Gear up for World Cup 2022 with the latest Qatar travel requirements
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IMPORTANT NOTE: Be a responsible traveler! All information on this post is accurate from the time of writing. Rules, regulations, and guidelines are updated frequently and may change without Klook’s prior notice. For your safety, check with the respective destination directly before your travels.
World Cup 2022 is on the horizon, and football fans around the world are itching to travel to Qatar to support their favorite teams! The tournament is expected to draw in 1 million tourists and if you’re one of them, then this guide is for you! We wrote down all you need to know about Qatar travel requirements, how to get pre-travel approval, and what to expect upon your arrival.
Who can travel to Qatar?
Qatar is only open to fully-vaccinated travelers. The vaccine brands are divided into categories – Approved Vaccines and Conditionally Approved Vaccines:
Approved Vaccines | Conditionally Approved Vaccines |
|---|---|
Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) | Sinopharm |
Moderna (SpikeVax) | Sinovac |
AstraZeneca (Covishield/Oxford/Vaxzevria) | Sputnik V |
Jansen/Johnson & Johnson (one dose) | Covaxin |
The Ministry of Public Health requires tourists who received two doses of conditionally approved vaccines to provide a positive Serology Antibody test before traveling to Qatar, which will be valid for 30 days. If you have been vaccinated with an additional dose of Pfizer or Moderna 14 days prior to your trip, you will be exempted from the Serology Antibody test requirement and considered fully immune.
Unvaccinated children aged 12 and below are not required to present a negative pre-departure test as long as they’re traveling with a fully vaccinated parent/s. However, they’re required to take a Rapid Antigen Test upon arrival at the airport.
Meanwhile, tourists who received two doses of any of the approved vaccines can present their proof of vaccination upon arrival.
What are the Qatar travel requirements?
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Tourists traveling to Qatar must present the following upon arrival:
- A passport valid for 6 months
- Valid visa (Visa on Arrival)
- Fully vaccinated with a vaccine brand approved by the Qatar Ministry of Public Health
- Negative pre-departure test taken 48 hours before departure
- Round-trip flight tickets or a confirmed flight to another country
- Confirmed hotel booking for the entire duration of stay (Indian, Pakistani, and Iranian nationals must book through Discover Qatar)
- One-day quarantine hotel booking via Discover Qatar if coming from a Red Health Measure country
- Pre-travel approval via Ehteraz pre-travel registration (must be registered 3 days before travel to Qatar)
- Downloaded Ehteraz mobile app
Indian, Pakistani, and Iranian nationals must book their accommodation via Discover Qatar and provide proof of funds worth a minimum of QAR5,000. You must present a debit/credit card under your name and bank statements from the last three months proving that your balance reaches the minimum required amount.
Who can get a Visa on Arrival?
At the moment, Tourist Visas are suspended and only nationals from 92 countries can enter Qatar through the Visa on Arrival privilege. The visa waiver can be valid for 180 days or 30 days, depending on your nationality:
Visa waiver for 180 days (non-extendable)
- Countries allowed: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine
Visa waiver for 30 days (extendable for another 30 days)
- Countries allowed: Andorra, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, Georgia, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Macau, Macedonia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Suriname, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, and Venezuela
To get Visa on Arrival, you must first secure a pre-travel approval via Ehteraz pre-travel registration.
How to Get Qatar Pre-Travel Approval
The Ehteraz pre-travel registration is required for all tourists without a Qatar ID or a Qatari passport.
Step 1: Select ‘Register new request’ under Ehteraz pre-travel registration
Step 2: Fill in the necessary details on the New User Registration page then click Sign Up
Step 3: Finish your registration by clicking on the activation link sent to your e-mail
Step 4: Log in using your newly registered account and click ‘New Application’
Step 5: Enter your travel information and upload scanned copies of the following:
- Passport
- Return/onward flight tickets
- Vaccine certificate
- Confirmed hotel booking
- International credit/debit card and 3 months bank statements for some nationalities, such as Indians, and Pakistanis
Step 6: Submit the application and wait for the pre-travel approval on your e-mail
The processing of your application will take 1-3 days, so it’s important to submit your application at least 3 days before your travel to Qatar.
How to Use the Ehteraz Mobile App
All tourists are required to download the Ehteraz mobile app for contact tracing purposes. You must have a local SIM card (Ooredoo or Vodafone) or an International SIM card. The app is only compatible with Android 6 and its new versions, as well as with IOS 13.5 and the latest updates.
Step 1: Download the app via Apple Store or Google Play
Step 2: Enter your local phone number, QID number, and QID Expiry Date to register (refer to your pre-travel approval document)
Step 3: Complete your registration with a login OTP sent to your number
Step 4: Present your green health status to Immigration upon arrival in Qatar
Fully vaccinated users will receive a Gold Frame on the app, as well as their vaccination status and information. Make sure to turn on your phone’s Bluetooth and GPS settings whenever you’re out in the country so that the app can pick up your location.
Do I still need to be quarantined in Qatar?
If you’re coming from a country listed under Qatar’s Red Health Measures, then you must undergo one day of quarantine and a Rapid Antigen Test during your stay:
- Bangladesh
- Egypt
- India
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Sri Lanka
Arrival in Qatar
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Now that we’ve answered all your questions about Qatar travel requirements, it’s time to prep for your arrival! Here are a few recommendations to keep in mind while you’re packing up your football jerseys and team flags:
- Masks are no longer required in open public spaces but are still a must in establishments and in public events
- Qatar is a conservative country, so make sure to dress appropriately
- The weather during the World Cup is comfortable, but there will be a lot of sun so using sunscreen is highly recommended
- Public transportation is no problem with the Doha Metro, which you can ride all the way to the stadiums
- Football and beer go hand in hand, so you’ll be glad to know that alcohol is allowed in the country
- Don’t miss out on the local tourist attractions! Visit Katara Cultural Village, National Museum of Qatar, and Al Zubara Fort
And of course, don't forget to practice COVID-19 safety measures like washing your hands and social distancing. Safe travels!
