IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Qatari government recently updated its country classifications lists and other COVID-19 travel protocols.

Key Points:

  • On Aug. 23, Qatar updated the COVID-19 green, yellow and red country classification lists. Officials removed some countries from the green list; most countries are accounted for on the red list.
  • Individuals who are not Qatari citizens or residents must complete the pre-registration form on the Ehteraz website 12 hours before traveling to the country to receive an entry permit.
    • Such individuals must wait to receive Ehteraz approval before traveling.
    • Qatari citizens and residents are no longer required to complete the online pre-registration travel on the Ehteraz website.
  • More information on entry requirement and health protocols for all individuals arriving into Qatar can be found here.

Additional Information: Officials instated the pre-registration website to simplify entry procedures for individuals arriving in Qatar. Travelers who completed the pre-registration form and uploaded all required documents have access to a fast-track entry route, making it faster and easier to enter the country.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Qatari government has reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travelers and resumed issuing family and visitor visas.

Key Points:

  • As of July 12, foreign nationals who are fully vaccinated with a Qatari-approved vaccine may enter Qatar without having to quarantine.
  • Fully vaccinated travelers must submit their original vaccination certificate on the Ehteraz website with the following information:
    • The name of the passenger as it appears on their passport.
    • The dates the doses were administered.
    • The type and name of the vaccine.
    • The lot number of the vaccine (if any).
    • The official logo or seal of the vaccination authority.
  • As of July 12, Qatar resumed issuing family and visitor visas.
  • Countries are now categorized as green, yellow or red depending on the risk of COVID-19. Unvaccinated individuals wanting to leave Qatar and then return from a yellow- or red-list country must book an institutional quarantine before leaving Qatar.

Additional Information: An individual is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the last applicable dose was administered. Those who have recovered within the last 12 months are exempt from the quarantine if they were diagnosed in Qatar.

More information on travel requirements and health protocols can be found here.

This alert has been provided by Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Qatari government is now requiring all travelers must pre-register on the Ehteraz website before arriving to the country.

Key Points:

  • Travelers are now required to pre-register Ehteraz website at least 12 hours before arrival to help facilitate entry procedures into Qatar.
  • To pre-register, individuals must create an account and enter health information, including a PCR test and quarantine reservations for unvaccinated travelers.
  • Foreign nationals must provide their passport and visa number through the platform. Qatari citizens and residents must provide their Qatari ID or Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) number.

Additional information: More information on entry requirements and health protocols for all individuals arriving into Qatar can be found here.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Qatari Ministry of Public Health has announced updated testing requirements and quarantine exemptions for individuals who have contracted and recovered from COVID-19 or received a vaccination prior to entering the country.

Key Points:

  • Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 are exempt from quarantining when entering the country if they receive a negative PCR test within 72-hours before their arrival. Recovered individuals must also show proof of recovery through a laboratory-confirmed result within six months of their first positive COVID-19 test.
  • Individuals who have previously recovered from COVID-19 and are not exhibiting symptoms after contact with an individual infected or suspected of having COVID-19 are exempt from the quarantine provided they have:
    • Documentation of recovery through a laboratory-confirmed result within six months of the first positive COVID-19 result.
    • A negative PCR test result.
  • If a recovered person develops symptoms similar to those of COVID-19 within 14 days after entering the country, that individual must quarantine and take the PCR test.
  • Individuals who received the COVID-19 vaccine outside Qatar are exempted from quarantine if they meet the following criteria:
    • The vaccine is approved by the Qatari Ministry of Public Health.
    • They have completed the specified dosage for the vaccine (i.e., one or two shots, depending on the vaccine).
    • A period of 14 days has passed since they received the vaccination.
    • A proper vaccination certification or vaccination card is presented upon entry into the country.

Background: Earlier this year, Qatar exempted vaccinated travelers from quarantine requirements, but only if they received their vaccination in Qatar. The exemption has now been expanded to include those vaccinated in other countries, provided they meet the other criteria listed above.

Analysis & Comments: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2021. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.

The Cabinet of Qatar has re-imposed a number of COVID-19 restrictions amid an uptick in infections.

