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Reviewed 21 February 2022
In response to the dynamic COVID-19 situation in many parts of the world, Qatar has recently modified its entry requirements by grouping countries into green, red, and exceptional red lists. Vaccination status will be also a major factor in quarantine and testing treatment.
Is Qatar open for all tourists right now? If so, can you do it this year? Here is the latest information for entry into Qatar in 2022.
Qatar’s exceptional red-list countries
Currently, there are six countries in Qatar’s exceptional red-list countries:
- Bangladesh
- Egypt
- India
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Philippines
Unvaccinated visitors to Qatar with pre-approved and on-arrival visas from the countries mentioned above, will not be allowed entry into Qatar.
Quarantine and testing requirements
The following are the quarantine and testing requirements for eligible arrivals to Qatar from the ‘exceptional red list’ countries.
Citizens
Fully vaccinated travellers (All age groups).
- Will have to conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival in Qatar.
- These travellers will be subject to a home quarantine for 2 days upon arrival in the country.
- Will be required to conduct a rapid antigen test on day 2 after arrival in Qatar. The individual will be released if the result of the COVID-19 test is negative (all age groups).
Unvaccinated travellers
- Will have to conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival in Qatar.
- Unvaccinated travellers will be subject to a home quarantine for 7 days upon arrival in the country.
- A rapid antigen test should be conducted on day 7 of quarantine and the individual will be released if the result of the COVID-19 test is negative (all age groups).
Residents of Qatar and GCC citizens
Fully vaccinated travellers
- Will have to conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival in Qatar.
- These travellers will be subject to hotel quarantine for 2 days upon arrival in Qatar.
- Will be required to conduct a rapid antigen test on day 2 after arrival in Qatar.
Unvaccinated travellers
- Will have to conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival in Qatar.
- These travellers will be subject to hotel quarantine for 7 days upon arrival in Qatar.
- A rapid antigen test should be conducted on day 7 of quarantine and the individual will be released if the result of the COVID-19 test is negative (all age groups).
Visitors to Qatar with pre-approved and on-arrival visas (all ages)
Fully vaccinated travellers (all age groups)
- Will have to conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival in Qatar.
- These travellers will be subject to hotel quarantine for 2 days upon arrival in Qatar.
- Will be required to conduct a rapid antigen test on day 2 after arrival in Qatar
Please note that unvaccinated travellers (tourists) will NOT be granted entry into Qatar.
Qatar’s red list countries
There are 86 countries in Qatar’s red-list countries:
- Albania
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Bolivia
- Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba
- Botswana
- British Virgin Islands
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Islands
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Curacao
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Iran
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Italy
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Maldives
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Montserrat
- Namibia
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman
- Panama
- Peru
- Portugal
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sudan
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Zimbabwe
Quarantine and testing requirements
The following are the quarantine and testing requirements for eligible arrivals to Qatar from the ‘red list’ countries.
Citizens and residents of Qatar
Fully vaccinated travellers (All age groups)
-
Will have to conduct a PCR test with a negative result within 72 hours before arrival to Qatar (all age groups). Passengers with a conditionally certified vaccine must perform a Serology Antibody test before arriving in Qatar and if the passenger is unable to take the test in the country of departure, the passenger must undergo home quarantine
- The following categories will be exempted from home quarantine upon arrival in the country after a negative PCR test result appears:
- Everyone aged 12 years and above.
- Children aged 11 years and below accompanied by one or both of their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated.
-
Will be required to conduct a rapid antigen test within 36 hours of arriving in Qatar.
Unvaccinated travellers
- Will have to conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival in Qatar.
- Unvaccinated travellers will be subject to a home quarantine for 7 days upon arrival in the country.
- A rapid antigen test is required to be taken on the seventh day of quarantine and the individual will be released on the seventh day if the result of the COVID-19 test is negative (all age groups).
GCC citizens
Fully vaccinated travellers
- Will have to conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival in Qatar.
- These travellers will be subject to hotel quarantine for 2 days upon arrival in Qatar.
- An on-arrival rapid antigen test will be done on the second day at the quarantine hotel after arrival.
Unvaccinated travellers
- Will have to conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival in Qatar.
- These travellers will be subject to hotel quarantine for 7 days upon arrival in Qatar.
- A rapid antigen test should be conducted on day 7 of quarantine and the individual will be released once the result of the COVID-19 test is negative (all age groups).
Visitors to Qatar with pre-approved and on-arrival visas (all ages)
Fully vaccinated travellers (all age groups)
- Will have to conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival in Qatar.
- These travellers will be subject to hotel quarantine for 2 days upon arrival in Qatar.
- Will be required to conduct a rapid antigen test on day 2 after arrival in Qatar. The individual will be released if the result of the COVID-19 test is negative (all age groups).
Unvaccinated travellers
- Will have to conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival in Qatar.
- These travellers will be subject to hotel quarantine for 7 days upon arrival in Qatar.
- A rapid antigen test should be conducted on day 7 of quarantine and the individual will be released if the result of the COVID-19 test is negative (all age groups).
Qatar’s general entry regulations
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. Travellers are responsible for keeping up to date with changes to the travel and return policy through official sources before planning to travel to Qatar.
Arrival registration
Qatar has mandated travellers to submit a health declaration and register themselves on the Ehteraz platform, facilitating authorities to keep track of health records, vaccination status and other necessary details.
- Non-residents of Qatar must register via the pre-registration system for people entering the State of Qatar on the www.ehteraz.gov.qa website and upload all relevant documents such as vaccine certificates at least three 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. Additionally, PCR test result is no longer required during the electronic pre-registration process. Instead, travellers 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). Note that the Ministry of Public Health has the right to conduct random examinations of travellers upon arrival in a country Qatar through its air, land and seaports.
- Travellers 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.
Testing and quarantine requirements
- Travellers must take a PCR test result at a medical centre 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.
- Travellers 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 traveller must book the hotel quarantine package through Discover Qatar’s website before travelling to Qatar.
- Travellers 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.
Note: These policies apply to arrivals across all Qatar entry points.
Are there flights to Qatar now?
Yes, flights to Qatar have resumed and are now easily available.
Most airports in the country are now operational, so you’ll be able to fly into Qatar from any corner of the world.
