Qatar Puts 6 Countries Including India In Red List: Check Updated Guidelines For Travel

The Govt of Qatar has decided to add 6 countries including India to its Covid-19 Travel Red List. This is based on the countries’ international and regional health risk factors and Covid-19 epidemiology.

According to the revised guidelines, the Ministry of Public Health  has added India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nepal, and Egypt into the Covid-19 travel red list. The new red list has come into force from 30th January 2022, at 7 pm on wards.

Guidelines For Travelers From Red List Countries

Qatar has also changed its travel guidelines for international passengers arriving from the red list country. The new guidelines include negative RT-PCR test conducted within 72 hours of their arrival in Qatar and hotel quarantine for two days upon the arrival.

• Fully vaccinated travelers: These travelers will be subject to hotel quarantine for 2 days upon arrival in Qatar.
• Before arrival: Conduct a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival to Qatar (All age groups).
• After arrival: Conduct a Rapid Antigen Test on day 2 of hotel quarantine and the individual will be released on same day if the result of the COVID-19 test is negative (All age groups).​

Please note that entry of unvaccinated travelers or not fully vaccinated travelers from the red list countries is prohibited in Qatar.

Visitors to Qatar with pre-approved and on-arrival visas

Fully Vaccinated Travelers

Quarantine Policy​: Travelers who are fully vaccinated by a vaccine approved by the Ministry of Public Health or a conditionally approved vaccine.

The following categories will be subject to hotel quarantine for two days upon arrival in the country:

• Everyone aged 12 years and older.
• Children aged 11 years and below accompanied by one or both of their parents/family members who are fully vaccinated.​

Test Policy:

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

Passengers with a conditionally certified vaccine must perform a Serology Antibody test before arriving in Qatar and if the passenger is unable to take the test in the country of departure, the passenger must undergo hotel quarantine for 7 days.

After arrival: Conduct a Rapid Antigen Test on day 2 of hotel quarantine and the individual will be released on the same day if the result of the COVID-19 test is negative (All age groups).

Not Fully Vaccinated Travelers

Quarantine Policy​: Travelers who are not fully vaccinated or who have not completed the required vaccine doses:

This group (of all age groups) will be subject to hotel quarantine for 7 days upon arrival in the country.

The following category will be subject to home quarantine for 7 days upon arrival in the country:

Travelers with pre-issued family visas to visit one of their first-degree relatives residing in Qatar (on the condition that they provide proof of the relationship and national address data).

Test Policy:

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

After arrival: Rapid Antigen Test is required on the seventh day of quarantine and the individual will be released on the seventh day if the result of the COVID-19 test is negative (all age groups).

Places to Have the Rapid Antigen Testing:

• In the case of home quarantine: private clinics/hospitals approved by the Ministry of Public Health to conduct the test.
• In the case of hotel quarantine: in the quarantine hotel.
• Rapid antigen self-test will not be accepted​