COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Qatar (22 July Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents are allowed to enter Qatar.

• Citizens and residents can travel abroad at any time, provided they adhere to the travel and return policy.

• Qatar has classified foreign countries into Green, Yellow and Red based on the level of risk. Entry requirements may be affected by the colour code of the countries that travellers are arriving from or have travelled through.

• Unvaccinated citizens and residents wishing to travel abroad to one of the countries not included in the COVID-19 Green list must book a hotel quarantine package for their return to Qatar. The booking must be made before travelling and the accepted quarantine hotels can be found on the Discover Qatar website before travelling.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• No with exceptions

• Pre-electronic registration through EHTERAZ APP to obtain a travel permit is mandatory for all passengers (optional for Qatari citizens and residents) at least 12 hours before travel. Passengers will be required to download all official documents and present the travel permit to the airline employees (if travelling through Hamad International Airport) to allow them to board the aircraft, or to present to the immigration employees at the land borders (if travelling through Abu Samra land port).

• For Group B travellers which include family visitors, business, leisure, including GCC residents (12 years old and above), entry is restricted to only vaccinated, and/or recovered individuals.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes

• All passengers transiting through Qatar must have the mandatory pre-travel PCR test certificate issued within the past 72 hours before arrival to Qatar. If they require another PCR test for their onward destination, they can have it performed at Hamad International Airport.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• Travellers who are fully vaccinated with the conditional vaccine, Sinopharm, will be subject to an antibody test on arrival. If the result is positive for antibodies, they will be exempted from quarantine. If the result is negative, the passenger will be required to undertake a PCR test upon arrival and must undergo quarantine based on the classification of the departure country.

Travellers returning from Umrah

• Citizens and residents who came from Umrah and cannot provide a valid PCR test certificate will be allowed to board their flights but they must undergo a PCR test upon arrival at Hamad International Airport or Abu Samra port at their own cost.

Group A: Qatari Citizens, Residents and GCC Citizens

• Travellers with symptoms will be tested as necessary as judged by the medical team at the ports.

• Travellers who are unvaccinated, inoculated with vaccines not recognized in the State of Qatar, or who fall short of the 14 days vaccine administration period since the second dose will undergo the following procedures:

• Coming from Green countries: 5 days home quarantine and a repeat PCR test on day 4. The traveller will be discharged on day 5 if the test is negative.

• Coming from Yellow countries: 7 days hotel quarantine and a repeat PCR test in the hotel on day 6. The traveller will be discharged on day 7 if the test is negative.

• Coming from Red countries: 10 days hotel quarantine and a repeat PCR test on arrival in the hotel on day 9. The traveller will be discharged on day 10 if the test is negative.

Test certificate required?

• Yes with exceptions

Group A: Qatari Citizens, Residents and GCC Citizens

• All arrivals must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate issued within the last 72 hours before arrival. The test must be taken in a medical centre approved by the local health authority of the issuing country to perform COVID-19 PCR tests.

Group B: Family Visitors, Business, Leisure, including GCC residents (12 years old and above)

• Travellers from Group B are not required to have a COVID-19 test certificate if they are fully vaccinated and/or recovered individuals.

Travellers returning from Umrah

• Citizens and residents who came from Umrah and cannot provide a valid PCR test certificate should be allowed to board their flights but they must undergo PCR test upon arrival at Hamad International Airport or Abu Samra port on a standard fee of QAR 300/- per test.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• With home quarantine, the accommodation conditions should be suitable, provided it has a separate room with its ensuite bathroom. If the accommodation is not appropriate, one of the hotel quarantine packages must be booked through the “Discover Qatar” website before travelling to Qatar.

• Citizens and residents who have recovered from a previous infection within the last 12 months are exempted from quarantine upon return from their travel abroad if they were asymptomatic and their PCR test result was negative. This rule applies to individuals diagnosed in Qatar. Those who were diagnosed in any GCC member states and received at least 1 dose of the MOPH-Qatar recognized vaccine are exempted from quarantine provided they submit a certificate detailing the previous infection and recovery issued by their local GCC state health authority.

Group A: Qatari Citizens, Residents and GCC Citizens

• Arrivals are exempted from quarantine if they are fully vaccinated with a MOPH recognized vaccine and at least 14 days have passed after receiving the second dose of a two-dose series vaccine or after receiving the single-dose of a single-dose vaccine. Vaccinated passengers coming from red-rated countries shall undergo a PCR test (at the passenger's expense) upon arrival at Hamad International Airport/Land Port. If the test result is positive, the passenger must comply with the isolation protocol.

