Updated Quarantine Restrictions when entering the State of Qatar

On 1 December 2021, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH)updated the policy for travel and return to the State of Qatar (“Qatar”) during Covid-19. Here are the main amendments highlighted in the Travel and Return Policy (the “Policy”):

Ministry of Public Health (“MOPH”) Rules

While the Policy continues to be mandatorily requiring non-resident travelers to register via the pre-registration system on the Ehteraz website, and to upload all relevant documents (such as vaccine certificate) at least 3 days before arrival in Qatar, the pre-registration is now optional for citizens and residents of Qatar. Moreover, PCR test result is no longer required during the electronic pre-registration process. Instead, travelers must present the original copy of the PCR test result to the airlines in order to allow them to board the plane, or at the country’s entry ports (land and sea).

The updated Policy now requires that travelers must sign an Undertaking and Acknowledgement Form before arriving in Qatar, which confirms that the traveler will fully comply with health rules and regulations that were implemented by MOPH in Qatar to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Citizens and residents who have been fully vaccinated in Qatar and are arriving back to Qatar from one of the Green List countries are exempt from this requirement.

For the Undertaking and Acknowledgement Form, please see the following links:

The updated Policy states that fully vaccinated travelers should immediately take a Rapid Antigen Test in an authorized health facility upon arrival in Qatar. In regard to unvaccinated travelers, their health status in the Ehteraz application will automatically change to yellow upon arrival to Qatar, due to the necessity of being subject to quarantine.

Countries Classification

The MOPH amended the current classification of the countries, based on the level of risk of Covid-19 in each country, 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.

For a full list of countries as of 8 January 2022 please see the following links:

Policy for Travelers Entering Qatar Based on the Country Classification:

Green List Countries

1. Citizens and residents of Qatar: Travelers who are aged 12 years and above and fully vaccinated by an approved vaccine, or who have a conditionally approved vaccine, or who have recovered from Covid-19 and 14 days have passed from their recovery, are exempted from quarantine upon arrival in Qatar. Further, children aged 11 years and below accompanied with their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated are also exempted from quarantine. On the other hand, unvaccinated travelers (all ages) will be subject to home quarantine for 7 days upon arrival to Qatar.
2. GCC citizens: Travelers who are aged 12 years and above and fully vaccinated by an approved vaccine, or who have a conditionally approved vaccine, or who have recovered from Covid-19 and 14 days have passed from their recovery, provided that one dose of a MOPH approved vaccine has been given, are exempted from quarantine upon arrival in Qatar. Further, children aged 11 years and below accompanied with their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated are also exempted from quarantine. On the other hand, unvaccinated travelers (all ages) will be subject to hotel quarantine for 7 days upon arrival to Qatar.
3. Visitors to Qatar with pre-approved and on-arrival visas: Travelers who are aged 12 years and above and fully vaccinated by an approved vaccine, or who have a conditionally approved vaccine, are exempted from quarantine upon arrival in Qatar. Further, children aged 11 years and below accompanied with their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated are also exempted from quarantine. However, unvaccinated travelers (all ages) will be subject to hotel quarantine for 7 days upon arrival to Qatar, and those who have pre-issued family visas will have their quarantine at home for 7 days.

Red List Countries

1. Citizens and residents of Qatar: Travelers who are aged 12 years and above and fully vaccinated by an approved vaccine, or who have a conditionally approved vaccine, or who have recovered from Covid-19 and 14 days have passed from their recovery, are exempted from quarantine upon arrival in Qatar, provided that they get a negative PCR test result after they enter Qatar. Further, children aged 11 years and below accompanied with their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated are also exempted from quarantine after a negative PCR test result appears. However, still unvaccinated travelers (all ages) will be subject to home quarantine for 7 days upon arrival to Qatar.
2. GCC citizens: Travelers who are fully vaccinated by an approved vaccine, or who have a conditionally approved vaccine, or who have recovered from Covid-19 and 14 days have passed from their recovery, provided that one dose of a MOPH approved vaccine has been given, are subject to hotel quarantine for two days upon arrival in Qatar and will be released on the same day if the result of the Covid-19 test is negative. On the other hand, unvaccinated travelers (all ages) will be subject to hotel quarantine for 7 days upon arrival to Qatar.
3. Visitors to Qatar with pre-approved and on-arrival visas:  Travelers who are fully vaccinated will be subject to hotel quarantine for two days upon arrival in Qatar. However, unvaccinated travelers from this category are not allowed to enter Qatar.

Exceptional Red List Countries:

1. Citizens: Travelers who are fully vaccinated will be subject to home quarantine for two days upon arrival in Qatar, but unvaccinated travelers are subject to 7 days home quarantine.
2. Residents of Qatar and GCC citizens: Travelers who are fully vaccinated will be subject to hotel quarantine for two days upon arrival in Qatar, but unvaccinated travelers are subject to 7 days quarantine in a hotel.
3. Visitors to Qatar with pre-approved and on-arrival visas: Travelers who are fully vaccinated will be subject to hotel quarantine for two days upon arrival in Qatar. However, unvaccinated travelers from this category are not allowed to enter Qatar.

In addition to the above, all travelers coming from different countries must follow the testing policy before and after entering Qatar. Further, MOPH has also set a fixed testing fee for covid-19 as shown below:

Should you have any questions regarding the quarantine and entry to Qatar, please do feel free to contact us.