Qatar
Summary
COVID-19 entry restrictions for Qatar
Before you travel, check the ‘Entry requirements’ section for Qatar’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider.
Travelling from and returning to the UK
Check what you must do to travel abroad and return to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
If you plan to pass through another country to return to the UK, check the travel advice for the country you’re transiting.
ItIf you’re planning travel to Qatar, find out what you need to know about coronavirus there in the Coronavirus section.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the FCDO’s guidance on foreign travel insurance.
For information about COVID-19 vaccines, see the Coronavirus page.
The FIFA World Cup will take place in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022. If you are travelling to attend the tournament, see Qatar World Cup 2022.
Around 21,000 British nationals live in Qatar, and approximately 10,000 visas are issued each year. Most visits are trouble-free.
There is a possibility of an increased threat against Western interests, including against UK citizens. You should remain vigilant and keep up to date with the latest developments, including via the media and this travel advice.
The land border between Saudi Arabia and Qatar is open and flights from Qatar to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates are operating. This follows a longstanding diplomatic dispute which resolved last year. However there are still no direct flight links with Bahrain.
Terrorist attacks in Qatar can’t be ruled out. See Terrorism
You can contact the emergency services by calling 999 (police, fire and ambulance).
If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission.
The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating overseas on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.
Update history
2024-04-19 15:00
Information on explosions in Iran, and unconfirmed reports of explosions in Syria and Iraq (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-04-14 09:21
13 April 2024 – drones and missiles fired from Iran into Israel (‘Warnings and Insurance’ page)
2024-04-12 20:01
Information on regional risks (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-01-12 00:25
Update to Safety and Security page
2023-08-22 15:38
Information that you must get health insurance before travelling to Qatar for 30 or more days and that all visitors are advised to get travel insurance before entering Qatar (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-06-22 11:01
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-05-23 16:37
Advice rewritten to aid readability.
2023-04-18 15:50
Updated information to Mandatory Health Insurance and Visas sections (‘Entry requirements’ page) and editorial changes.
2023-04-05 16:01
Updated information to COVID-19 section (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-02-09 13:59
New information about mandatory visitors’ health insurance policy (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-01-27 11:50
Update to COVID-19 entry requirements concerning travellers from China (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-12-24 00:21
Removal of information about the FIFA World Cup and Hayya Card entry requirements. Update to terrorism language (See ‘Summary’, ‘Terrorism’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).
2022-12-07 16:55
Removal of the Hayya Card requirement for GCC citizens and residents (‘Qatar World Cup 2022’ and ‘Entry requirement’ pages).
2022-11-24 11:31
Updated information on travelling early to World Cup matches, and ensuring that Hayya Card applications are approved for individual matchday visits (‘Qatar World Cup 2022’ page).
2022-11-17 16:01
Updated information on what to do if your passport is lost or stolen in Qatar, the local laws and customs and Ehteraz app requirements (‘Qatar World Cup 2022’, ‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Health’ pages).
2022-11-07 12:37
Updated information on Summary’, ‘Safety and Security’ and ‘Terrorism’
2022-10-28 12:55
Updated information on Entry Requirements and Qatar World Cup 2022 (‘Entry Requirements’ and ‘Qatar World Cup 2022’ pages).
2022-10-21 13:42
Updated information on the Qatar World Cup 2022 (‘Qatar World Cup 2022’ page).
2022-10-20 09:39
Updated information on the Qatar World Cup 2022 (‘Qatar World Cup 2022’ page).
2022-09-29 16:07
Updated information on expected COVID-19 requirements during the World Cup see (Qatar World Cup 2022 page)
2022-09-06 12:30
Updated information on lifting of coronavirus requirements in public spaces and all visitors being subject to bringing a PCR test certificate with a valid negative result (‘Summary’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).
2022-08-24 16:46
Updated information in entire document
2022-07-15 15:33
Updated information on the re-introduction of the requirement to wear a face mask in closed public places in Qatar (‘Coronavirus’ page)
2022-05-25 16:22
Updated information on entry requirements and travel in Qatar (‘Summary’, ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).
2022-03-25 15:44
Updated information on World Cup 2022 and tournament-specific procedures that will be in operation. Updated information on entry requirements and domestic measures in relation to COVID-19 (‘Coronavirus’, ‘Qatar World Cup 2022’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages)