COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Qatar (28 April 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 travel 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; and d) passengers and their family members with a diplomatic ID issued by the MOFA of Qatar.

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

• Qatar Travel document holders do not require EEP (Exceptional Entry Permit).

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes

• Transit flights are operating.

• Hamad International Airport (HIA) is open for transit flights. A negative COVID-19 test certificate is not required for passengers transiting HIA. However, travellers should be aware of the requirements of the departure and destination countries. All transiting travellers will go through thermal screening and temperature checks.

• Any passengers transiting in Qatar who have been in or transited through India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines need to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to their scheduled departure time from these countries.

Test certificate required?

• Yes

• From 29th April 2021 at 0001hrs (Qatar Local Time), the Minister of Health has mandated strict implementation of the following changes to travel policy for arriving or transiting travelers from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka, and Philippines. This includes those who transit through other countries but whose original flight is from any of the aforementioned 6 countries (e.g. India – Kuwait – Doha). The following must be observed:

• All passengers whose original flight is from the said countries are subject to mandatory COVID-19 PCR Test done 48 hours before departure from the testing centers approved by their local health authority; Civil Aviation Authority and HIA are requested that all Airlines be required to strictly review the authenticity of the PCR certificate (and if possible stamp it with their seal of approval/review) before allowing any passenger to board the aircraft, no one should be allowed to board unless valid certificate is provided regardless if vaccinated against Covid-19, presence of immunity as a result COVID-19 infection within the past 6 months, age, or health condition.

• All passengers from the said countries must undergo a repeat COVID-19 PCR test in hotel quarantine or Mekhaines facility within one day of flight arrival.

• All passengers from the said countries arriving to Qatar must undergo 10 days quarantine in a dedicated quarantine facility, or 14 days if quarantine is at Mekhaines facility, regardless of previous vaccination or immunity against Covid-19.

• All of the established criteria for hotel/home quarantine exemptions DO NOT APPLY to travelers from the said countries.

• Government employees from the different ministries and other governmental entities on official missions that are 72 hours or less will be subjected to the current protocols that are approved by MOPH.

• Medical Escort will be allowed to board the aircraft but they will be subject to conditions stated above in points # 2-4 on their return to Qatar.

• Passengers who fail to comply with these requirements will not be able to board the flight to Qatar.

• All inbound/returning travelers (except some mentioned above) to Qatar, including those previously vaccinated or previously infected, must do a pre-travel COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of arrival in Qatar at the country of origin in a medical center that their local ministry of health approved to offer/operate to do the PCR test for COVID-19. The mandate is not applicable to transit passengers via Hamad International Airport in Doha. The PCR test result should be negative before they are allowed to board the aircraft to Qatar.

• In any case that the pre-travel COVID-19 PCR test certificate is found invalid, or if the traveler fail to provide a certificate (lost during travel, etc.) upon arrival in Qatar, the traveler will be subject to the following:

• (a) The traveler will be required to undergo PCR test at the HIA upon arrival with a fee of QAR 300/- payable using a bank card or through online link which will be sent to the passenger mobile number immediately after registration in HIA Clinics. MOPH Cashiers will be on site to arrange payment.

• (b) All travelers regardless age (including minors) are required to have PCR test done upon their arrival in HIA, or on arrival up to day 1 for those going to quarantine facilities (Hotels, Private, etc.).

• (c) Traveler whose Entry Permit indicates ‘Mukhaines Quarantine’ must not be allowed to board / enter through Abu Samra Land Port unless they hold a valid PCR test.

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.

• Citizens and residents returning from the countries not included in the COVID-19 Green List should quarantine 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 must carry a printed copy of the hotel quarantine booking. Some exemptions are:

• a) Children under the age of 18 who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine, whether returning from travelling alone or with their parents, will be subject to home quarantine for 7 days, provided that both parents have received the COVID-19 vaccine. However, this exemption does not include cases where one of the parents has not received the vaccine, and therefore they should be subject to hotel quarantine.

• b) If they return before the 14days, they need to have a confirmed hotel quarantine. [

• c) Persons aged 75 years and over, including one escort only who lives with them in the same residence, are subject to home quarantine if they have not received the COVID-19 vaccine or have received the first dose only.

• d) Pregnant women returning to the country with their husbands or a relative living with them in the same residence who received the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 14 days have past after receiving the second dose.

• e) Breastfeeding mothers and their infants (up to 2 years of age) returning to the country with their husbands or a relative living with them in the same residence who received the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 14 days have past after receiving the second dose.

• f) Patients sent for treatment abroad by the Ministry of Public Health according to their health condition, including one escort only living with them in the same residence are subject to home quarantine.

• 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 related to vulnerable categories 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.

• Those who are fully vaccinated inside Qatar are now exempt from quarantine requirements. The quarantine exemption criteria are:

• a) 14 days must have passed after receiving the second dose before returning to Qatar and a negative PCR test is required on return to Qatar.

• b) If 14 days have not passed from receiving the second dose before returning to Qatar, they are subject to home quarantine for 7 days.

• c) The quarantine exemption is valid for a period of nine months, starting 14 days after the second dose. They must carry a copy of the vaccination certificate or their Ehteraz app must be updated with vaccination info.

• 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 ‘Discover Qatar Website’. They must carry a printed copy of the hotel quarantine booking.

• 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’. They must carry a printed copy of the quarantine booking.

• 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.

