Qatar opens borders to allow residents to return

Muscat: Qatar has allowed residents to return starting from August 1st, the Qatar News Agency (QNA) announced.

The QNA said: "Government Communications Office (GCO) announces that travel policies effective from Saturday 1 August, have been reviewed based on public health indicators in the State of Qatar and around the world.

"GCO announced in a statement published on its website that the policy of travel and return to Qatar during the gradual lifting of restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic has been reviewed and the following has been decided:

- Arrivals to the State of Qatar from low-risk countries are required to take a coronavirus test upon arrival at the airport, and to sign a formal pledge to adhere to quarantine at home for a week.

- It should be noted that the list of low-risk countries will be published on the Ministry of Public Health’s website and announced by the Civil Aviation Authority. The list of low-risk countries will be reviewed every two weeks.

- If there are accredited COVID-19 testing centres in one of these low-risk countries, obtaining a COVID-free certificate from one of these centres exempts the traveller from taking the test at the airport, provided that the date of obtaining the certificate does not exceed 48 hours before travel.

- Arrivals from countries that are not included in the list of low-risk countries and in which COVID-19 testing centres have been accredited are required to obtain a virus-free certificate from there no more than 48 hours before travelling.

- Arrivals from other countries that are not included in the list of low-risk countries and in which there are no accredited COVID-19 testing centres will be required to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense for one week, provided that hotel accommodation is booked through the “Discover Qatar“ website before arriving in the State of Qatar.

- Qatari citizens and their wives, spouses and children, and permanent residency holders can travel outside the country and return at any time, while adhering to all the aforementioned procedures and according to the countries of arrival.

- Residents will be allowed to return to the State of Qatar starting the first of August 2020. Residents’ entry will be organised based on a series of priorities, including public health indicators.

The GCO noted that the process of issuing return permits for residents will be through the “Qatar Portal“ website until the need to organise the entry process ends, based on relevant public health indicators.