Qatar: Authorities to adjust travel and return policy from Oct. 6 /update 34

Event

The Qatari Ministry of Public Health will update the country's travel and return policy from 14:00 Oct. 6. Authorities will divide countries into Green and Red lists, along with a secondary list of Exceptional Red countries based on the level of risk. Quarantine measures for travelers will differ based on the passenger's vaccination status.

• Green countries

  a) Citizens, GCC citizens and residents: Individuals who received one of several government-approved vaccines are exempt from quarantine but need to take a PCR test within 36 hours of arrival. Unvaccinated passengers or those who have not completed the necessary doses must produce a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours before arrival and quarantine at home for seven days.

  b) Visitors: Fully vaccinated individuals need to produce a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival to be exempt from quarantine. Unvaccinated travelers have to produce a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival and subsequently quarantine in a home or hotel for seven days.

• Red countries

  a) Citizens, GCC citizens and residents: Fully vaccinated individuals need to produce a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival to be exempt from quarantine. Unvaccinated passengers must produce a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours before arrival and quarantine at home for seven days.

  b) Visitors: Fully vaccinated travelers have to show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival and take another PCR test upon reaching the quarantine location. They will then have to quarantine at a home or hotel for two days or until the test results appear. Unvaccinated travelers must produce a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival and subsequently quarantine in a home or hotel for seven days

• Exceptional Red countries

  a) Citizens, GCC citizens and residents: Fully vaccinated individuals need to produce a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival and another PCR test within 36 hours after arrival. They will also have to quarantine at a hotel for two days. Unvaccinated passengers must produce a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival and subsequently quarantine in a hotel for seven days. A PCR test is required on the sixth day of quarantine and the individual will be released on the seventh day if the result of the COVID-19 test is negative

  b) Visitors: Fully vaccinated travelers need to produce a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival and take another PCR test upon reaching the quarantine location. They will then have to quarantine at a hotel for two days. Unvaccinated individuals are not allowed to enter Qatar.

Domestic restrictions

Authorities have eased more domestic COVID-19 restrictions following a decrease in cases. The following measures are in place:

• Public transport can operate at a maximum capacity of 75 percent.

• Offices can operate at full capacity. Business meetings are limited to 30 individuals.

• Restaurants and cafes with a "Qatar Clean" certificate can operate at full capacity outdoors and 75 percent indoors. Restaurants that do not have the certificate can operate at 50 percent capacity outdoors and 40 percent indoors if all customers are vaccinated.

• Malls, shopping centers, and popular markets can open at full capacity. Food courts in malls can open at 50 percent capacity.

• For vaccinated individuals, gatherings are limited to 50 people outdoors and 30 people indoors.

• For unvaccinated individuals, gatherings are limited to 10 people outdoors and five people indoors.

• The wearing of facemasks in public remains mandatory in closed public places. The wearing of masks in open public places is optional.

• Residents must download the EHTERAZ mobile application for COVID-19 updates and contact tracing.

Authorities could introduce new preventive measures or amend existing restrictions depending on disease activity in the coming days and weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments. Plan for queues and delays at available shopping centers.

Resources

World Health Organization (WHO)
Qatar Ministry of Public Health