The State of Qatar recently issued a travel advisory for Indian visitors and asked them to familiarize themselves with the country’s travel guidelines before visiting.
Qatar Travel Guidelines for Indian Travellers
In summary, all visitors, other than GCC nationals and residents, need to register and receive approval via the pre-entry online registration system on www.ehteraz.gov.qa three days in advance of their arrival.
Visitors cannot enter Qatar on Visitor Visas or Visas on Arrival without prior approval. GCC Residents and Qatar Residents with Qatar ID Cards are exempt from pre-entry online registration for Ehteraz.
Additionally, all Visitors with Ehteraz approvals are required to adhere to Covid protocol and testing guidelines. These are approved by the Ministry of Public Health of Qatar from time to time. These include:
- Visitors to Qatar aged 6 years and older are required to bring a certificate from a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test with a negative result, which is valid for 48 hours, or a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), which is valid for 24 hours, from the date of their flight.
- Residents and Citizens of the State of Qatar from the age of six years and above are required to undergo a Rapid Antigen (RAT) test within 24 hours of their arrival in the State of Qatar at one of the Primary Health Care Centers or private medical facilities.
- Children between the ages of 0 and 5 years are exempt from being tested for COVID.
It’s also worth noting that the State of Qatar has announced that all visitor visas will be suspended from 1 November to 23 December 2022, in light of the FIFA World Cup.
Qatar will only permit the entry of Qatari residents with a resident permit (Qatar ID) or a “Hayya Card” during this period.
Accordingly, all Indian travellers, particularly those who wish to make use of the Visa on Arrival facility until 31 October 2022, are advised to make sure that they have obtained prior Ehteraz registration and clearance before traveling to Qatar to avoid any inconvenience at the Airport in Qatar.
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