Key Points:

  • The cabinet has mandated that only 80 percent of public and private sector workforces can work in the workplace at this time; others must work remotely. The workforce restrictions may cause a slowdown in visa and permit processing, and applicants should anticipate the possibility of delays.
  • Officials have also closed driving schools, reduced capacity in shops and restaurants and limited the number of people who can meet together at workplaces or outdoors to five, among other changes. Qatari citizens and residents must continue to activate the EHTERAZ application on their phone whenever they leave their home. A full list of restrictions is available here.
  • Qatar continues to enforce restrictions on entering the country. Currently, entry to Qatar is only available to nationals or residents of Qatar or nationals of another GCC country. Individuals who have not been vaccinated for COVID-19 in Qatar must quarantine for seven days in a government-approved hotel upon arrival in Qatar if they are traveling from a country that is not on Qatar’s green list. Travelers arriving in Qatar from “green list” countries who have not been vaccinated in Qatar are required to complete a mandatory seven-day quarantine at home.
  • Testing and health protocols also remain in place. Information about these protocols is available here.

Analysis & Comments: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States, which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2021. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.

Qatar has extended its quarantine exemption for Qatari citizens and residents who have received a COVID-19 vaccination in the country.

Key Points:

  • Effective immediately, Qatari citizens and residents who have received a COVID-19 vaccination in Qatar will be exempt from quarantining for the six-month period that begins 14 days after their second shot. Previously, the exemption was only valid for three months from this date.
  • Qatari citizens and residents must meet the following conditions to be exempt:
    • Fourteen days must have elapsed since receiving the second vaccination.
    • Individuals must have been vaccinated in Qatar, not in foreign countries.
    • A negative COVID-19 PCR test result must be presented upon returning to Qatar or after being in touch with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Additional Information: Currently, entry to Qatar is only available to nationals or residents of Qatar or another GCC country. Anyone aged 16 or older traveling from a country not on Qatar’s “green list” who has not been vaccinated in Qatar must quarantine for seven days in a government-approved hotel. Travelers under the age of 16 who are traveling with parents who have been vaccinated in Qatar are permitted to quarantine at home, even if they are coming from a non-“green list” country.

Travelers arriving in Qatar from “green list” countries who have not been vaccinated in Qatar are required to complete a mandatory seven-day quarantine at home. The list of “green list countries is available here. Testing and health protocols also remain in place. Information about these protocols is available here.

Analysis & Comments: The extended exemption will make travel to Qatar easier for Qatari citizens and residents who received their vaccinations in Qatar. Employers planning to send employees to Qatar may wish to discuss the exemption with Deloitte. The response to COVID-19 continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2021. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.

IMPACT – HIGH

Qatari officials have announced that Qatari citizens and residents who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 are now exempt from quarantine requirements when arriving in Qatar.

Key Points:

  • Qatari citizens and residents must meet the following conditions to be exempt from quarantine requirements:
    • Fourteen days must have elapsed since receiving the second vaccination.
    • Individuals must have been vaccinated in Qatar, not in foreign countries.
    • A negative COVID-19 PCR test result must be presented upon returning to Qatar or after being in touch with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
  • The quarantine exemption period begins 14 days after the second vaccination and lasts three months from that date.

Additional Information: Currently, entry to Qatar is only available to Qatari nationals, GCC nationals and residents. Anyone traveling from a country not on Qatar’s “green list” who has not been vaccinated in Qatar must quarantine for seven days in a government-approved hotel. Travelers arriving in Qatar from “green list” countries who have not been vaccinated in Qatar are required to complete a mandatory seven-day quarantine at home. The list of “green countries” countries is available here.

Testing and health protocols remain in place. Information about these protocols is available here.

Analysis & Comments: The vaccination exemption will make travel to Qatar easier for Qatari citizens and residents who received their vaccinations in Qatar. Employers planning to send employees to Qatar may wish to discuss the exemption with Deloitte. The response to COVID-19 continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.

Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2020. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.

IMPACT – HIGH

Qatar recently made amendments to its pandemic-related travel and return policies.

