The Qatar Ministry of Health has placed the UK and several
other European countries on its travel red list for inbound arrivals, with
foreign visitors from these nations subject to quarantine requirements
regardless of vaccination status.
The new rules went into effect on 15 November and apply to
arrivals from 21 countries including Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania,
Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and the UK, as well as Barbados,
Brunei, Ethiopia, Iran, Mongolia, Palestine, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, Singapore, Syria and the UAE.
Vaccinated foreign visitors to Qatar are now subject to two
days’ quarantine in a hotel on arrival. Travellers must also obtain a negative
PCR test result 72 hours prior to arrival and must take another PCR test on
arrival at their quarantine hotel.
Unvaccinated visitors are required to quarantine in a hotel
for seven days and will only be released if the result of a PCR test taken on
day six of isolation is negative. They will also need a negative PCR test
result within 72 hours of arrival.
All hotel quarantine stays must be booked through the
Discover Qatar website.
The change was confirmed by the UK’s Foreign Office, though
no reason has been given by Qatar for placing these countries on its red list.
The Foreign Office also said that “although we understand
the UK’s proof of Covid recovery and vaccination status is being accepted in
practice, Qatar has not yet officially confirmed this”. It has recommended
passengers contact their nearest Qatari embassy for more advice on entry
requirements.
