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Governments around the world, including Qatar, continue to make changes to public health and travel policies in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. The Embassy recommends that U.S. citizens in Qatar remain vigilant regarding these policies.
Attention: New entry requirements for travelers to the United States go into effect on November 8. Before planning any travel, please visit the CDC’s website detailing requirements and the Department of State’s FAQ page on the changes.
One can become a U.S. Citizen through a variety of means—birth in the United States, birth abroad to a U.S. citizen parent, or through the naturalization process. For all of these, a specific series of legal requirements must be met. At the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Qatar, we can provide certification of U.S. citizenship for eligible individuals born abroad to U.S. citizen parents. We also process Certificates of Loss of Nationality for those U.S. citizens who would like to give up their U.S. citizenship or believe that they have expatriated themselves.
Under Article 36(1)(b) of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the government of Qatar must, at the request of any detained American, notify the U.S. Embassy immediately after an arrest takes place. Qatar’s authority to try foreigners as well as its own citizens is based upon the principle of sovereignty, which is the right of a nation to make and enforce its laws within its own boundaries. All Americans in Qatar are under the absolute jurisdiction of Qatari courts. Anyone who breaks the law in Qatar is subject to prosecution under the Qatari legal system. If a person is convicted and sentenced to imprisonment by a Qatari court, this sentence will be served in a Qatari prison.
In the event of the death of a U.S. citizen, our American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit works closely with the family of the deceased, the deceased’s sponsoring employer, or their representative in Qatar to document the death and finalize procedures for repatriation or local burial.
International Parental Child Abduction
Qatar is not a signatory to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention), nor are there any bilateral agreements in force between Qatar and the United States concerning international parental child abduction.
When a U.S. citizen is the victim of a crime overseas, he or she may suffer from physical, emotional or financial injuries. It can be more difficult because the victim may be in unfamiliar surroundings, and may not know the local language or customs.
U.S. citizens in need of emergency financial assistance while abroad should first attempt to contact their family, friends, banking institution, or employer. Our American Citizen Services unit can assist in this effort, if necessary.
Use a commercial money transfer service, such as Western Union or MoneyGram., to wire money overseas. Money transfer cost comparison tools online can help you identify the best option. The person receiving the money will need to present proof of identity such as a passport.
Sending Money through the U.S. Department of State
When the commercial options listed above are not available or feasible, family or friends may send funds via the U.S. Department of State for delivery to a destitute U.S. citizen abroad at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State assesses a $30 fee to establish an account and transfer funds.
Destitute U.S. citizens may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. government to travel to the United States. Repatriation loans must eventually be paid back to the U.S. government. Your U.S. passports will be limited at the time the loan is issued and in most cases you will not be issued a new passport until the loan is paid in full. Contact us for more information.
If you need reasonable accommodation for your appointment, we encourage you to request your accommodation immediately once you schedule your appointment. We make every effort to provide accommodations to persons with disabilities and medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations vary, depending on the situation and the person’s needs.
Examples of accommodations include, but are not limited to:
The waiting room of the Consular Section and its restroom is wheelchair-accessible.
Please contact us at ACSDoha@state.gov for more information or to request reasonable accommodation.
Consular Affairs (CA) is the public face of the Department of State for millions of people around the world. We provide many services, and the most common are listed below.
U.S. Citizens overseas can renew passports, replace passports, or apply for new passports.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
If you are a U.S. dual citizen or U.S. citizen living outside of the United States, you can register with the Selective Service System.
If you live in Qatar and have questions about Social Security Administration (SSA) services, contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in Italy .
U.S. service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services.
Depending on where you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) here. Print, sign, and return the FPCA to your local U.S. election office. Include your email address so election officials can reach you if there is a problem. If your state delivers ballots electronically by fax only, include your fax number. If you request electronic delivery and include your email address or fax number, you will receive your blank ballot 45 days before general and mid-term elections and generally 30 days before special, primary, and run-off elections for federal offices. We recommend completing a new FPCA each January, or when you move.
The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
Legal assistance Medical Assistance Document Authentications Police Clearances Additional ResourcesQatar has an established and independent judiciary. It is divided into three court systems: the secular system which handles civil, commercial, and criminal laws; the Sharia’a system which handles Islamic marriage, divorce, child support, succession and some criminal law issues; and the Qatar Financial Center legal system which handles commercial cases arising out of Qatar’s special economic zone.
Good modern medical care and medicines are available in Doha, although only basic or no medical care may be available in Qatar’s smaller cities or outlying areas. Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health services. Information about the Qatari national healthcare system is available here.
Document authentication services are available for Qatari documents only. Documents issued in one country which need to be used in another country must be “authenticated” or “legalized” before they can be recognized as valid in the foreign country. Authentication does not verify the contents of a document, it simply verifies that the document was issued by the agency/organization that is claimed by the seals.
The Government of Qatar requires foreign citizens to provide a police clearance from their home country before issuing a residence permit. You can obtain a U.S. police clearance from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) or through your city or county law enforcement agency. In both cases, the clearance will be run against the National Crime Information Center, which contains all federal, state and local criminal information.
The State Department maintains several resources that are useful for the U.S. expatriate or traveler. We provide general information about international travel and living abroad, travel alerts, travel warnings, and country specific information. The State Department maintains an electronic travel registration system that we use to disseminate important warden messages and to assist U.S. citizens in trouble abroad.
The United States is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention, an international treaty which seeks to ensure that intercountry adoptions are made in the best interests of the child and that safeguards are in place for their protection. All adoptions in another country must take place according to both U.S. and local laws for the adopted child to be eligible to immigrate to the United States. You should work with a U.S. adoption service provider specifically authorized to facilitate intercountry adoption. You can find more information about authorized authorized adoption service providers and the intercountry adoption process at travel.state.gov and are invited to direct questions to Adoption@state.gov.
Births
If you have a child outside the United States the child may have acquired U.S. citizenship at birth if the requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act have been met as of the time of your child’s birth. To determine whether your child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth and to document that, you can apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) for your child. You may also choose to just apply for a U.S. passport for your child, although one benefit of a CRBA is that, unlike the U.S. passport, it does not expire and may be used as proof of acquisition of U.S. citizenship at birth. A full validity, unexpired U.S. passport is also proof of U.S. citizenship.
Please call: +974 4496-6700
Outside of Office Hours, contact: +974 4496 6000
Outside of Qatar: 1-202-501-4444 or 1-888-407-4747
Emergency Contact – All Locations Enroll in STEP International Parental Child Abduction Arrest of a U.S. Citizen Death of a U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Emergency Financial Assistance
