How you can stop the spread of COVID-19

The Government of Qatar calls upon all members of society to take care and apply simple, preventive measures to protect against infection. This includes:

• Wearing a face mask in public.

  Washing your hands often or using hand sanitizers.

• Keeping a distance of at least one metre (three feet) from people who have symptoms of illness.

• Using your sleeve to cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing or use tissue paper and dispose of it appropriately.

As per the Ministry of Public Health

The below travel &return policy came into effect on Monday, 28February2022 at 7pm.

Quick Links

1. Countries based on Level of COVID-19 Risk
2. General policy
3. Health Measures
   • For Qatar Citizens
   • For Residents
   • For GCC Citizens (Who are non-residents)
   • For Visitors
4. Ehteraz Mobile Application Policy
5. List of Approved and Conditionally Approved Vaccines by the Ministry of Public Health

Immunity Status:

• Fully Vaccinated: Anyone who received any of the following COVID-19 vaccine approved/recognized by the Ministry of Public Health within its immunity validity period: 

o Valid for nine (9) months from fourteen (14) days after 2nd dose or booster dose vaccination of Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zenica COVID-19 vaccines.

o Valid for nine (9) months from 2 weeks after the 1st dose of Jansen & Jansen COVID-19 vaccine; or valid for nine (9) months from  seven (7) days of receiving the booster dose of Jansen & Jansen COVID-19 vaccine.

o Valid for six (6) months from fourteen (14) days after the 2nd dose or booster dose of conditionally approved COVID-19 vaccines, where a positive Serology on Antibody Test lab result is required and is valid for 30 days from testing; If the traveler is unable to take a Serology Antibody test in the country of origin or if the Antibody test result appear negative, the traveler must undergo relevant quarantine for 5 days; Those who received booster dose using MOPH approved vaccines immune status is extended to nine (9) months from  seven (7) days after the booster dose and Serology Antibody test is no longer required.

 

• Recovered: Anyone who had a medically confirmed COVID-19 infection acquired either locally or overseas is considered to have immune status valid for nine (9) months from the date of the infection. There should be an official and verifiable laboratory test result as evidence of the past infection.

 

• Unvaccinated / Non-immune: Anyone who does not meet any of the above criteria. 

List of Approved and Conditionally Approved Vaccines by the Ministry of Public Health:

Approved Vaccines	Conditionally Approved vaccines*
Pfizer / BioNTech (Comirnaty)	Sinopharm
Moderna (SpikeVax)	Sinovac
AstraZeneca (Covishield / Oxford / Vaxzevria)	Sputnik V
Jansen / Johnson & Johnson (only one dose)	Covaxin

 

Travelers who are vaccinated outside Qatar are required to submit the original vaccine certificate and any other supporting documents –in Arabic or English language– as a proof that they have obtained the vaccine and should at least include the following information:

o          The name of the traveler must be identical to that on the passport.

o          Doses and dates of vaccine given (one dose for Jansen vaccine and two doses for other vaccines).

o          Type/name of vaccine.

o          The serial number of the vaccine batch and QR code (if available).

 

 

General policy:

1. Based on COVID-19 epidemiology  in different countries and their local health risk indicators, Qatar has developed specific health and safety measures for travelers coming to Qatar – Standard Health Measures and Red Health Measures.
2. Citizens and residents are free to travel abroad at any time provided that the Travel and Return Policy is adhered to when returning to Qatar.
3. The Ministry of Public Health advises citizens and residents to look up and comply with COVID-19 health measures currently in place in the destination country.
4. 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.
5. Travelers must comply with Qatar's COVID-19 procedures at all time to reduce the spread of COVID-19. 
6. Travelers who are required to have a PCR lab result before traveling to Qatar must have it at a medical center authorized by the health authorities in the country of departure. A negative test result is required and must be obtained no more than 48 hours before the time of departure from the country of origin. (Please see the pre-travel test rules for detailed guidance.)
7. Unvaccinated children below the age of 12 years travelling with fully vaccinated or recovered parent/s will follow the same rules that apply to their parent/s and are not required to have a pre-travel PCR test but only post-arrival test (Rapid Antigen Test) at the following locations:

a. Citizens and Residents: at any public/private clinic within 24 hours of arrival in Qatar but must sign an Undertaking form.
b. GCC Citizens (non-resident) and Visitors: if parent/s are exempted from quarantine, testing for children will be at the port of entry (airport, land, sea) upon arrival in Qatar; if parent/s are subject to hotel quarantine, testing will be at the quarantine hotel.

