Qatar Entry and Travel Requirements
Qatar entry requirements are a set of rules that all travelers to Qatar must follow in order to enter the country without any problems. These requirements also outline the documents that any traveler to Qatar must prepare for their intended trip.
Among the most necessary documents for easy entry into Qatar are a valid passport and visa. The passport must be valid for at least six months from the intended date of arrival, while the type of visa depends on the traveler's nationality, purpose of travel and desired length of stay.
The Qatar visa policy defines the conditions that must be met to apply for a visa to enter Qatar. All Gulf Cooperation Council citizens with ID cards enjoy freedom of movement to Qatar and are exempt from applying for a Qatari visa.
Citizens of approximately 230 countries are eligible for the Qatar e-Visa, which is issued entirely online and covers tourism and transit purposes. The Qatar e-visa allows a 30-day stay in the country and can be extended for another month completely online after arrival in Qatar and before the visa expires.
Citizens of non-visa-exempt countries who are not eligible for an e-visa or who plan to visit Qatar for purposes other than leisure will need to apply for a regular visa at the nearest Qatar embassy before the planned trip.
Currently, Qatar remains open to certain visitors. During the current Covid-19 pandemic, the country has introduced a number of additional entry requirements that all visitors to Qatar must meet.
Among other things, all travelers must complete the Qatar Entry Registration before their planned travel. Additionally, all those planning to travel to Qatar should check quarantine, vaccination and testing requirements.
Latest update on Qatar's Covid-19 travel policy effective September 4, 2022. The country has introduced the following changes:
remove the list of countries applying Covid-19 red health measures;
lift quarantine measures for international visitors, except for those who have tested positive for Covid-19 (these visitors still must go through quarantine procedures).
Please note! Qatar's entry requirements can change very quickly. Remember to check for recent updates before you travel.
Who can enter Qatar?
- Vaccinated and unvaccinated foreign tourists
- Vaccinated and unvaccinated citizens and residents of Qatar
- Vaccinated and unvaccinated GCC nationals (non-residents of Qatar)
Please note! Unvaccinated foreign visitors from countries classified as high risk, and therefore subject to red health measures, are currently banned from Qatar.
Document checklist for entry into Qatar
Documents required to enter Qatar may vary depending on the traveler's nationality, country of departure, vaccination status and age.
Travelers planning to visit Qatar should prepare the following documents:
- negative PCR test result (if required, will vary depending on nationality and vaccination status) – test must be taken within 48 hours of intended arrival in Qatar
- vaccination certificate (for fully vaccinated travelers)
- a duly completed commitment and acknowledgment form
- confirm pre-registration for your visit to Qatar through the Ehteraz platform
- Qatar Visa or eVisa Qatar (if required by nationality)
- Travel insurance
- Proof of quarantine hotel booking (if quarantined upon arrival) – Welcome home quarantine package must be booked through the Discover Qatar website.
Qatar Travel Requirements
The Qatari government now allows vaccinated and unvaccinated tourists to visit the country. However, certain travel requirements must be met to enter Qatar without problems.
Qatar travel requirements vary depending on a number of factors, including the traveler's nationality, whether they have a Qatar residence permit, vaccination status, recovery status, and more.
The current travel requirements for Qatar are also divided into standard health measures and red health measures, as well as two groups:
- Qatari citizens and residents
- GCC citizens (without residence permit) and foreign visitors
Based on the factors mentioned, some travelers may enter Qatar without needing to be tested before departure or upon arrival in Qatar, while other travelers are required to test before departure and quarantine, on-destination testing in Qatar.
Qatari health authorities also emphasized that random testing, body temperature screening as well as temperature checks can be carried out upon arrival in the country via any port, air, sea or land. Read on for detailed information about Qatar's current entry requirements to prepare for your visit to Qatar.
Red-listed countries
The Qatari government has currently listed 7 countries in the high/red risk level, including:
- Bangladesh
- Egypt
- India
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Sri Lanka
Since the countries listed above may change over time, it is best to check the countries currently on the red list on the official Qatar government website at https://covid19.moph.gov.qa/EN/travel-and-return-policy/Pages/default.aspx.
