MASCOT Message: Quarantine for Arrivals Extended Through December 2020
Quarantine requirements for all arrivals in Qatar have been extended through December 31. Qatari citizens, residency permit holders and certain people undertaking new employment may enter Qatar, however there is a limit on the number of travelers permitted to enter. All travelers should coordinate closely with their sponsors, as advance permission may be required to enter Qatar in addition to quarantine and testing regulations. Tourists and visitors are currently not allowed to enter Qatar.
Travelers arriving from low-risk countries are subject to a coronavirus test upon arrival at the airport and must pledge to quarantine at home for one week. Individuals will be required to take a COVID-19 test at the end of their one-week quarantine period. Alternative options for testing before arrival may be available depending on accredited COVID-19 test centers available in the low-risk country.
Individuals arriving from countries not deemed low risk are required to obtain a test from an accredited testing center less than 48 hours before traveling. One week of home quarantine is required after arrival. If no accredited testing centers are available, the individual may arrive in Qatar but is required to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense, booking through the hotel through the Discover Qatar website, which now has availability for November and December. A COVID-19 test is required at the end of that week of quarantine. If it is negative, the individual may then quarantine at home. Currently, the United States is NOT listed as a low-risk country.
All details mentioned above are subject to change by the government of Qatar. Please refer to the MOPH website for complete information. The Qatar government announced a new saliva based COVID test for children. Please visit the MOPH website for details. Please note that the U.S. Embassy is not able to intercede in matters of quarantine, COVID-19 testing, and entering the country in individual cases.
The government of Qatar requires that the Ehteraz application must be installed on smartphones when leaving the home. No more than four people are permitted in a vehicle at one time, with exceptions for families. Face masks must be worn outside of the home, with limited exceptions for sports and exercise. Stiff fines and potential jail time could result from noncompliance.
Actions to Take:
- Visit the controlled lifting of COVID-19 Restrictions Plan for Qatar on the Ministry of Public Health’s website for more information about phased reopening.
- For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 please see the CDC’s latest recommendations and consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
- Call the Qatar Ministry of Public Health hotline at 16000 if you experience flu-like symptoms.
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Qatar.
- Check with the airlines regarding any flight cancellations and/or restrictions on flying.