Key Points:

  • Qatari nationals and residents are permitted to leave Qatar but they must follow the requirements of the travel and return policy.
  • Qatari nationals and residents who intend to travel to a country or countries that are not on the COVID-19 “green list” must make arrangements before they travel abroad to quarantine upon returning to Qatar at a hotel listed on the “Discover Qatar” website.
  • If they are employed, Qatari nationals and residents intending to travel abroad must consult with their employers to coordinate travel and return dates, including the quarantine period.
  • Qatari nationals and their spouses and children are allowed to return to Qatar, as long as they follow all travel and return policy requirements. Permanent residents are also allowed to return and are subject to the same requirements.
  • Qatari nationals and residents who wish to travel abroad and who have certain medical conditions that qualify them for Vulnerable Groups as defined by the travel and return policy can opt for a home quarantine upon their return by first obtaining a medical certificate on the Health Portal. They must obtain the medical certificate when they book their flight before leaving Qatar. Information about Vulnerable Groups is available here in Section 7.

Additional Information: Testing and health protocols remain in place for travelers entering Qatar. Information about them is available here.

Analysis & Comments: The changes will complicate travel to and from Qatar. Employers who wish to send employees to Qatar may wish to discuss their plans with Deloitte. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.

Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2021. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

Qatar has once again updated its “green list” of low-risk COVID-19 countries.

Key Points:

  • The number of countries on the green list was reduced last week from 23 to 17. The remaining green list countries are: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Cuba, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Oman, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
  • Travelers returning to Qatar from one of the countries on the green list are eligible for home quarantine. Such travelers are required to remain in home quarantine for at least seven days upon entering the country.

Additional Information: Travelers from low-risk countries must still receive a COVID-19 test at the airport and sign a pledge to enter a home quarantine for one week after arriving in Qatar. After the home quarantine, travelers must receive a second COVID-19 test from a dedicated health center. Travelers with positive results must enter isolation at a government facility and those with negative results will be free to leave quarantine.

Travelers from high-risk countries will be asked to undergo a COVID-19 test at Doha airport. They will need to undergo a hotel quarantine booked from Discover Qatar for seven days. On the sixth day of the hotel quarantine, they will need to go to a dedicated health center in Qatar to get another COVID-19 test. Travelers with positive results must enter isolation at a government facility and those with negative results will need to undergo a home quarantine for another week.

Travelers who present a valid COVID-19 test certificate taken within 48 hours prior to travelling to Qatar from a dedicated testing center are exempt from taking the COVID-19 test at the airport upon arrival. As of today, dedicated testing centers are currently available only for those coming from Thailand, Germany, United Kingdom and Turkey. The updated list can be checked at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) website.

Everyone arriving in Qatar must download and install the Ehteraz app.

Analysis & Comments: Qatar has continued to reduce the number of countries on its green list, making entry protocols stricter for an increasing number of travelers. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.

Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2020. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.

 

 

IMPACT – MEDIUM

Qatar’s government has announced changes to its exceptional entry permit service and entry quarantine requirement.

Key Points:

  • Exceptional entry permits will be automatically granted to residents in Qatar who are intending to travel outside the country and then return.
  • Residents who left Qatar on or after Nov. 30 will automatically receive an entry permit upon departure. They can print their permit from the Ministry of Interior portal or from the Metrash2 mobile app.
  • Residents who were outside Qatar before Nov. 30 must contact their sponsor for support with an exceptional entry permit request.
  • Travelers entering Qatar from all destinations are now subject to a one-week quarantine. Travelers arriving from countries on Qatar’s green list must quarantine at home; those arriving from all other countries must quarantine at hotel. Travelers that use shared quarantine facilities must quarantine for two weeks.

Additional Information: Residents returning from a low-risk “green” country should conduct a COVID-19 test in an approved hospital in the departure country no more than 48 hours from the date of departure. If the COVID-19 test is not conducted in the departure country, the test will be conducted at the airport upon arrival. Residents returning from all other countries must take a COVID-19 test upon arrival in Doha. In this case, such travelers must be tested a second time on the sixth day from their date of arriving. A yellow Ehteraz application status will remain active until the seventh day from their time of arrival. Travelers arriving from the U.K. on Dec. 22 or later must follow separate quarantine requirements.

Analysis & Comments: The changes to the exceptional entry permit service and the quarantine period will make it easier for residents to depart and return. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.

Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2020. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.