Travelers from red list countries may be subject to additional entry requirements and even banned from entry in some cases.
Testing, vaccination, and quarantine requirements
Testing
Qatar health authorities distinguish three testing requirements:
- pre-departure testing
- on-arrival testing
- additional testing
Pre-departure testing requirement
Pre-departure Covid-19 tests are currently mandatory for:
- Qatar citizens and residents coming from a country subject to Red Health Measures (in this case a PCR test is required to be completed within 48 hours of the traveler's scheduled departure)
- Non-vaccinated/non-immune GCC citizens subject to Standard Health Measures
- Fully vaccinated and non-vaccinated/non-immune GCC citizens subject to the Red Health Measures
- Fully vaccinated travelers who are not GCC residents or nationals/residents of any EU country
- Unvaccinated/non-immune travelers - GCC citizens (without residency) and all other foreign visitors
- Fully vaccinated GCC citizens and foreign visitors coming from high-risk countries, subject to Red Health Measures
Please note! The pre-departure PCR test should be conducted within 48 hours of one's scheduled arrival in Qatar.
On-arrival testing in Qatar
On-arrival testing in Qatar is currently required of every incoming visitor, as well as Qatar citizens and residents coming to the country.
The specifics of the test may differ depending on the traveler's nationality, residence, or vaccination status.
However, most travelers will need to get a rapid antigen test within 24 hours of their arrival in Qatar.
Additional testing
Some travelers may be required to take an additional Covid-19 test, most of the time on the 5th day of their stay in Qatar, especially if they need to quarantine upon arrival.
vaccination
In most cases, both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers can enter Qatar. The only situation where unvaccinated travelers are not allowed to enter Qatar is foreign travelers from a high-risk country subject to red health measures.
Please note! In most cases, travelers who are not fully vaccinated are subject to additional safety measures, such as testing before departure or arrival or quarantining at home or hotel.
Isolation
Some travelers visiting Qatar will be required to quarantine in hotels or at home for one or five days, depending on their nationality, country of departure and vaccination status.
Travelers currently exempt from any form of quarantine upon arrival in Qatar include:
- Fully vaccinated Qatari citizens and residents must follow standard and red health measures
- GCC nationals (non-residents) who are fully vaccinated according to standard health measures (i.e. not from a high-risk country)
- Fully vaccinated/recovered foreign travelers must comply with standard health measures
The quarantine imposed may be at home or in a hotel, depending on the traveler's nationality, country of origin and their vaccination status. If you must self-isolate after arriving, you must book the appropriate quarantine package - a Welcome Home quarantine package through the Discover Qatar website.
Traveling from Qatar
The Government of Qatar allows its citizens and residents to travel freely abroad provided they comply with Qatar's entry requirements upon returning to the country.
When traveling from Qatar, please ensure you comply with the entry requirements set forth by the country you are traveling to from Qatar.
Traveling to Qatar
All Qatari citizens and residents as well as all foreign visitors can visit Qatar. The only group of travelers currently banned from Qatar are unvaccinated foreign visitors from a high-risk country.
The Government of Qatar has introduced a number of entry requirements that foreign nationals/residents and visitors must follow when planning to visit or return to Qatar.
Applicable requirements may include a Covid-19 test before departure, a Covid-19 test within 24 hours of arrival in Qatar, a 5-day quarantine at home or hotel and completion of a Health Declaration Qatar - commitment and recognition. Form.
Entry Rules for Children
Qatar's health authorities have stipulated that unvaccinated minor travelers under 12 years old who are traveling with a parent/legal guardian who is fully vaccinated or has recovered from Covid-19 do not need to do so. pre-departure test.
Instead, post-arrival rapid antigen tests must be taken at a specific location, which varies depending on the traveler's nationality. Qatari citizens and residents returning to the country must be tested at a public or private clinic within 24 hours of arrival.
In the case of GCC nationals and other foreign visitors, Covid-19 testing must be carried out at the Qatar port of entry or at the hotel where their parents are self-quarantining after arrival.
Parents/legal guardians of travelers who are minors must complete the Affidavit and Confirmation Form on their behalf.