• From 25 April, a recovered person from COVID-19 who had contact with a person infected or suspected of having the disease, and who did not show symptoms of infection, are exempted from quarantine provided that he/she has recovered from the disease according to a laboratory-confirmed result, and fulfilled the criteria after the end of health isolation. This status should be within six months of the first positive result of the COVID-19 examination. He/she should also undergo a COVID-19 test to rule out an infection without symptoms. Recovered persons can obtain a report from their health center to confirm prior infection. If a recovered person from COVID-19 who met the requirements for exemption from quarantine develops symptoms similar to those of COVID-19 within fourteen days of coming into contact with an infected person, he/she must isolate himself/herself from others, and be clinically evaluated regarding the possibility of infection with COVID-19, including a COVID-19 PCR test. In the event that the result is negative and no other cause for these symptoms has been identified, he/she may be asked to retake the COVID-19 test. The recovered person from COVID-19 will be exempted from quarantine upon his/her return from travel if the result of the COVID-19 examination is negative upon entering the country, provided that he/she has recovered from the disease according to a laboratory-confirmed result six months after confirming his illness. Confirmation of details can be found here. Above exemption only applies to returning Qatari Citizens and residents with valid QID’s who were infected with COVID-19 in Qatar.

• For the passengers from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka, and Philippines:

• All passengers from the said countries must undergo a repeat COVID-19 PCR test in hotel quarantine or Mekhaines facility within one day of flight arrival.

• All passengers from the said countries arriving to Qatar must undergo 10 days quarantine in a dedicated quarantine facility, or 14 days if quarantine is at Mekhaines facility, regardless of previous vaccination or immunity against Covid-19; No one is allowed to use private quarantine for these passengers.

• All of the established criteria for hotel/home quarantine exemptions DO NOT APPLY to travelers from the said countries.

Is a vaccination required?

• No

• A vaccination for COVID-19 is not mandatory for entry into the country. However, protocols has been set for exempting few restrictions.

• Protocol for inbound travelers vaccinated abroad (applicable only to Citizens and Residents of Qatar):

• In order to qualify for the quarantine exemption, the vaccine received should be one of the COVID-19 vaccines recognized by MOPH. This includes: Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson & Covishield.

• The full course of the vaccine should have been administered. It is one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and two doses of the other vaccines.

• Two weeks should have passed since the 2nd dose, and for the Johnson & Johnson 2 weeks from the one dose.

• There should be an official vaccination card or certificate complete with the following details: a) Name of the recipient b) Date of vaccination by each dose c) Type of the vaccine d) Preferably to have the lot number of the vaccine e) Official Logo and/or official stamp of the vaccination authority/unit. f) If in doubt of the authenticity of the certificate, verification may be necessary through the Embassy of the country where the vaccine was administered.

• The health status on Ehteraz will remain green for the person who meets the above requirements and they will be exempted from hotel or home quarantine upon entry.

• If the recipient of the vaccine did not complete the 2 weeks post-vaccination, Citizens and Residents should be subjected to home quarantine for 7 days or until they complete the remaining of the 2 weeks, whichever is shorter. However, visitors from GCC who didn’t complete the (14) days post-vaccination, are hotel quarantined for (7) days.

• Protocol for inbound travelers vaccinated abroad (applicable only to GCC Nationals and immediate family members):

• With immediate effect, GCC nationals and those under their sponsorship will be exempted from the mandatory hotel quarantine if the following criteria’s are met: a) They should have received the COVID-19 vaccines recognized by MoPH. These are: Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson & Covishield b) They should have a pre-travel PCR test (taken within 72hrs from arrival) from the testing centers approved by their local health authority c) A Fully vaccinated traveler who received any of the COVID-19 vaccines recognized in Qatar with at least 14 days since the last dose must present an official vaccination card or certificate to qualify the exemption d) Any travelers who does not meet the criteria must undergo a hotel quarantine through Discovery Qatar for 7 days and Etheraz must be yellow e) If the incoming visitors are vaccinated parents who meet the vaccination criteria but are accompanied by children who are not vaccinated, then one of the parents can be exempted from quarantine, and other parent will be quarantined with the children for 7 days in a quarantine hotel via Discover Qatar, and his/her Ehteraz should be yellow. During the quarantine period, the parents cannot exchange their roles on who will be accompanied with the children. If Only one parent is accompanying, then the parent must also accompany the children for 7 days in a quarantine hotel via Discover Qatar, and his/her Ehteraz should be yellow f) It is mandatory for adults to install and activate Ehteraz app on their mobile phone using locally authorized sim cards g) All those undergoing hotel quarantine are subjected to the quarantine protocol and are not allowed to enter or be in public areas unless Ehteraz is green.

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 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

• Minimal

• 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

• Minimal

• 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. Click here and here for more information.

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

Curfew restrictions

• Moderate

• Qatar government has imposed several restrictions due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.

• 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 restrictions

• Moderate

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

Internal travel restrictions

• Moderate

• Masks are required

• Public transport is operating with reduced capacity.

• Metro services do not operate on Fridays and Saturdays.

• 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.

• 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 can remain open to serve delivery and take-out services.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Cafes can operate to serve delivery and take out services.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• No

• Beaches are closed.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• No

• Museums are closed.

*Personal care services open? *

• Yes

• Health clubs, beauty/barber shops, hair stylists, and massage parlours are closed.

Places of worship open?

• Yes

• Mosques are open for daily and Friday prayers.

Events allowed?

• No

• Weddings are banned, both indoors and outdoors.

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 centres are closed until further notice.

• Cinemas and theatres are closed.

• Professional sports training has resumed.

• Government offices are open at a reduced capacity.

• Libraries are closed.

• Childcare facilities and nurseries are closed.

• 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 other individuals and avoid crowded areas. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.