As Qatar moves ahead with the gradual lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, it has been reviewing certain policies and measures to ensure the safety of all.

The country has once again altered its COVID-19 Green List (previously known as low-risk countries).

The new list which has now been narrowed down to 17 countries comprises the following:

1. Oman
2 - Brunei Darussalam
3 - Thailand 
4 - China (A. Hong Kong SAR – China | B. Macau SAR – China )
5 - Vietnam 
6 - Malaysia 
7 - South Korea 
8 - Singapore
9 - Japan
10 - Myanmar
11 - Australia
12 - New Zealand 
13 - Mexico
14 - Cuba
15 - Mauritius
16 - Iceland
17 - Ireland

In a statement, the Ministry mentioned that this updated Green List will be effective Friday, December 18, 2020.

"The list and related travel advice will be reviewed regularly and published accordingly," the statement added.

According to public health indicators in the State of Qatar and the rest of the world, and in continuation to the implementation of the travel and return policy to the State of Qatar, the green list for Coronavirus has been updatedhttps://t.co/N7TuwCWzpa pic.twitter.com/1V80krVIiA

— وزارة الصحة العامة (@MOPHQatar) December 14, 2020

Traveling abroad policy

Citizens and residents can travel overseas at any time, provided they adhere to the travel and return policy. Those who wish to travel must be aware of the precautionary measures implemented in the country they plan to visit in terms of quarantine policy, its duration, and the requirement to provide a COVID-19 free certificate.

Employees must coordinate with their employers when planning the trip. They should consider the quarantine period while planning the trip.

Return and entry policy

​Travelers returning from low-risk countries must take the COVID-19 test upon arrival at the Hamad International Airport and sign a Home Quarantine Undertaking to comply with the home quarantine requirement for a week.

Their health status on Ehteraz’s app will be yellow. On the sixth day, the individual should visit one of the PHCC healthcare centers to re-test for COVID-19. If the test result is positive, the individual will be isolated and their health status on Ehteraz will change to red.

If it is negative, then the quarantine period is completed by the end of the seventh day and their health status on Ehteraz will change to green.

However, if you have been tested at an approved MOPH COVID-19 testing center, you will not require a test on arrival at HIA. You should present your COVID19-free certificate to the Medical officers at the Airport and begin your 7-days period of home quarantine. 

Travelers from other countries not on the Green List should be hotel quarantined at their own expense for a week. They should book a hotel quarantine for a week from the listed hotels on the “Discover Qatar” website.

However, if you are among the vulnerable group detailed on the MoPH website then you are exempted from the hotel quarantine, and eligible for home quarantine for 7 days.

Starting November 29, 2020, residents who are currently in the State of Qatar and wish to travel and return will automatically receive an exceptional entry permit upon departure.

The resident or their employer will be able to print out the exceptional entry permit from the website of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) at any point after the resident has departed Qatar.

Requests will no longer need to be submitted through the Qatar Portal. The permit will be available automatically upon registration of the resident’s departure from Qatar through the following steps:

• Open the “Print Exceptional Entry Permit” service page on MOI website.
• Enter QID number and residency expiry date
• Enter verification code, then click on Print.

The permit can also be printed via Metrash2 mobile app.

As for residents outside the country before the above-mentioned date, they are still required to obtain the exceptional return permit via Qatar Portal if they wish to return to the State of Qatar.

The quarantine period will be for one week only after arrival in the country, regardless of destination.

Home quarantine will be applied to those coming from countries on the Ministry of Public Health’s Green List.

Hotel quarantine is mandatory for those coming from countries that are not included in the Green List.

The quarantine period for those who use shared quarantine facilities will be for two weeks.

Ehteraz app policy

​Travelers returning to the State of Qatar must download and activate the Ehteraz app on their mobiles upon arrival at Hamad International Airport.

Requirements:

​- A Qatari SIM Card from a local telecom operator (Ooredoo and Vodafone).

- Internet access.

- A smartphone that supports either Android 6 and up or IOS 13.5 and up.

​- Download the application on your mobile phone either via Google Play or Apple App Store or from any search engines on the internet.

- Diplomats, holders of MOFA issued administrative cards, and VVIP visitors are exempted.

For more information, please click here.

Are you in need of specialized PRO services? Contact GTG for further visa & immigration queries: www.gtg.qa/4442 2999

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Source: MoPH