Transit through Qatar - rules during the Covid-19 pandemic
There are no specific entry regulations related to Covid-19 for travelers visiting Qatar in transit. However, the stopover time must not exceed 24 hours.
For short-term transits, a Qatar visa is also not required.
Qatar visa requirements
Freedom to travel
The following five GCC countries have free travel agreements with Qatar and can visit that country freely without a visa:
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
Visa exemption
Many countries are exempt from visa requirements for short-term visits to Qatar. For some countries, a 90-day stay is allowed, while for others a 30-day visa-free stay is allowed.
Qatar visa upon arrival
Qatar visa on arrival is issued to visitors of the following nationalities:
- India
- Iran
- Macau
- Pakistan
- Taiwan
A visa on arrival is simply a travel permit that can be issued after your arrival in Qatar by applying for a visa and providing all the necessary documents in person at the port of entry into the country.
Qatar eVisa and ETA
ETA - introduced in 2017, allows travelers not eligible for VoA or visa exemption to apply for an electronic travel permit allowing a 30-day stay in Qatar.
Travelers wishing to apply for an ETA must have a valid visa or residence permit from:
- Australia,
- Canada,
- New Zealand,
- Schengen countries,
- UK,
- USA
- Gulf Cooperation Council countries
Qatar eVisa - introduced in 2017, allows travelers from eligible countries to apply for a Qatar visa online, issued as a one-time travel permit allowing a 30-day stay in Qatar.
Qatar Health Declaration
The Qatari government and its health authorities require incoming visitors to complete an undertaking and confirmation form regarding Covid-19 health measures in the country.
The completed health declaration is available entirely online and includes several short sections asking travelers to provide:
Personal information:
- name
- first name
- Qatar identification number (if applicable)
- nationality
- passport number
- date of birth
- address in country of origin
Contact Details:
- phone number
- email address
Flight information:
- Departure country
- arrival date and time in Qatar
- flight number
- airline name
Accommodation details:
- residential address in Qatar
The traveler must then answer several details related to the transit, such as:
- Whether they are transiting in another country or not
- If the answer is yes, the traveler must provide details about their recent transit stay, such as the name of the country visited and the duration of the transit.
- Finally, visitors must agree to comply with health and safety regulations implemented by the Government of Qatar regarding the current Covid-19 pandemic.
Qatar Pre-Registration Platform
All travelers should pre-register their visit to Qatar within 3 days of their scheduled arrival into the country via an official Qatar Government website.
The pre-registration requires providing:
- a visa number - for foreign visitors that will travel with a visa
- A Qatar ID no. for Qatar citizens and residents
- A passport number and nationality or Qatari ID no. for GCC citizens
The platform also requires attaching a few essential documents, including:
- a vaccination certificate/proof of recovery
- a booked hotel for quarantine (if subject to quarantine post-arrival)
- a PCR test result (if required)
- a passport copy - for GCC citizens
After completing the pre-registration, travelers should download the Ehteraz App and activate it upon arriving in Qatar either using a local Qatar SIM Card or using an international SIM Card.
Exemptions
The following travelers are exempt from pre-registering their visit:
- Fully vaccinated GCC citizens who have registered in one of the respective Covid Health Applications of their country
- Fully vaccinated EU nationals and residents that have a COVPass Health App do not need to register, but need to take a Rapid Antigen Test within 24 hours of their arrival in
- Qatar, at one of the authorized private clinics
Examples of other acceptable Covid Health Apps:
- Tawakkalna (Saudi Arabia)
- Al Hosn (the UAE)
- Shlonik (Kuwait)
- Tarassud (Oman)
- BeAware Bahrain (Bahrain)
Nevertheless, travelers who are exempt, are still advised to complete the pre-registration via the Ehteraz website to ensure issue-free entry into Qatar. Additionally, downloading and activating the Ehteraz app is still required for travelers exempt from pre-registration.
Travel Insurance
The Government of Qatar requires all visitors to have valid travel insurance for the entire period of their stay in Qatar.
It is best to buy insurance that covers costs related to Covid-19 to avoid unexpected expenses.
