the Box File), to the WTO Secretariat.  At the end of
September, they will receive confirmation of their accommodation
reservation through their Delegation Co-ordinator.  At that time only, will
they be in a position to request their visa from the Qatar Embassy in their
country or the Permanent Mission of Qatar in Geneva.
Qatari Embassies throughout the world have been given instructions not to
issue visas to participants in the Conference unless they provide the
confirmation requested in the previous paragraph.
It should be noted that the procedures mentioned above do not apply to
representatives of the NGOs and the Press.  These representatives should go through their
own accreditation procedure.
__________
                                                     
1 All participants in the 4th Ministerial Conference in Doha will require an entry visa to
Qatar except those holding a Gulf  Cooperation Council (GCC)  passport.