• For partially vaccinated travellers or those who are fully vaccinated but 14 days have not passed from receiving the prescribed doses, or people who have received vaccines with conditional approval from the Ministry of Public Health:

• These categories shall be quarantined according to classification of the country of arrival. They must book the hotel quarantine package through “Discover Qatar” website for a 7-day quarantine if they come from a yellow list country or for a 10-day quarantine if they come from a red list country.

• Unvaccinated children ages 12 to 17 travelling with their fully vaccinated parents shall be subject to five (05) days of home quarantine if they are coming from a green listed country.

• Unvaccinated children aged (0-17) travelling with their fully vaccinated parents shall be subject to home quarantine based on classification of the country of arrival (07) days for the yellow countries, (10 days for red countries)“.

• Unvaccinated children travelling with their vaccinated parents who are GCC citizens but do not have residence in Qatar a Qatari residence card (QID) shall be subject to hotel quarantine based on the country classification of the country of arrival (5-day quarantine for green list countries, 7-day quarantine for yellow list countries, and 10-day quarantine for red list countries).

• For unvaccinated travellers belonging to group A and had trips to multiple countries for the last 10 days: to benefit from the quarantine privileges of the lower-tier country classification, they must be staying in the said lower-tier country COVID-19 classification for a minimum period of 10 days.

• For unvaccinated travellers belonging to group A and are returning from a medical treatment abroad must submit a clearance certificate (via Pre-entry registration www.Ehteraz.gov.qa) from the Medical Treatment Abroad Committee; Patients and their one (1) fully vaccinated escort coming from green and yellow countries shall be on home quarantine depending on the required quarantine period (i.e. Green – 5 days; Yellow – 7 days); while patients coming from Red country will be subject to 10 days hotel quarantine, they will be accompanied by their escort even if the latter is vaccinated.

• For unvaccinated lactating mothers, pregnant women, and those 75 years old and above will undergo the same testing and quarantine policy as to the rest of unvaccinated individuals.

• Travellers who are unvaccinated, inoculated with vaccines not recognized in the State of Qatar, or who fall short of the 14 days vaccine administration period since the second dose will undergo as mentioned below:

• Coming from Green countries: 5 days home quarantine and a repeat PCR test on day 4, and will be discharged on day 5 if the test is negative.

• Coming from Yellow countries: 7 days hotel quarantine and a repeat PCR test in the hotel on day 6, and they will be discharged on day 7 if the test is negative.

• Coming from Red countries: 10 days hotel quarantine and a repeat PCR on arrival in the hotel on day 9 and they will be discharged on day 10 if the test is negative.

• GCC citizens who do not hold a Qatari ID card shall be subject to a hotel quarantine for a period of (5) five days if travelling from countries on the Green List.

Group B: Family Visitors, Business, Leisure, including GCC residents (12 years old and above):

• The fully vaccinated individuals:

• are exempted from quarantine if they are fully vaccinated with a MOPH recognized vaccine and at least (14) days have passed after receiving the second dose of a two-dose series vaccine or from the single-dose in case of single-dose regime vaccine.

• Minors between (0-11) years old accompanied by their fully vaccinated parents are exempted from the quarantine if travelling from countries on the Green List.

• Minors between (0-11) years old accompanied by their fully vaccinated parents shall be subject to hotel quarantine for (07) days if travelling from countries on the Yellow List.

• No exception for Minors travelling from countries on the Red List.

Is a vaccination required?

• No with exceptions

• GCC citizens who have recovered from COVID-19 must present the original vaccination certificate (at least one dose of a vaccine approved by MOPH Qatar), PCR Test certificate and a certificate of prior infection with COVID-19.

• The validity of the vaccine to grant quarantine exemption is 12 months, starting (14) days after the second dose. This immunity period could be extended based on new and emerging data.

• Lists of approved/conditionally approved vaccines by the Ministry of Public Health: Pfizer/Biontech Vaccine (Comernate), Moderna vaccine (Spikefax), AstraZeneca vaccines (Coveshiel/Oxford/Vaxepheria), Janseen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine (One dose) and one conditionally approved vaccine: Sinopharm vaccine.

• Travellers fully vaccinated with the above-specified conditional vaccine: Sinopharm will be subject to an antibody test on arrival if the result is positive with antibodies, exempted from quarantine; otherwise the traveller must undergo applicable quarantine based on country of departure and perform COVID-19 PCR tests upon arrival.

• Travellers must present an official vaccination certificate that includes the following information:

• Name of the recipient as mentioned in their passport.

• Vaccination Date is clearly written as 1st and/or 2nd dose.

• Type/Name of the vaccine.

• Vaccine Lot number (if available)

• Official logo or stamp of the vaccination authority

Insurance required?

• No

• Proof of insurance coverage for COVID-19 expenses is not required to enter the country.

Entry form required? (health or other)

• Yes

• Arrivals are required to complete a Health Assessment Form upon arrival.

