*Travel, return policy update comes into effect on Feb 28 *Green, Red, Exceptional Red country list classifications also replaced with Standard Health Measures, Red Health Measures
Qatar residents fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or recovered from infection within nine months either locally or abroad are exempted from hotel quarantine as per the latest update to the Covid-19 Travel and Return Policy, which will come into force on Monday (February 28), at 7pm Qatar time.
In an announcement on Thursday, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) also replaced the Green, Red, Exceptional Red country list classifications with Standard Health Measures and Red Health Measures, as part of the key updates.
*The countries on the Red Health Measures list are: Bangladesh, Egypt, Georgia, India, Jordan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka.
*Qatar residents coming from any country do not need a PCR test if fully vaccinated or recovered and are exempted from quarantine. They will need a Rapid Antigen Test at any public or authorised private clinic within 24 hours of arrival in Qatar.
*Unvaccinated/non-immune residents coming from countries under Red Health Measures will need five days' home quarantine and a PCR test within 24 hours of arrival, plus a Rapid Antigen Test on day five of home quarantine.
*Visitors coming from countries with standard health measures must submit a negative pre-travel PCR lab result with validity of 48 hours from departure time at the country of origin. If fully vaccinated or recovered, then they are exempted from quarantine.
*If unvaccinated/non-immune, then five days' hotel or home quarantine is needed for those with first-degree relatives (on the condition that a proof of relationship and residence is provided). They will need a Rapid Antigen Test on day five of hotel/home quarantine.
*Visitors coming from Red Health Measures countries, if fully vaccinated or recovered, must submit a negative pre-travel PCR lab result with validity of 48 hours from departure time at the country of origin. They need one-day hotel quarantine and a Rapid Antigen Test on day one of hotel quarantine. Unvaccinated or non-immune visitors are not allowed entry.
*The definition of fully vaccinated is as follows: Anyone who received any of the Covid-19 vaccine approved/recognised by the Qatar's MoPH within its immunity validity period:
*Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines - Valid for nine months from 14 days after second dose or booster dose.
*Jansen & Jansen Covid-19 vaccine - Valid for nine months from two weeks after the first dose or valid for nine months from seven days of receiving the booster dose.
*Other conditionally approved Covid-19 vaccines - Valid for six months from 14 days after the second dose or booster dose, where a positive Serology on Antibody Test lab result is required and is valid for 30 days from testing.
If the traveller is unable to take a Serology Antibody test in the country of origin or if the Antibody test result appears negative, the traveller must undergo relevant quarantine for five days.
The immune status of those who received booster dose using MoPH-approved vaccines is extended to nine months from seven days after the booster dose and Serology Antibody test is no longer required.
• Recovered: Anyone who had a medically confirmed Covid-19 infection acquired either locally or overseas is considered to have immune status valid for nine months from the date of the infection. There should be an official and verifiable laboratory test result as evidence of the past infection.
• Unvaccinated / Non-immune: Anyone who does not meet any of the above criteria.
In an announcement on Thursday, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) also replaced the Green, Red, Exceptional Red country list classifications with Standard Health Measures and Red Health Measures, as part of the key updates.
*The countries on the Red Health Measures list are: Bangladesh, Egypt, Georgia, India, Jordan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka.
*Qatar residents coming from any country do not need a PCR test if fully vaccinated or recovered and are exempted from quarantine. They will need a Rapid Antigen Test at any public or authorised private clinic within 24 hours of arrival in Qatar.
*Unvaccinated/non-immune residents coming from countries under Red Health Measures will need five days' home quarantine and a PCR test within 24 hours of arrival, plus a Rapid Antigen Test on day five of home quarantine.
*Visitors coming from countries with standard health measures must submit a negative pre-travel PCR lab result with validity of 48 hours from departure time at the country of origin. If fully vaccinated or recovered, then they are exempted from quarantine.
*If unvaccinated/non-immune, then five days' hotel or home quarantine is needed for those with first-degree relatives (on the condition that a proof of relationship and residence is provided). They will need a Rapid Antigen Test on day five of hotel/home quarantine.
*Visitors coming from Red Health Measures countries, if fully vaccinated or recovered, must submit a negative pre-travel PCR lab result with validity of 48 hours from departure time at the country of origin. They need one-day hotel quarantine and a Rapid Antigen Test on day one of hotel quarantine. Unvaccinated or non-immune visitors are not allowed entry.
*The definition of fully vaccinated is as follows: Anyone who received any of the Covid-19 vaccine approved/recognised by the Qatar's MoPH within its immunity validity period:
*Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines - Valid for nine months from 14 days after second dose or booster dose.
*Jansen & Jansen Covid-19 vaccine - Valid for nine months from two weeks after the first dose or valid for nine months from seven days of receiving the booster dose.
*Other conditionally approved Covid-19 vaccines - Valid for six months from 14 days after the second dose or booster dose, where a positive Serology on Antibody Test lab result is required and is valid for 30 days from testing.
If the traveller is unable to take a Serology Antibody test in the country of origin or if the Antibody test result appears negative, the traveller must undergo relevant quarantine for five days.
The immune status of those who received booster dose using MoPH-approved vaccines is extended to nine months from seven days after the booster dose and Serology Antibody test is no longer required.
• Recovered: Anyone who had a medically confirmed Covid-19 infection acquired either locally or overseas is considered to have immune status valid for nine months from the date of the infection. There should be an official and verifiable laboratory test result as evidence of the past infection.
• Unvaccinated / Non-immune: Anyone who does not meet any of the above criteria.
