COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Qatar (26 March Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes with exceptions

• Qatari citizens, their spouses and children, and permanent residency holders can enter.

• Residents who are currently in the State of Qatar and wish to travel and return will automatically receive an “Exceptional Entry Permit”. The resident or their employer will be able to print the permit from the Ministry of Interior’s website or “Metrash2” application at any point after their departure. Residents currently abroad are still required to get the “Exceptional Return Permit” via the “Qatar Portal” website if they wish to return to the State of Qatar.

• Residents’ entry will be organized based on a series of priorities, including public health indicators, the nature of the needs of the various government and semi-government sectors and humanitarian causes, and through submitting return requests for permits via the “Qatar Portal” website. The employer shall bear the costs of any quarantine.

• Citizens and residents wishing to return from countries not included in the COVID-19 Green List must book a hotel quarantine package from the listed hotels on the “Discover Qatar” website before travelling. The COVID-19 Green List countries are identified and published on the Ministry of Public Health website and announced by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority. The list is reviewed and updated regularly and can be found here.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• No with exceptions

• Foreigners are not allowed to enter Qatar. This does not apply to: a) passengers with a residence permit issued by Qatar. They must have an Exceptional Entry Permit; b) immediate family members of nationals of Qatar; c) domestic workers if accompanied by a national of Qatar or by an immediate family member of a national of Qatar; d) passengers with a diplomatic ID issued by the MOFA of Qatar and their family members.

• All Qatari and GCC citizens should travel from and to the State of Qatar using their passports and not their ID cards.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes

• Transit flights are operating.

• Hamad International Airport is open for transit flights. All transiting travellers will need to go through thermal screening and temperature checks.

Is a test required on arrival?

• Yes with exceptions

• Travellers will be required to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival at the airport. However, a negative COVID-19 test certificate obtained from an approved MOPH centre within 48 hours before departure to Qatar may be accepted for exemption from testing on arrival which is not applicable to Qatari and residents returning from Green list countries. The list of COVID-19 testing centres is updated regularly on the Ministry of Public Health’s website.

• Qatari and residents returning from one of the COVID-19 Green-Listed countries must be tested upon arrival at the Port of Entry (PoE) using the approved testing method for COVID-19 and sign the Undertaking for Home Quarantine to quarantine for one week. On the sixth day, the individual should visit one of the PHCC healthcare centres for re-testing.

• Travellers will be re-tested on the sixth day of quarantine and be allowed to end quarantine if they have a negative result on the COVID-19 test.

Test certificate required?

• No with exceptions

• If there are MOPH approved COVID-19 testing centres in the country of origin, a COVID-19-free certificate should be obtained from one of these centres to be exempted from testing at the airport. The certificate must be issued for a test performed within 48 hours before travel to Qatar. The list of COVID-19 testing centres is updated regularly on the Ministry of Public Health’s website.

• Travellers arriving through the Abu Samra border crossing from Saudi Arabia must have a negative COVID-19 test certificate issued within the last 72 hours prior to departure for Qatar.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• Yes

• Qatari citizens and residents returning from one of the COVID-19 Green-Listed countries must sign the Undertaking for Home Quarantine and agree to quarantine for a week on arrival in Qatar. Citizens and residents returning from the countries not included in the COVID-19 Green List should be quarantined at a hotel at their own expense for a week. They should book a quarantine package from the listed hotels on the “Discover Qatar” website. They will be re-tested on day 6 and released from the hotel after their health status on Ehteraz turns green on day 7.

• All travellers other than citizens of Qatar and residents with QID travelling to Qatar will need to enter hotel quarantine regardless of where the journey originates.

• Qatar government has stopped all exemptions from hotel quarantine for travellers coming from countries not included on the Green List effective from 14 February and until further notice. Exemptions may extend to diplomats and their family members holding MOFA issued IDs and Admin cardholders.

