Travel Guide: What is the current entry policy in Qatar?

Travel Guide: What is the current entry policy in Qatar?

The State of Qatar currently is allowing inbound travel to the country. Quarantine restrictions and travel policies continue to be reviewed based on public health indicators in the State of Qatar and around the world.

For those expected to stay in mandatory hotel quarantine for a period of seven days, please book through the Discover Qatar website before arriving. Check the below question “What is the quarantine process like for those entering from abroad?” to see if you will require hotel quarantine.  

The Discover Qatar quarantine programme has been extended until the 15th of February 2021. It has also recenly published an **Important Update**for all passengers arriving from the United Kingdom (UK). Here are the new guidelines for customers arriving from the UK from tomorrow, 22 December.

All passengers arriving on flights originating from the UK will be required to stay at one of the following dedicated quarantine hotels:

• Intercontinental Doha Hotel 5* 

• Mercure Grand Doha 4*

• If you do not already have a booking, please search for availability here.

• If you have already made your hotel reservation in a different hotel, and are arriving before 6am local time on 23 December, your reservation will be automatically transferred upon arrival.

• If you are not on a flight from the UK you should not book either of the hotels for your mandatory quarantine stay in Qatar; you will not be permitted to check in unless your boarding pass states your journey commenced in the UK, and you will not be entitled to a refund.

For arrivals up to 6am on 23 December any differences in the cost of your original quarantine hotel will be eligible for a refund claim. After 6am local time on 23 December you will be required to pay any additional costs between your original hotel booked and either of the mandatory UK quarantine hotels, if there is a price difference. Equally you will be eligible to claim for a refund if your original quarantine booking was more expensive than the options available.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQs) provided by the Government Communications Office on its website:

What is the current entry policy for Qatari citizens, their families, and permanent residency holders?

Qatari citizens, their spouses and children, and permanent residency holders can travel outside the country and return at any time, while adhering to all the procedures and according to the countries of arrival.

Patients receiving treatment abroad at the expense of the State of Qatar and their registered companions, and employees who are dispatched for work assignments, will be exempt from bearing the cost of the hotel, as the relevant body will cover the costs of the hotel quarantine if the traveller meets the conditions of the hotel quarantine, as explained in the statement.

What is the current entry policy for expatriates with a Qatari residency permit?

Those who are abroad but hold a Qatari residency permit have been able to enter since 1 August. 

Update for Residents Currently inside Qatar

Starting November 29, 2020, residents who are currently in the State of Qatar and wish to travel and return will automatically receive an exceptional entry permit upon departure.

The resident or their employer will be able to print out the exceptional entry permit from the website of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) at any point after the resident has departed Qatar. Requests will no longer need to be submitted through the Qatar Portal. The permit will be available automatically upon registration of the resident’s departure from Qatar through the following steps:

• Open the “Print Exceptional Entry Permit” service page on MOI website.

• Enter QID number and residency expiry date

• Enter verification code, then click on Print.

• The permit can also be printed via Metrash2 mobile app.

As for residents outside the country before the above-mentioned date, they are still required to obtain the exceptional return permit via Qatar Portal if they wish to return to the State of Qatar.

• The quarantine period will be for one week only after arrival in the country, regardless of destination.

• Home quarantine will be applied to those coming from countries on the Ministry of Public Health’s Green List.

• Hotel quarantine is mandatory for those coming from countries that are not included in the Green List.

• The quarantine period for those who use shared quarantine facilities will be two weeks.

What is the quarantine process like for those entering from abroad?

The government has compiled a Green List of low-risk countries that require their own quarantine process. Please note that this Green List is subject to change at any time.

Who is eligible for home quarantine upon returning to Qatar?

The following vulnerable group returning from travel (Qatari and Residents) and their immediate family members living in the same household, including their domestic helpers returning with them, are eligible for home quarantine, regardless of the country from which they arrived:

• Persons aged 55 years old and above.

• Recipients of an organ or bone marrow transplant.

• Patients with hypertension who are on treatment.

• Patients with conditions that require immune-suppressive treatment.

• Patients with heart failure or coronary artery disease.

• Patients with moderate to severe asthma.

• Cancer patients with metastasis and those on treatment (Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy).

• Pregnant women (any trimester).

• Nursing mothers with children aged 0-5 years.

• Patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRD) or on dialysis.

• Patients with CLD (Chronic Liver Disease) and decompensation.

• Patients with lower-limb amputations.

• People with disabilities where they are dependent on others for their activities of daily living.

• Children with disabilities and their mothers.

• Patients with epilepsy and on treatment.

• Patients with diabetic foot infections.

• People with deceased first degree relatives in the last 10 days.

• People with mental health problems on antipsychotic medications and whose condition is aggravated by staying in closed spaces

• Diabetic patients on treatment.

• Minor travelers (below 18 years old) traveling without an accompanied guardian.