• Pre-electronic registration through (www.ehteraz.gov.qa) is optional for Qatari citizens and residents, however, it is still mandatory for visitors to obtain a travel permit at least (12) hours before travel. Passengers will be required to download all official documents and present the travel permit to airline employees (if travelling through Hamad International Airport) to be allowed to board the aircraft, or to present to the immigration employees at the land borders (in the event of traveling through Abu Samra land port).

• Travellers arriving through the Abu Samra border crossing from Saudi Arabia will need to sign a formal pledge to adhere to all the quarantine policies. All arrivals through the Abu Samra border will also need to apply through the EHTERAZ platform at least between 6 and 72 hours before arrival. They will need to present the application approval to the border employee upon arrival.

Recommended Border App

• Yes

• Travellers arriving or returning to the State of Qatar must download and activate the Ehteraz app on their mobiles upon arrival at the Port of Entry (PoE). To activate the app, the traveller must obtain the following:

• A Qatari SIM Card from a local telecom operator (Ooredoo and Vodafone).

• Internet access.

• A smartphone that supports either Android 6 and up or IOS 13.5 and higher.

• Download the application on a mobile phone either via Google Play or Apple App Store or from any search engines on the internet.

• SIM cards and smartphones are available for purchase at Hamad International Airport and Abu Samra port if the traveller does not have them before arrival.

• Diplomats, administrative cardholders, and VVIP visitors are exempted.

• Health status on Ehteraz will remain YELLOW for the whole of quarantine duration, and until a negative COVID-19 test result is obtained as per the quarantine policy stated above.

• Health Status on Ehteraz for the fully vaccinated individuals in Qatar will remain GREEN with a Golden Frame to indicate they are exempted from quarantine if their PCR test result was negative and they completed (14) days after the second dose.

• The Health Status on Ehteraz for citizens and residents who have been vaccinated abroad will remain GREEN without Golden Frame until their vaccination data are updated in the system.

• The Health Status on Ehteraz for visitors who have been vaccinated abroad will remain GREEN without Golden Frame until their vaccination data are updated in the system

Airline restrictions

• Minimal

• International and domestic commercial flights are operating.

Border restrictions

• Minimal

• Air borders are open.

• Air, land, and sea borders with Saudi Arabia and UAE are open.

• The Abu Samra border crossing with Saudi Arabia has reopened with screening measures in place. Click here and here for more information.

Curfew restrictions

• Minimal

• There is no curfew in place in Qatar.

• There are police checkpoints and mobile patrols to ensure the public is following restrictions. Anyone found violating the rules could be subject to penalties.

• Phase 3 of the lifting of restrictions has started. Phase 4 of the lifting of the restrictions will begin on 30 July.

Social restrictions

• Moderate

• Gatherings are limited.

• Indoors: Only 15 fully vaccinated people will be allowed. Otherwise, a maximum of five people will be allowed if one of them has not completed both doses of vaccine.

• Outdoors: Only 30 fully vaccinated people will be allowed outdoors. Otherwise, only 10 people will be allowed if they have not completed or taken doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Internal travel restrictions

• Moderate

• Masks are required

• Public transport and Metro services are operating with reduced capacity.

• Only four people are allowed in a vehicle.

• Travellers must show a green status on the EHTERAZ App.

• The Doha Industrial Area opened; however, visitors must have a permit from local authorities.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes

• Commercial sectors are open.

• Wholesale markets are open at a reduced capacity.

• Shopping centres and malls are allowed to remain open at a reduced capacity.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Hotels are open.

Restaurants open?

• Yes

• Restaurants are open.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes

• Cafes are open.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• Yes

• Beaches are open.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• Yes

• Museums are open at a reduced capacity.

*Personal care services open? *

• Yes

• Health centres, gyms, barbershops, hair stylists, beauty parlours, messages, sauna services are allowed to operate. All customers and employees must be fully vaccinated.

Places of worship open?

• Yes

• Mosques are open for daily and Friday prayers.

Events allowed?

• Yes with exceptions

• Conferences and exhibitions are banned, both indoors and outdoors.

• Weddings are allowed with capacity limits, provided most of the attendees are fully vaccinated.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Everyone is required to wear a face mask in public, except when driving alone in their cars. Violators may be fined or imprisoned.

Other

• Cinemas and theatres are allowed to operate at a reduced capacity. Most of the attendees must be fully vaccinated.

• Professional sports training has resumed.

• Government offices are open at a reduced capacity.

• Libraries are open.

• Private health clinics are providing services at a reduced capacity.

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Airlines may have their own requirements for testing, masking, and distancing. It is recommended that travellers carry a supply of face masks since the requirement can vary by location. It is recommended that travellers practice social distancing and maintain a 6-foot distance with other individuals and avoid crowded areas. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.