1. Non-residents of Qatar must register via the pre-travel registration system for people entering the State of Qatar on  www.ehteraz.gov.qa website and upload all relevant official documents, where applicable, such as vaccination certificates, evidence of previous COVID-19 infection, serology antibody test results (for conditional vaccines), and PCR lab result at least 3 days before arrival. Although uploading the PCR test result is not mandatory during the electronic pre-registration process, travelers who are required to have pre-travel PCR test, 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 ports (land and sea). Your pre-travel online registration will help accelerate your passage and clearance at the port of arrival for a better arrival experience in Qatar. 
2. While pre-travel registration remains 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 particularly those traveling with unvaccinated family members who are required to complete home quarantine as they are required to sign an Undertaking which is readily available in the Ehteraz online registration. 
3. The Ministry of Public Health has the right to conduct random COVID-19 testing (Rapid Antigen Test or PCR) of travelers upon arrival in Qatar through its air, land and sea ports.
4. Travelers should download the Ehteraz mobile application and activate it on their mobile phones using a local or international SIM card.
5. 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.qaand airline online booking form. Citizens and residents are exempted from this requirement on the condition that they are fully vaccinated inside the State of Qatar arriving from one of the countries to which Standard Health Measure apply.
6. Self-testing of Rapid Antigen is not applicable to travelers. Post-travel/upon arrival Rapid Antigen Testing must be conducted at an authorized healthcare facility: (Please see our post-travel testing policy for detailed instructions) as follows:

a. Citizens and Residents: at any public (PHCC) or Private clinic. 
b. GCC Citizens (non-resident) and Visitors: anyone subject to home quarantine with first-degree relatives shall have their testing done at any authorized private clinics; for unvaccinated children below 12 yrs old who are accompanied by parent/s exempted from quarantine, testing will be at the port of entry (airport, land, sea). 
c. Travelers who are subject to hotel quarantine will have their testing done at the hotel.

1. Travelers who are required to complete quarantine in a hotel quarantine facility must book a Welcome-Home quarantine package through Discover Qatar’s website https://www.discoverqatar.qa/welcome-home/.
2. 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.
3. Travelers arriving in Qatar should go to the COVID-19 test clinic at the entry port in case of any COVID-19-related symptoms and take the necessary isolation measures.
4. Travelers should not go to work or mix with others until the Rapid Antigen Test result is out.
5. For unvaccinated travelers, their health status in the Ehteraz app will be Yellow because they are under quarantine (please review the quarantine policy for detailed instructions).
6. Travelers should, on regular basis, check the MoPH Travel and Return Policy for up-to-date detailed guidance according to the country classification and health  and safety measures.
7. Mekhaines quarantine period shall remain at 7 days.

 

 

Group 1: Citizens and Residents of Qatar

 

A-Qatar Citizens
Standard Health Measures
	COVID-19 Test Required Before Traveling to Qatar	Type & Duration of Quarntine	COVID-19 Test Required On Arrival in Qatar
Fully Vaccinated/ Recovered	Not required	Exempted from quarantine	Rapid Antigen Test within 24 hours of arrival
Unvaccinated / Non-Immune		5 daysHomequarantine	PCR test within 24 hours of arrival, plus Rapid Antigen Test on day 5 of home quarantine

 

Red Health Measures
	COVID-19 Test Required Before Traveling to Qatar	Type & Duration of Quarntine	COVID-19 Test Required On Arrival in Qatar
Fully Vaccinated/ Recovered	Not required	Exempted from quarantine	Rapid Antigen Test within 24 hours of arrival
Unvaccinated/ Non-Immune	Must submit a negative pre-travel PCR lab result obtained no more than 48 hours before the time of departure from the country of origin	5 daysHomequarantine	PCR test within 24 hours of arrival, plus Rapid Antigen Test on day 5 of home quarantine

 

