[UPDATE] 1 November 2022, 10:35 am
The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has announced updates to the COVID-19 travel policy for the State of Qatar. Citizens and residents are advised to exercise caution when travelling to international destinations taking into account their vaccination status and the extent to which COVID-19 is spreading in the country of arrival.
The below travel and return policy will come into effect on Tuesday, 1 November 2022.
General Policies:
- It is the responsibility of travellers to know about any changes to the travel and return policy through official sources and websites before planning to travel to the State of Qatar.
- Travellers must adhere to the measures in place in the State of Qatar to limit the spread of COVID-19 at all times.
- Quarantine is no longer mandatory for all travellers arriving from abroad, however, travellers who test positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Qatar must undergo self-isolation measures in accordance with the procedures followed in the State of Qatar.
- Citizens and residents of the State of Qatar are no longer required to take a Rapid Antigen test (nor PCR) upon their arrival in the State of Qatar.
- Visitors are no longer required to bring a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or Rapid Antigen test certificate before travelling to the State of Qatar.
- From 1 November 2022, visitors entering Qatar are not required to pre-register on the Ehteraz health application prior to arrival.
Ehteraz Mobile Application Policy:
- It is mandatory for individuals to present the health status of the Ehteraz application when entering public and private healthcare facilities in Qatar.
- To download Ehteraz, the traveller must have the following:
- SIM card from one of Qatar's service providers (Ooredoo or Vodafone) or an international SIM card.
- Mobile internet connection.
- The smartphone should support Android 6, newer versions or IOS 13.5 and later versions.
- Download and install the app on the mobile phone either via Google Play, Apple App Store or from any online search engines.
- SIM cards and smartphones are available for purchase at Hamad International Airport and Abu Samra border crossing if the passenger does not own them before arrival.
- Fully vaccinated persons in Qatar will have a golden frame around their Health Status on Ehteraz.
- The Health Status for citizens, residents, and visitors who have received the vaccine outside Qatar will remain green without a golden frame until their vaccine data is updated in the system or through the Overseas Vaccine Portal (www.ehteraz.gov.qa).
- The Health Status on the Ehteraz app will remain red throughout the isolation period, until the end of their period of isolation.
- Diplomats, administrative cardholders and VIP visitors arriving on official state visits are excluded from this measure.
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[UPDATE] 29 September 2022, 11:39 am
The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has said that fans attending this year’s FIFA World Cup™ are encouraged to familiarise themselves with Qatar’s COVID-19 Travel & Return Policy, which was updated by the Ministry of Public Health on 31 August 2022.
Key points for international Hayya Card holders attending the World Cup:
Regardless of the individual’s vaccination status, the following COVID-19 testing measures are required for visitors entering Qatar for the FIFA World Cup™:
- Any visitor aged six and over is required to present an official negative COVID-19 PCR test result taken no more than 48 hours before departure time or an official negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) result no more than 24 hours before departure time. The test result will need to be submitted at the airport check-in counter. NB: The test should be conducted at a medical centre in the country of origin. RAT self-tests are not valid for travel purposes.
- Children under six are exempt from submitting a negative COVID-19 test before departure to Qatar.
- People arriving in Qatar are not required to undergo quarantine, regardless of vaccination status or country or origin.
- Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 while in Qatar will be required to isolate in accordance with Ministry of Public Health guidelines.
- Visitors are not required to take a COVID-19 test after arrival in Qatar.
- Qatar does not require any traveller to take a COVID-19 test before departing Qatar. However, travellers should check the requirements of their destination country and follow their specific COVID-19 travel requirements.
Masks are mandatory in the following situations:
- Within healthcare facilities
- On public transport
EHTERAZ contact tracing application:
- All visitors to Qatar aged 18 and over are required to download and install the EHTERAZ application on their mobile phones on arrival to the country. A green EHTERAZ status (showing the user does not have a confirmed case of COVID-19) is required to enter any public closed indoor spaces.
- EHTERAZ download: App Store / Google Play
Health insurance:
Visitors to Qatar can access medical care at any of the country’s private or public hospitals, medical centres, clinics and pharmacies. Emergency and urgent healthcare services will be provided for free at public hospitals for Hayya Card holders. However, the Ministry of Public Health strongly recommends visiting fans take out travel insurance (with healthcare cover) for the duration of their stay in Qatar. Click here for further information.
Fans are encouraged to check the Ministry of Public Health website for further information about Qatar’s healthcare facilities. Click here to view Qatar’s Travel & Return Policy.
Source and cover image credit: Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC)
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