Changes come into effect from Dec 1
QNA
Doha
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has updated its COVID-19 Travel and Return Policy. The changes come into effect on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 6pm local time.
For visitors coming from countries in the green list, the ministry divided those visitors into two categories; the first is for citizens and residents of Qatar, as well as citizens of the GCC member states. The second category is visitors to Qatar with pre-approved and on-arrival visas.
For citizens and residents of Qatar, the quarantine policy for travellers who are fully vaccinated, inside or outside Qatar, by a vaccine approved by the Ministry of Public Health, or who have a conditionally-approved vaccine, or who have recovered from COVID-19 inside Qatar with 14 days having passed from the date of recovery will be exempt from quarantine if they meet two conditions: 1) Being 12 years old or more. 2) If they are children aged 11 years and below accompanied by one or both of their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated.
Test policy before arrival will see those visitors also exempted from doing a PCR test 72 hours before arrival. Passengers with a conditionally certified vaccine however 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 for 7 days.
Everyone who is above three years of age must perform a PCR test within 36 hours of arriving in Qatar. Children who are three years old or below must also perform a PCR only if their accompanying parent(s) are not fully-vaccinated.
The PCR tests can be performed at Primary Health Care Corporation health centers and private clinics/hospitals licensed by the Ministry of Public Health to conduct this test.
As for citizens and residents of Qatar who are not fully-vaccinated or are ineligible for the vaccine, they must undergo home quarantine for 7 days upon arrival in the country.
Before arrival, they must perform a PCR test with a negative result 72 hours prior to their arrival to Qatar. This is applicable to all age groups.
After they arrive to Qatar, they must perform another PCR test 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. The PCR tests can be performed at Primary Health Care Corporation health centers and private clinics/hospitals licensed by the Ministry of Public Health to conduct this test.
For GCC Citizens, they will be exempted from having to quarantine if fully vaccinated, inside or outside Qatar, by a vaccine approved by the Ministry of Public Health, or who have a conditionally approved vaccine, or who have recovered from COVID-19 within a GCC country and 14 days have passed from the date of recovery, provided that one dose of a MOPH approved vaccine has been given. This applies if they are 12 years old and above, are 11 years old and below but are accompanied by one or both of their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated.
Before arrival, GCC citizens must conduct a PCR test with a negative result within 72 hours before arrival to Qatar (all age groups). Children aged 3 years and below accompanying one or both parents who are fully vaccinated are exempt. 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 for 7 days.
They are not required to perform a PCR test after arrival however.
For GCC citizens who are not fully vaccinated or ineligible for the vaccine or who have not completed the required vaccine doses, they have to undergo hotel quarantine for 7 days upon arrival in the country. GCC citizens (non-residents) coming to stay with first-degree relatives residing in Qatar, provided they can show a proof of the relationship and national address data, can quarantine at home upon arrival instead of quarantining at a hotel.
They must conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival to Qatar, which applied to All age groups. They must also conduct a PCR test 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. In the case of hotel quarantine, PCR tests can be carried out at the quarantine hotel. Those quarantining at home can take the test at private clinics/hospitals licensed by the Ministry of Public Health to conduct this test.
Visitors to Qatar with pre-approved and on-arrival visas coming from countries on the green list will be exempt from quarantine requirements if they are fully vaccinated by a vaccine approved by the Ministry of Public Health or have received one of the conditionally approved vaccines, are 12 years old and older, or are 11 years old and lower but are accompanied by one or both of their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated.
They have to take a PCR test with a negative result within 72 hours before arrival to Qatar (applies to all age groups). Children aged three years and below accompanying one or both parents who are fully vaccinated are exempt. 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 hotel quarantine for seven days. Visitors to Qatar with pre-approved and on-arrival visas coming from countries on the green list do not need to take a PCR test after arrival.
As for visitors to Qatar with pre-approved and on-arrival visas coming from countries on the green list who are not vaccinated or who have not completed the required vaccine doses, they have to quarantine at a hotel for seven days upon arrival in the country. Travelers with pre-issued family visas to visit one of their first-degree relatives residing in Qatar, provided they have proof of the relationship and national address data can quarantine the seven days at home.
This group also has to take a PCR test with a negative results 72 hours before arrival to Qatar (applies to all age groups). After arrival, 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.
PCR tests can be taken in the hotel for those quarantining there, and at private clinics/hospitals approved by the Ministry of Public Health to conduct this test for those quarantining at home.
As for those coming from a country that is on the red list, they have been placed into two different groups; the first includes citizens and residents of the State of Qatar as well as citizens of GCC member states, and the second group is visitors to Qatar with pre-approved and on-arrival visas.
For citizens and residents of the State of Qatar travelers who are fully vaccinated, inside or outside Qatar, by a vaccine approved by the Ministry of Public Health, or who have a conditionally approved vaccine, or who have recovered from COVID-19 inside Qatar and 14 days have passed from the date of recovery are exempt from quarantine if they are 12 years old and above, or are 11 years old and below but accompanied by one or both of their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated.
Take 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 for 7 days.
After arrival, take a PCR test within 36 hours of arriving in Qatar. This applies to all age groups. The tests can be taken at Primary Health Care Corporation health centers or at private clinics/hospitals licensed by the Ministry of Public Health to conduct this test.
Travelers who are not fully vaccinated or ineligible for the vaccine or who have not completed the required vaccine doses have to quarantine at home for 7 days upon arrival in the country. They will also have to take a PCR test with a negative result within 72 hours before arrival to Qatar (for all age groups). After arrival, 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 (all age groups). The tests can be taken at Primary Health Care Corporation health centers or at private clinics/hospitals licensed by the Ministry of Public Health to conduct this test.
For GCC citizens, Travelers who are fully vaccinated, inside or outside Qatar, by a vaccine approved by the Ministry of Public Health, or who have a conditionally approved vaccine, or who have recovered from COVID-19 within a GCC country and 14 days have passed from the date of recovery, provided that one dose of a MOPH approved vaccine has been given need to quarantine at a hotel for two days upon arrival in the country.
They will also need to take 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 hotel quarantine for 7 days. After arrival, they will need to take a PCR test at the quarantine hotel (All age groups).
As for GCC citizens who are not fully vaccinated or who have not completed the required vaccine doses, they will need to quarantine at a hotel for 7 days upon arrival in the country. GCC citizens (non-residents) coming to stay with first-degree relatives residing in Qatar, provided they can show a proof of the relationship and national address data, can quarantine at home instead.
They have to take a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival to Qatar, which applies to all age groups. After arrival, they need to take a PCR test 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 (all age groups).
PCR tests can be carried out at the quarantine hotel. Those quarantining at home can take the test at private clinics/hospitals licensed by the Ministry of Public Health to conduct this test.
