Qatar changes quarantine policy for people coming from 7 African countries

* Fully vaccinated residents subjected to 7 days quarantine with 2 days hotel and 5 days home quarantine

* Fully vaccinated GCC citizens subjected to hotel quarantine for 7 days upon arrival in Qatar.

Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has issued a new quarantine and travel policy for some of the added exceptional red list countries. The new and updated policy includes seven days home or hotel quarantine for citizens, seven days hotel quarantine for GCC citizens and two days hotel and five days home quarantine for residents. Meanwhile the visitors from these countries will be subject to hotel quarantine upon arrival. The changes come into effect on Wednesday, 1 December 2021, at 6pm.

The new policy is for those coming from following Exceptional Red List countries: Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Group A: Residents of Qatar, Citizens of Qatar and GCC citizens:

I. Residents of Qatar

Quarantine policy:

1. Fully vaccinated travellers:

These travellers will be subject to quarantine for 7days upon arrival as follow:

Hotel quarantine for 2 days

Home quarantine for 5 days

Before arrival:

Conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival in Qatar (All age groups).

After arrival:

The PCR test will be done on the first day at the quarantine hotel after arrival (all age groups).

A PCR test will be performed on the sixth day and if the test result is negative, the person will be released from quarantine on the seventh day (all age groups).

Places to take a test (PCR):

In case of hotel quarantine:

quarantine hotel

In case of home quarantine:

Primary Health Care Corporation health centers

Private clinics/hospitals licensed by the Ministry of Public Health to conduct this test.

2.  Unvaccinated travellers:

These travellers will be subject to hotel quarantine for 7 days upon arrival in Qatar.

Before arrival:

Conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival in Qatar (All age groups).

After arrival:

The PCR test will be done on the first day at the quarantine hotel after arrival (all age groups).

A PCR test will be performed on the sixth day and if the test result is negative, the person will be released from quarantine on the seventh day (all age groups).

II. Citizens

Quarantine policy:

1. Fully vaccinated and Unvaccinated travellers:

These travellers will be subject to a home quarantine for 7 days upon arrival in the country, with the option to choose to undergo hotel quarantine if desired.

Before arrival:

Conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival in Qatar.

After arrival:

In the case of home quarantine (all age groups):

Conduct a PCR test on arrival in Qatar at one of the ports.

A PCR test will be performed on arrival on the sixth day and if a negative test result appears, the person will be released from quarantine on the seventh day.

In the case of hotel quarantine (all age groups):

The PCR test will be done on the first day at the quarantine hotel after arrival.

A PCR test will be performed on the sixth day and if the test result is negative, the person will be released from quarantine on the seventh day.

III. GCC Citizens:

Quarantine policy:

1. Fully vaccinated and Unvaccinated travellers:

These travellers will be subject to hotel quarantine for 7 days upon arrival in Qatar.

Before arrival:

Conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival in Qatar (All age groups).

After arrival:

The PCR test will be done on the first day at the quarantine hotel after arrival (all age groups).

A PCR test will be performed on the sixth day and if the test result is negative, the person will be released from quarantine on the seventh day (all age groups).

Group B: Visitors to Qatar with pre-approved and on-arrival visas

Quarantine policy:

1. Fully vaccinated travellers:

These travellers will be subject to hotel quarantine for 7 days upon arrival in Qatar.

Before arrival:

Conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival to Qatar (All age groups)

After arrival:

The PCR test will be done on the first day at the quarantine hotel after arrival (all age groups).

A PCR test will be performed on the sixth day and if the test result is negative, the person will be released from quarantine on the seventh day  (all age groups).

2. Unvaccinated travellers

Entry is not allowed