Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Qatar During COVID-19
Obtaining a visa to travel to Qatar
Obtaining a visa is the first step in visiting Qatar as a tourist. Citizens of more than 95 countries are currently eligible for a visa on arrival, with some destinations allowing tourists to remain for up to 90 days, etc. for up to 30 days. By visiting the Ministry of Interior's website, both options can be extended for another 30 days, while those who are unable to obtain a visa on arrival must apply for one in advance.
By visiting the Visit Qatar website, you can find out what kind of visa you need and how to apply for it before visiting Qatar as a tourist.
Qatar's red list of countries
Qatar has simplified its travel and return rules as of February 28, deleting the exceptional red and green lists and decreasing the red list.
Visitors traveling from countries on the red list, whether vaccinated or not, will be subject to additional rules (more on that in a moment).
The following countries are on the current red list:
Bangladesh
Egypt
India
Nepal
Pakistan
Philippines
Sri Lanka is a country in South Asia.
The most recent red list is also available on the Ministry of Public Health's website.
Vaccination and immunity requirements for tourists visiting Qatar
If you want to visit Qatar as a tourist, the rules differ depending on whether or not you have been vaccinated. Qatar reopened to tourists in July 2021, with different requirements depending on your immunity status. Individuals who have been fully vaccinated as well as those who have just recovered may be eligible for immune status, depending on a variety of factors.
If you have a two-dose vaccine, your immunity will last as long as it has been more than 14 days but less than nine months after your second dose, or less than 12 months since your booster dose.
If you have the Janssen single-dose vaccine, your protection will last for nine months starting two weeks after the first dose, or for 12 months starting the seventh day after receiving your booster.
Simply stated, you must have a booster shot within nine months of receiving your full vaccination to maintain your immunity.
Vaccines that have been approved
Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Moderna (SpikeVax), AstraZeneca (Covishield / Oxford / Vaxzevria), and Johnson & Johnson (Covishield / Oxford / Vaxzevria) have all received approval from Qatar's Ministry of Public Health (Janssen).
Residents and citizens from around the GCC, the EU, and the UK can utilize the health app from their respective countries instead of pre-registering on Ehteraz.
In place of Ehteraz approval, the following applications will be accepted:
Be Aware of Bahrain Bahrain
European Pass app for EU countries
United Arab Emirates – Al Hosn
United Kingdom – NHS COVID Pass
Kuwait – Shlonik
Oman – Tarassud
Saudi Arabia – Tawakkalna
United Arab Emirates – Al Hosn
Visitors from these countries will also be asked to do a quick antigen test within 24 hours of arrival, rather than a pre-travel PCR test.
Tourists from all over the world
Ehteraz permission is required before to arrival. Documents such as your vaccination certificate or proof of previous infection, serology or antibody test results (if you have a conditionally approved vaccine), a copy of your passport, and a copy of your hotel quarantine booking will be required as part of your application.
If you intend to visit Qatar on a visa-on-arrival basis, leave the visa number field blank.
At least three days before your trip, fill out the pre-travel registration form. You will be notified through email of your acceptance, and you may be required to submit additional papers before being accepted.
Documents should be with you:
We recommend printing all your documents before heading to the airport to make your flight as smooth as possible.
A copy of your Ehteraz approval, a copy of your vaccination certificate, a copy of your antibody or serology test results (if applicable), a copy of your hotel quarantine booking (if applicable), and a completed undertaking and acknowledgement form are all required.
This article was previously published on qatarmoments.To see the original article, click here