B-Residents
Standard Health Measures
	COVID-19 Test Required Before Traveling to Qatar	Type & Duration of Quarntine	COVID-19 Test Required On Arrival in Qatar
Fully Vaccinated/ Recovered	Not required	Exempted from quarantine	Rapid Antigen Test within 24 hours of arrival
Unvaccinated/ Non-Immune		5 daysHomequarantine	PCR test within 24 hours of arrival, plus Rapid Antigen Test on day 5 of home quarantine

 

Red Health Measures
	COVID-19 Test Required Before Traveling to Qatar	Type & Duration of Quarntine	COVID-19 Test Required On Arrival in Qatar
Fully Vaccinated/ Recovered	Not required	Exempted from quarantine	Rapid Antigen Test within 24 hours of arrival
Unvaccinated /Non-Immune	Must submit a negative pre-travel PCR lab result obtained no more than 48 hours before the time of departure from the country of origin	5 daysHotelquarantine	Rapid Antigen Test on day 5 of Hotel quarantine

 

 

Group 2: GCC Citizens (who are Non-Residents) and Visitors

 

C-GCC Citizens (who are Non-Residents)
Standard Health Measures
	COVID-19 Test Required Before Traveling to Qatar	Type & Duration of Quarntine	COVID-19 Test Required On Arrival in Qatar
Fully Vaccinated /Recovered	Must submit a negative pre-travel PCR lab result obtained no more than 48 hours before the time of departure from the country of origin	Exempted from quarantine	Not applicable
Unvaccinated/ Non-Immune		5 daysHotel, orHomequarantine for those withfirst-degree relatives(on condition that a proof of relationship and residence is provided)	Rapid Antigen Test on day 5 of Hotel/Home quarantine

 

Red Health Measures
	COVID-19 Test Required Before Traveling to Qatar	Type & Duration of Quarntine	COVID-19 Test Required On Arrival in Qatar
Fully Vaccinated/ Recovered	Must submit a negative pre-travel PCR lab result obtained no more than 48 hours before the time of departure from the country of origin.	1-dayHotelquarantine	Rapid Antigen Test on day 1 of hotel quarantine
Unvaccinated/ Non-Immune		5 daysHotelquarantine	Rapid Antigen Test on day 5 of Hotel quarantine

 

D-Visitors
Standard Health Measures
	COVID-19 Test Required Before Traveling to Qatar	Type & Duration of Quarntine	COVID-19 Test Required On Arrival in Qatar
Fully Vaccinated /Recovered	Must submit a negative pre-travel PCR lab result obtained no more than 48 hours before the time of departure from the country of origin	Exempted from quarantine	Not applicable
Unvaccinated/ Non-Immune		5 daysHotel, orHomequarantine for those withfirst-degree relatives(on condition that a proof of relationship and residence is provided)	Rapid Antigen Test on day 5 of Hotel/Home quarantine

 

Red Health Measures
	COVID-19 Test Required Before Traveling to Qatar	Type & Duration of Quarntine	COVID-19 Test Required On Arrival in Qatar
Fully Vaccinated/ Recovered	Must submit a negative pre-travel PCR lab result obtained no more than 48 hours before the time of departure from the country of origin	1-dayHotelquarantine	Rapid Antigen Test on day 1 of hotel quarantine
Unvaccinated /Non-Immune	No entry

 

 

Ehteraz Mobile Application Policy:

• Passengers arriving in 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:
1. SIM card from one of Qatar's service providers (Ooredoo or Vodafone) or an international SIM card.
2. Mobile internet connection.
3. The smartphone should support Android 6, newer versions or IOS 13.5 and later versions.
4. Download and install the app on the mobile phone either via Google Play, Apple App Store or from any online search engines.
5. 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 Ehteraz 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.

 

 

COVID-19 tests cost: 

Type of Test	Cost Per Test
PCR Test	QR 160
Rapid Antigen	QR 50
Serology Antibody test (point of care)	QR 50

 

 

Countries based on Level of COVID-19 Risk

The below listing of countries came into effect on Monday, 28 February 2022 at 7pm.

• Countries Subject to COVID-19 Red Health Measures.

 

It has been mandatory to install and activate the Ehteraz app when leaving the house for all citizens and residents in Qatar since 22 May.

To download the application, please follow the below links:

App Store

Google Play