Qatar announces updates to COVID-19 travel and return policy

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has announced a set of updates to its COVID-19 Travel and Return Policy.

The policy updates come into effect from Wednesday 16 March 2022 at 7pm local Qatar time.

The key policy updates include:

• GCC and EU nationals and residents, who meet the immunity criteria, can use the authorized health information app for COVID-19 from their country and will not need to complete the Ehteraz website pre-travel registration.

• Performing a pre-travel to Qatar PCR test for GCC and EU nationals and residents is optional, unless the country of departure is listed in the Red Health Measures. Travelers who do not perform a pre-travel PCR test must have a Rapid Antigen Test at an authorized medical center within 24 hours of arrival in Qatar. Travelers with pre-travel PCR tests are exempt from a Rapid Antigen Test after arrival.

• The validity of COVID-19 immunity from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose or following recovery from infection has been extended to 12 months, in line with the Ministry's recent announcement.

The changes aim to facilitate smooth entry into Qatar for all travelers while safeguarding Qatar's population from COVID-19 through the implementation of appropriate health checks on travelers entering the country.

The Ministry stated that all travelers must download and activate the Ehteraz app to gain entry to public places in Qatar.