Qatar updates its Travel & Return Policy effective 6th October 2021
- Qabayan Radio
- Oct 6, 2021
- 4 min read
Qatar released updates on travel and return policy effective 6th October 2021.
General policy:
Qatar has classified countries into two lists, Green and Red, in addition to a secondary list of Exceptional Red Countries based on international and local health risk indicators and the epidemiology of Covid-19 in the different countries.
Citizens and residents can travel abroad at any time provided that the travel and return policy is adhered to when returning to Qatar.
The Ministry of Public Health advises citizens and residents to comply with COVID-19 health measures currently in place in the country of arrival.
Travelers are responsible for keeping up to date with changes to the travel and return policy through official sources before planning to travel to Qatar.
Travelers must comply with Qatar's COVID-19 procedures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The Ministry of Public Health continuously checks and monitors travelers returning from abroad in order to maintain public health. Note that, travelers may be subject to random testing upon arrival in Qatar.
Non-residents of Qatar must register via the pre-registration platform on www.ehteraz.gov.qa website and upload all relevant documents such as PCR test result, vaccine certificate and other relevant documents at least 3 days before arrival. Although pre-registration is optional for citizens and residents of Qatar, the Ministry of Public Health recommends that all individuals entering Qatar pre-register to ensure the best experience upon arrival in Qatar.
Travelers should download the Ehteraz mobile application and activate it on their mobile phones using a local or international SIM card.
All passengers must sign an Undertaking and Acknowledgement Form before arriving in Qatar. The form is available on the Ministry of Public Health website, pre-registration platform website (www.ehteraz.gov.qa) and airline online booking form. Citizens and residents who are fully vaccinated inside the State of Qatar arriving from one of the Green List countries are exempt from this requirement.
Travelers must take a PCR test result at a medical center accredited by the health authorities in the country of departure. The test result must be negative and must be done 72 hours before arrival in Qatar. (Please see the PCR policy for more detailed guidance.)
Travelers should check the quarantine policy for detailed guidance according to the country of arrival classification.
In the case of home quarantine, accommodation conditions must be appropriate, and if the property does not comply with the conditions mentioned in the undertaking, the traveler must book the hotel quarantine package through Discover Qatar's website before travelling to Qatar.
Travelers arriving in Qatar should go to the COVID-19 test clinic at the access port in case of any COVID-19-related symptoms and take the necessary isolation measures.
These policies apply to arrivals across all Qatar entry points.
Below is a list of approved and conditionally approved vaccines by the Ministry of Public Health:
*Serology Antibody test with a positive result is mandatory before travelling to Qatar for people with two doses of a conditionally approved vaccines and 14 days after the second dose, in which case only the traveler will be considered fully immune.
*People who have received two doses of a conditionally approved vaccine followed by one dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and after 14 days from the last dose will be considered fully immune.
Travelers who are fully immunized outside Qatar with a vaccine approved by the Ministry of Public Health of Qatar are required to submit the original vaccine certificate and other supporting documents written in Arabic or English proving that they have obtained the vaccine, as follows:
The name of the traveler must be identical to that on the passport.
Dose dates by vaccine type (one dose for Jansen vaccine and two doses for other vaccines).
Type/name of vaccine.
The serial number of the vaccine batch (if any).
Travelers who have recovered from COVID-19
For citizens and residents of Qatar who have recovered from COVID-19 infection, or those from any GCC country who have recovered from the virus who have subsequently received at least one dose of a vaccine approved by the Ministry of Public Health, the immunity period for a person recovered from COVID-19 is 12 months starting from the 14th day of the date of recovery, or 14 days after receiving the vaccine dose in case of recovery.
Travelers recovered from COVID-19 in any GCC country must provide an official certificate confirming the previous COVID-19 infection and vaccination status.
Ehteraz application policies:
Passengers travelling to Qatar must download and activate the Ehteraz app on their mobile devices upon arrival at Qatar’s entry ports. To do so, the traveler 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.
Diplomats, administrative card holders and VIP visitors arriving on official state visits are excluded from this measure.
The Health Status on the Eheterz app will remain yellow throughout the quarantine period, until the result of the COVID-19 test comes out negative in accordance with the above quarantine policy.
The Heath Status on the Ehteraz mobile app for fully vaccinated persons in Qatar will remain green with a golden frame to indicate that they are excluded from quarantine if the result of the PCR test is negative and that they have completed 14 days from the date of the prescribed doses of the vaccine.
The Health Status for citizens and residents who have received the vaccine outside Qatar will remain green without a golden frame until their vaccine data is updated in the system.
The Health Status on the Ehteraz app for visitors who have received the vaccine outside Qatar will remain green without a golden frame until their vaccine data is updated in the system.
Passengers returning from Umrah:
Citizens and residents arriving from Umrah who are unable to obtain a valid PCR test from the departure country are allowed to board their flights provided they undergo a PCR test upon arrival at Hamad International Airport or Abu Samra border crossing for a specific fee for each test.
According to Saudi Arabia's rules, only people who receive vaccine doses licensed by the Ministry of Public Health can perform Umrah and visit Mecca.
People planning to travel to Umrah should review the policies and procedures announced by the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs.
COVID-19 tests cost:
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