• Fully vaccinated people are now exempt from quarantine requirements. The quarantine exemption criteria are: a) 14 days must have passed after receiving the second dose before returning into Qatar and a negative PCR test is required on return to Qatar following travel or following exposure b) The quarantine exemption is valid for a period of six months, starting 14 days after the second dose, and this may be extended in the future with the availability of more clinical evidence; and c) The exemption does not currently apply to people vaccinated in other countries.

• Passengers arriving on flights originating from or transiting via the UK, South Africa, Netherlands, and Denmark will be required to book a quarantine package from the listed hotels on the 'Discover Qatar' website

• Travellers arriving through Abu Samra border crossing from Saudi Arabia must quarantine for seven days at a hotel. Hotel accommodation must be booked through the “Discover Qatar” prior to arrival. Travellers leaving Qatar through the Abu Samra border crossing will also need to make a reservation for hotel quarantine for their date of return before departure.

• Domestic workers and company-sponsored workers (manual and crafts workers) can be quarantined for 14 days at any of the listed hotels on the “Discover Qatar” website.

• In the case of home quarantine, the accommodation conditions should be suitable and have a separate room with its ensuite bathroom. If the accommodation is not appropriate, one of the hotel quarantine packages must be booked for the quarantine period through the “Discover Qatar” website.

• Travellers are required to download the Ehteraz app on arrival in Doha. The passenger’s health status on the app will change to Yellow within a few hours from arrival indicating ongoing quarantine. The health status will remain “yellow” until the completion of the full quarantine course and a negative COVID-19 result is obtained.

Is a vaccination required?

• No

• A vaccination for COVID-19 is not required for entry into the country.

Insurance required?

• No

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

Entry form required?

• Yes

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

• 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.

Recommended Border App

• Yes with exceptions

• The EHTERAZ mobile application is mandatory and must be installed on mobile phones. The app will track COVID-19 transmission chains and will give testing and medical information. Travellers will be asked to show the app on arrival.

• Diplomats, holders of MOFA issued administrative cards, and VVIP visitors are exempted from the above requirement.

Airline restrictions

• Moderate

• International and domestic commercial flights are operating.

• Inbound flights from low-risk countries are allowed.

• Cargo flights are operating

• Health screening measures are in place at all the entry ports including airports.

Border restrictions

• Moderate

• Saudi Arabia and UAE have reopened air, land, and sea borders with Qatar.

• The Abu Samra border crossing with Saudi Arabia has reopened with screening measures in place.

• Travel outside Qatar is allowed. However, travellers will be subject to quarantine upon their return at their own expense.

• Travellers with expired “Exceptional Entry Permits” can extend the validity of the permit for 30 days.

Curfew restrictions

• Moderate

• 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.

Social distancing restrictions

• Moderate

• Gatherings in closed spaces remain banned. Only five people will be allowed in open spaces.

Internal travel restrictions

• Moderate

• Masks are required

• Public transport is operating with a 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 from 07:00 to 20:00.

• Souks and wholesale markets are open.

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

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Hotels are open.

Restaurants open?

• Yes

• Restaurants can open with a limited capacity.

Bars and cafes open?

• Cafes can operate with a limited capacity.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• No

• Beaches are closed.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• Yes

• Museums are open with restricted hours and restricted capacity.

*Personal care services open? *

• Yes

• Health clubs, beauty/barber shops, hair stylists, and massage parlours are open with limited capacity.

Places of worship open?

• Yes

• Mosques are open for daily and Friday prayers.

Events allowed?

• No

• Weddings are banned, both indoors and outdoors.

• More than five people at indoor gatherings and 15 at outdoor events are prohibited.

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

• Gyms, public parks, and recreational centers are closed until further notice.

• Cinemas and theatres are open with limited capacity.

• Professional sports training has resumed.

• Sporting events can be resumed with spectators at a limited capacity indoors and outdoors.

• Government offices are open at a reduced capacity.

• Workplaces can increase the number of employees on-site with limited capacity and with strict health precautions.

• Libraries are open at a reduced capacity.

• Childcare facilities and nurseries are open at a reduced capacity.

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

The COVID-19 epidemic is changing constantly worldwide. This information is subject to change as the situation evolves. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Some countries are beginning to remove some restrictions gradually. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.