The State of Qatar currently is allowing inbound travel to the country. Quarantine restrictions and travel policies continue to be reviewed based on public health indicators in the State of Qatar and around the world.

For those expected to stay in mandatory hotel quarantine for a period of seven days, please book through the Discover Qatar website before arriving. Check the below question “What is the quarantine process like for those entering from abroad?” to see if you will require hotel quarantine.  

The Discover Qatar quarantine programme has been extended until the 15th of February 2021. Visit their website to find the latest updates. 

Check the below question “What is the quarantine process like for those entering from abroad?” to see if you will require hotel quarantine. 

What is the current entry policy for Qatari citizens, their families, and permanent residency holders?

Qatari citizens, their spouses and children, and permanent residency holders can travel outside the country and return at any time, while adhering to all the procedures and according to the countries of arrival.

Patients receiving treatment abroad at the expense of the State of Qatar and their registered companions, and employees who are dispatched for work assignments, will be exempt from bearing the cost of the hotel, as the relevant body will cover the costs of the hotel quarantine if the traveller meets the conditions of the hotel quarantine, as explained in the statement.

What is the current entry policy for expatriates with a Qatari residency permit?

Those who are abroad but hold a Qatari residency permit have been able to enter since 1 August. In order to re-enter, one must apply for permission to return via the Qatar Portal website, where permission is granted based on priority. Only with approval can you then board a flight and enter Qatar.

What is the quarantine process like for those entering from abroad?

The government has compiled a Green List of low-risk countries that require their own quarantine process. Please note that this Green List is subject to change at any time.

• Arrivals to Qatar from Green List countries

• Arrivals to Qatar from countries not listed as Green List 

Who is eligible for home quarantine upon returning to Qatar?

The following vulnerable group returning from travel (Qatari and Residents) and their immediate family members living in the same household, including their domestic helpers returning with them, are eligible for home quarantine, regardless of the country from which they arrived:

• Persons aged 55 years old and above.

• Recipients of an organ or bone marrow transplant.

• Patients with hypertension who are on treatment.

• Patients with conditions that require immune-suppressive treatment.

• Patients with heart failure or coronary artery disease.

• Patients with moderate to severe asthma.

• Cancer patients with metastasis and those on treatment (Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy).

• Pregnant women (any trimester).

• Nursing mothers with children aged 0-5 years.

• Patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRD) or on dialysis.

• Patients with CLD (Chronic Liver Disease) and decompensation.

• Patients with lower-limb amputations.

• People with disabilities where they are dependent on others for their activities of daily living.

• Children with disabilities and their mothers.

• Patients with epilepsy and on treatment.

• Patients with diabetic foot infections.

•  People with deceased first degree relatives in the last 10 days.

• People with mental health problems on antipsychotic medications and whose condition is aggravated by staying in closed spaces

• Diabetic patients on treatment.

• Minor travelers (below 18 years old) traveling without an accompanied guardian.

What countries are on the “Green List”?

The State of Qatar has categorized the following countries in a Green List, effective Friday 18th December, to facilitate the quarantine policy and Covid-19 travel restrictions to people arriving into Qatar from these countries. The list and related travel advice will be reviewed regularly and published accordingly.

The below countries are subject to change at the discretion of the Ministry of Public Health. Check the Ministry's website for up-to-date information.

1. Oman

2. Brunei Darussalam

3. Thailand 

4. China

5. Vietnam 

6. Malaysia 

7. South Korea 

8. ?Singapore

9. Japan

10. Myanmar

11. Australia

12. New Zealand 

13. Mexico

14. Cuba

15. Mauritius

16. Iceland

17. Ireland

What is the process for people who have obtained a COVID-free certificate from an accredited COVID-19 testing centre?

Those returning to Qatar who have obtained a COVID-free certificate from an accredited COVID-19 testing centre no more than 48 hours before travel will be able to sign a formal pledge to adhere to quarantine at home for a week.

After a week of self-quarantine, arrivals will need to go to a dedicated health centre for a COVID-19 test.

If the result is negative, the quarantine period ends and the traveller’s status on the Ehteraz application will change to green.

If the result is positive, the traveller will be transferred to government isolation facilities.

Can I still leave Qatar?

Yes, outbound flights are still running.

Is public transport open in Qatar?

Public transport, including the Doha Metro, public transit bus and Metrolink, have resumed operation. Metro and public transport services are operating at 30% capacity, with certain lines functioning. For more information, please visit the Ministry of Transport and Communications website.

What happens if I have an expired tourist visa?

Visitors in Qatar on tourist visas can stay in Qatar without extending their visas or paying a fee due to the unusual circumstances caused by COVID-19.

Once conditions have returned to normal and flights begin operation to the visitor’s country, the visitor will be granted a grace period to leave Qatar.

The same policy applies to those who were unable to renew their residency permit. Should the resident be outside the country with an expired residency permit, they can re-enter the State of Qatar, following approval from the Qatar Portal. This policy applies to residents whose permit has been expired for no more than 6 months.