The latest updated travel policy from Qatar exempts fully vaccinated passengers from mandatory quarantine. This goes effective from Monday, the 12th July.
Nationals, residents and visitors, irrespective of whether they are vaccinated or not, will have to undergo a PCR test at an accredited health centre 72 hours prior to their travel to Qatar.
As per the new rules, countries have been classified into three categories: Green, Yellow and Red, depending on covid cases.
A quarantine policy has been made applicable to each category for unvaccinated travellers entering Qatar. This procedure is also applicable to travellers who are vaccinated with vaccines that are not recognized in Qatar, or those who fall short of the 14 days vaccine administration period since the second dose.
Travellers coming from the ‘Green’ category will have to undergo domestic quarantine for five days. They should take an RT-PCR test in PHCC on the fourth day of their quarantine.
Travellers from the ‘Yellow’ category should undergo hotel quarantine for seven days, and will have to undergo an RT=PCR test at their expense on the sixth day.
Travellers from the ‘Red’ category will have to stay for ten days in hotel quarantine and a PCR test will have to be done at their expense on the seventh day. Even the vaccinated travellers who are coming from the Red group countries will have to undergo an RT-PCR test at their own expense, on arrive at the Doha airport. So far, 94 countries are on the red list.
Children below 11 years of age will have to follow same entry rules as their parents. However, if the parents are vaccinated, children will be considered as vaccinated.
Unvaccinated children in the age group 12 to 17 years will have to undergo quarantine as per the procedure assigned to the country of departure. In case of hotel quarantine, they will be accompanied by a parent, even if the parent is vaccinated.
All travellers entering Qatar will have to pre-register at the ‘Ehteraz’ website and attach all necessary documents 12 hours prior to their arrival, the Health Ministry said.
The new travel policy forms part of the gradual lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in the country.
Currently, there are four approved vaccines namely - Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson. Sinopharm has also been approved as conditional vaccine. However, recipients of conditional vaccine will have to undergo antibody testing at Doha airport. If there is not antibody in the test, the individual would be quarantined.
Fully vaccinated implies that the traveller should have received two full series of the vaccine. This includes two doses usually, except in case of Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Meanwhile, Qatar will continue its issuance of tourist and family entry visas from Thursday, the Interior Ministry said.
