UPDATED: Story updated with all details...
Doha: Ministry of Public Health announced several new updates that will be added to the travel policy and return for Covid -19, and will come into force from Wednesday, October 6, 2021, starting at 2:00 pm arrival time in Qatar.
Qatar has now 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.
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.
The list of updates also includes that citizens and residents of Qatar who are fully vaccinated, and those coming from the Green List countries to Qatar, are not required to undergo a PCR examination before traveling, instead, they will be asked to take the test within 36 hours of arriving in Qatar. The list of vaccines with conditional approval is updated to include both the Sinovac vaccine and the Sputnik V vaccine. Passengers coming from abroad can also activate the Ehteraz application with international sim cards on arrival in Qatar without the need for a local phone SIM.
Persons not residing in the State of Qatar must register through the pre-registration platform, through the website (www.ehteraz.gov.qa) at least 3 days before the time of arrival.
Policies for those coming from Green list countries
Group A: Citizens, GCC citizens, and residents of Qatar
Quarantine policy
A. Travelers who are fully vaccinated by a vaccine recognized by the Ministry of Public Health:
The following categories will be exempt from quarantine:
Everyone aged 12 years and above.
Children aged 11 years and below and accompanied by one or both of their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated.
After arrival: Conduct a PCR test within 36 hours of arriving in Qatar as follows:
Citizens and residents: Go to one of the Primary Health Care Corporation health centers or a private clinic/hospital.
GCC citizens: Go to one of the private clinics/hospitals licensed by the Ministry of Public Health to conduct the PCR test.
Children under the age of (4) are excluded from this test procedure.
B. Passengers who are not vaccinated or who have not completed the necessary vaccination doses:
Passengers will undergo home quarantine for 7 days, as follows:
Everyone who has not completed the required vaccine doses.
GCC citizens (non-residents) coming to stay with first-degree relatives residing in Qatar (on the condition that they provide proof of the relationship and national address data).
Before arrival:
Undergo a PCR test with a negative result 72 hours before arrival in Qatar
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.
Citizens and residents: Go to one of the Primary Health Care Corporation health centers or a private clinic/hospital.
GCC citizens: Go to one of the private clinics/hospitals.
Group B: Visitors to Qatar:
Quarantine policy
A. Travelers who are fully vaccinated by a vaccine recognized by the Ministry of Public Health:
The following categories will be exempt from quarantine:
Travelers aged 12 years and above.
Children aged up to 11 years and accompanied by one or both of their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated.
Before arrival: Undergo a PCR test with a negative result 72 hours before arrival in Qatar.
B. Unvaccinated travelers or those who have not completed the necessary vaccination doses:
Passengers will undergo home quarantine for 7 days, as follows:
First-degree relatives including children under the age of 18 (pre-issued family visas).
C. Unvaccinated travelers or those who have not completed the necessary vaccination doses:
Travelers will undergo hotel quarantine for 7 days, as follows:
All types of visas except Category B.
Before arrival: Undergo a PCR test with a negative result 72 hours before arrival in Qatar
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.
Important note: A positive Serology Antibody test pre-travel is mandatory for individuals with two doses of a conditionally recognized vaccine, with the validity of the test being 30 days.
Policies for those coming from RED list countries
Group A: Citizens, GCC citizens, and residents of Qatar
Quarantine policy
A. Travelers who are fully vaccinated by a vaccine recognized by the Ministry of Public Health:
The following categories will be exempt from quarantine:
Travelers aged 12 years and above.
Before arrival: Undergo a PCR test with a negative result 72 hours before arrival in Qatar
After arrival: Have a PCR test within 36 hours of arriving in Qatar in a Primary Health Care Corporation health center or a private clinic/hospital.
B. Passengers who are not vaccinated or who have not completed the necessary vaccination doses:
The following categories will be subject to home quarantine for 7 days as follows:
Travelers aged 12 years and above.
Children aged 11 years and under.
GCC citizens (non-residents) coming to stay with first-degree relatives residing in Qatar (on the condition that they provide proof of the relationship and national address data).
Before arrival: Undergo a PCR test with a negative result 72 hours before arrival in Qatar
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.
Citizens and residents: Undergo the testing in a Primary Health Care Corporation health center or a private clinic/hospital.
GCC citizens (non-residents): Undergo the testing at a private clinic/hospital licensed by the Ministry of Public Health.
Group B: Visitors to Qatar:
Quarantine policy
A. Travelers who are fully vaccinated by a vaccine recognized by the Ministry of Public Health:
The following categories will be subject to hotel quarantine for two days or until the test result appears:
Travelers aged 12 and above.
Children aged 11 years and under (non-vaccinated) accompanied by or both of their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated.
The following categories will be subject to hotel quarantine for two days or until the test result appears:
First-degree relatives, including children less than (18) years of age arriving in Qatar.
After arrival: A PCR test on arrival at the quarantine hotel
B. Unvaccinated travelers or those who have not completed the necessary vaccination doses:
The following categories will be subject to home quarantine for 7 days:
First-degree relatives, including children under the age of 18 (pre-issued family visas).
The following categories will be subject to hotel quarantine for 7 days:
Holders of all types of visas except (pre-issued family visas).
Before arrival: Undergo a PCR test with a negative result 72 hours before arrival in Qatar
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.
Important note: A positive Serology Antibody test pre-travel is mandatory for individuals with two doses of a conditionally recognized vaccine, with the validity of the test being 30 days.
Read also: MoPH Updated Conditionally Recognised Vaccine List Of Qatar
Policies for those coming from the Exceptional Red List countries:
India, Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Kenya, Sudan
Group A: Citizens, GCC citizens, and residents of Qatar
Quarantine policy
A. Travelers who are fully vaccinated by a vaccine recognized by the Ministry of Public Health:
The following categories will be subject to hotel quarantine for two days:
Travelers aged 12 years and above.
Children aged 11 years and accompanied by one or both of their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated.
Before arrival: Undergo a PCR test with a negative result 72 hours before arrival in Qatar
After arrival: Conduct a PCR test within 36 hours of arriving in Qatar as follows: Have a PCR test at the quarantine hotel.
Serology Antibody test at the quarantine hotel for vaccinated persons outside Qatar with one of the vaccines approved by the Ministry of Public Health.
B. Passengers who are not vaccinated or who have not completed the necessary vaccination doses:
This category will be subject to hotel quarantine for 7 days.
Before arrival: Undergo a PCR test with a negative result 72 hours before arrival in Qatar
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.
Group B: Visitors to Qatar:
Visa holders (of all kinds):
Quarantine policy
A. Fully vaccinated travelers:
The following categories will be subject to hotel quarantine for two days:
People aged 12 years and above who are fully vaccinated.
Children aged 11 years and under (non-vaccinated) accompanied by one or both of their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated.
Before arrival: Undergo a PCR test with a negative result 72 hours before arrival in Qatar.
After arrival: Have a PCR test at the quarantine hotel.
Serology Antibody test at the quarantine hotel for vaccinated persons outside Qatar with one of the vaccines approved by the Ministry of Public Health
B. Unvaccinated travelers - entry is not allowed
Important note: A positive Serology Antibody test pre-travel is mandatory for individuals with two doses of a conditionally recognized vaccine, with the validity of the test being 30 days.
SOURCE: THEPENINSULAQATAR