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 on Sunday, September 4, at 6pm local time in Qatar, the MoPH said in a statement on Wednesday.
The following is a summary of the key changes that will be implemented:
* The removal of the list of Countries Subject to Covid-19 Red Health Measures.
* The removal of quarantine requirements for all travellers arriving from abroad. This is with the exception of those who test positive for Covid-19, who are required to undergo isolation and quarantine in accordance with the procedures followed in Qatar.
* Regardless of the individual’s vaccination status, the following pre-arrival and post-arrival Covid-19 testing measures are required for travellers coming to Qatar:
- Citizens and residents must undergo a rapid antigen test (RAT) within a period of 24 hours upon arrival in Qatar at a Primary Health Care Corporation health centre or a Ministry of Public Health-approved private medical centre. The health status on the Ehteraz application will be updated to become gray in case of non-compliance with the test procedure.
- Visitors must bring a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test certificate with a negative result received within 48 hours from the scheduled flight to Qatar or a rapid antigen test with a negative result received within 24 hours, from the scheduled flight to Qatar. Rapid antigen self-test is not valid for travel purposes.
The policy updates have been made to facilitate the process of travel and return to Qatar while fully adhering to all measures that will prevent and protect the community from the threat of Covid-19. The updates to the policy have been made based on the latest Covid-19 indicators in Qatar and internationally.
The MoPH stated that Qatar’s Travel and Return Policy has been a key measure in the nation’s Covid-19 strategy and that enforcing a strict policy for travellers entering Qatar has played a significant role in Qatar’s successful Covid-19 strategy.
GCC nationals and residents must download the Ehteraz app and activate it on their mobile phones using a local or international SIM card, noting that they are excluded from the pre-entry online registration.
All other categories not belonging to these categories (GCC nationals and residents) above are also obligated to download the Ehteraz app and activate it on their mobile phones using a local or international SIM card, and to register in the pre-entry online registration system through the website (www.ehteraz.gov.qa) within at least three days before arrival. All relevant documents are to be uploaded in accordance with the following:
* PCR test, rapid antigen test, and serology antibody test for those vaccinated with conditional vaccines: travellers have the option to either upload the pre-entry Covid-19 test or show the original.
* Certificate/s of vaccination or certificate/s of recovery: uploading these documents during the electronic registration phase is optional.
The approved vaccines are Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty), Moderna (SpikeVax), AstraZeneca (Covishield/Oxford/Vaxzevria) and Jansen/Johnson & Johnson (only one dose), while the conditionally approved vaccines are Sinopharm, Sinovac, Sputnik V and Covaxin.
The following is a summary of the key changes that will be implemented:
* The removal of the list of Countries Subject to Covid-19 Red Health Measures.
* The removal of quarantine requirements for all travellers arriving from abroad. This is with the exception of those who test positive for Covid-19, who are required to undergo isolation and quarantine in accordance with the procedures followed in Qatar.
* Regardless of the individual’s vaccination status, the following pre-arrival and post-arrival Covid-19 testing measures are required for travellers coming to Qatar:
- Citizens and residents must undergo a rapid antigen test (RAT) within a period of 24 hours upon arrival in Qatar at a Primary Health Care Corporation health centre or a Ministry of Public Health-approved private medical centre. The health status on the Ehteraz application will be updated to become gray in case of non-compliance with the test procedure.
- Visitors must bring a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test certificate with a negative result received within 48 hours from the scheduled flight to Qatar or a rapid antigen test with a negative result received within 24 hours, from the scheduled flight to Qatar. Rapid antigen self-test is not valid for travel purposes.
The policy updates have been made to facilitate the process of travel and return to Qatar while fully adhering to all measures that will prevent and protect the community from the threat of Covid-19. The updates to the policy have been made based on the latest Covid-19 indicators in Qatar and internationally.
The MoPH stated that Qatar’s Travel and Return Policy has been a key measure in the nation’s Covid-19 strategy and that enforcing a strict policy for travellers entering Qatar has played a significant role in Qatar’s successful Covid-19 strategy.
GCC nationals and residents must download the Ehteraz app and activate it on their mobile phones using a local or international SIM card, noting that they are excluded from the pre-entry online registration.
All other categories not belonging to these categories (GCC nationals and residents) above are also obligated to download the Ehteraz app and activate it on their mobile phones using a local or international SIM card, and to register in the pre-entry online registration system through the website (www.ehteraz.gov.qa) within at least three days before arrival. All relevant documents are to be uploaded in accordance with the following:
* PCR test, rapid antigen test, and serology antibody test for those vaccinated with conditional vaccines: travellers have the option to either upload the pre-entry Covid-19 test or show the original.
* Certificate/s of vaccination or certificate/s of recovery: uploading these documents during the electronic registration phase is optional.
The approved vaccines are Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty), Moderna (SpikeVax), AstraZeneca (Covishield/Oxford/Vaxzevria) and Jansen/Johnson & Johnson (only one dose), while the conditionally approved vaccines are Sinopharm, Sinovac, Sputnik V and Covaxin.
