Sri Krishna
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) stressed the need for pre-registration for those arriving in Qatar to maintain continuity of crossing operations. It also explained that the platform provided a flexible and practical answer to meet the challenges posed by the pandemic by allowing visitors to Qatar while ensuring their commitment to health procedures. Let’s read more about it!
As a result of the pandemic and ongoing updates to an updated trip and return policy, Major Abdullah Al Jassmi stated that the Airport Passports Department works to facilitate entry and exit procedures at Hamad International Airport. Furthermore, it always uses the latest electronic methods in conjunction with partners from the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Airport Administration, the Department of Airport Security, airlines, and others.
In addition, pre-registration is allowed for travelers ahead of their arrival at Qatari ports, to expedite entry procedures at Abu Samra port and Hamad International Airport. As a result, he further explained that the platform makes information easily accessible to travelers, and citizens and residents with visas within Qatar will receive an email confirming their vaccine approval without having to submit any documents, and the platform also allows them to stay updated on new policy developments and developments in the travel policy system.
In addition, citizens and residents can use the eGates service at Hamad International Airport for those who are registered on the platform, as it does not require a series of traditional processes.
Major Abdullah Al Jassmi further explained that the father can register all members of his family in one application, and certain categories of travelers have been created, from citizen, resident, and visitor, in addition to vaccines and country of origin.
Specifically, Major Al Jassmi said that visitors must register and registration is mandatory. It is also necessary to include the visa number, the passport number, the vaccine type, and the date of the last dose or the last infection with COVID-19 if the traveler has been infected and recovered. Non-vaccinated individuals and visitors from high-risk countries must upload a copy of their passport, a copy of their vaccination certificate, and a photo of their hotel reservation. Please verify all data before sending. In most cases, Major Al Jassmi noted, incomplete responses to visitor requests are primarily due to failures to upload required documents such as passport copies and vaccination certificates or poor image clarity. Several members of the Ministry of Public Health work 24 hours a day to inform persons who sent requests for registration of the reasons for the non-approval.
As for the hotel quarantine, Major Al Jassmi explained that the platform was linked to “Discover Qatar”. By using specific technology, the program can, upon receiving the hotel reservation photos from the traveler, ensure that the hotel reservation is within the approved quarantine hotels for the traveler, facilitating the process and saving him time and money. These procedures and the process of responding to a visitor’s request can take up to 24 hours.
According to him, the platform encouraged many operations at the airport, such as employees could conveniently check the status of the country from which the traveler was coming per the most delinquent updates via the platform, thus speeding up the process.
He further said that hotel quarantine is a basic requirement for those coming from the red list countries. However, if the visitor has first-degree relatives in Qatar, the home quarantine will be an alternative to the hotel one, as long as the other requirements are met. According to him, the platform is the best method for approving vaccinations for Qataris who have received vaccines outside the country since the registration data and receipt affidavits are entered into the Ministry of Public Health’s system.
For individuals not registered, a series of procedures must be followed, a visit to a health center must be made and papers must be submitted for the vaccination to be approved. The platform will also specify a two-day hotel quarantine in place of the seven-day mandatory quarantine for expatriate work visa holders who register on it and attach an approved vaccination certificate.
Major Al Jassmi emphasized that the preregistration platform for arrivals to Qatar only deals with health requirements and procedures, not the legal requirements an entrant must fulfill. Members of the diplomatic corps must also fulfill the legal requirements of the Law of Entry, Exit, and Residence of Expatriates.
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