Entry to Qatar - New Insurance Requirements
Feb 20, 2023, 8:21 am
#61
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
Just bought a policy and selected Qatar General Insurance …… purely on the basis that their website looked more professional than the first two I clicked on (though I stress looked 
!)
All sorted and my (very official !) certificate was received by email within seconds of making standard minimum payment of QAR50.
One issue I did encounter during the process was the apparent ‘requirement’ to upload a photo of my main passport ID page. The site repeatedly rejected it, saying each time that the max file size was 10mb, even though I knew for sure that mine was well below. In the end I just clicked the pay now button and hey ho the policy docs were duly issued.
!)All sorted and my (very official !) certificate was received by email within seconds of making standard minimum payment of QAR50.
One issue I did encounter during the process was the apparent ‘requirement’ to upload a photo of my main passport ID page. The site repeatedly rejected it, saying each time that the max file size was 10mb, even though I knew for sure that mine was well below. In the end I just clicked the pay now button and hey ho the policy docs were duly issued.
Feb 26, 2023, 12:22 pm
#62
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,324
Went through immigration this evening 10pm. Full checks for insurance. Multiple people in front of me didn’t have it and were sent upstairs to purchase.
Officer accepted the digital copy on phone.
Officer accepted the digital copy on phone.
Feb 28, 2023, 10:18 pm
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Feb 28, 2023, 10:34 pm
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Do we even know yet where you will be checked if you have insurance? My guess its likely to be when you check in.
Remember that during Covid and the World Cup, you were asked for everything at check in. Once you arrived in DOH they didn't ask to see anything.
I cant try this out as I don't need the insurance!
Remember that during Covid and the World Cup, you were asked for everything at check in. Once you arrived in DOH they didn't ask to see anything.
I cant try this out as I don't need the insurance!
Check-In at JNB asked for the certificate. It was 6am, I was grumpy and said something on the lines of "you don't need to see that" : agent giggled and printed the boarding card.
At Doha the immigration officer simply checked the logo of my UK AXA policy against the logos displayed on her desk top.
There again she was in very intense phone conversation thoughout, so maybe not fully vigilant
Arriving from Jeddah all much the same.
I jave no idea if my UK policy is de jure acceptable, though i have a strong feeling I blagged it. So I'm touching wood my luck holds next week!!
Last edited by IAN-UK; Feb 28, 2023 at 10:54 pm
Mar 1, 2023, 12:03 am
#65
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 285
I followed the link to get the insurance on moph.gov.qa and it says I don't need it if I have International Travel Ins that meets their criteria and is on some govt list. You upload your policy to govt site and they tell you, or you show it to the border official. The list appears to be kept secret and i can't find any link to upload anything so might try my luck with my Chubb/Amex annual policy that far exceeds the requirements. Hard to imagine a worse thought through idea!
Are people just using their regular travel insurance, I'm loathed to buy 7/8 useless policies per year even if they aren't expensive.
Are people just using their regular travel insurance, I'm loathed to buy 7/8 useless policies per year even if they aren't expensive.
Mar 1, 2023, 2:03 am
#66
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,324
I followed the link to get the insurance on moph.gov.qa and it says I don't need it if I have International Travel Ins that meets their criteria and is on some govt list. You upload your policy to govt site and they tell you, or you show it to the border official. The list appears to be kept secret and i can't find any link to upload anything so might try my luck with my Chubb/Amex annual policy that far exceeds the requirements. Hard to imagine a worse thought through idea!
Are people just using their regular travel insurance, I'm loathed to buy 7/8 useless policies per year even if they aren't expensive.
Are people just using their regular travel insurance, I'm loathed to buy 7/8 useless policies per year even if they aren't expensive.
If yours doesn’t work, they’ll send you back & upstairs to buy a valid one, then you’ll have to queue again. If it’s not busy, it wouldn’t be bad - but if it is…
Mar 1, 2023, 3:30 am
#67
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Beijing
Posts: 349
Do we even know yet where you will be checked if you have insurance? My guess its likely to be when you check in.
Remember that during Covid and the World Cup, you were asked for everything at check in. Once you arrived in DOH they didn't ask to see anything.
I cant try this out as I don't need the insurance!
Remember that during Covid and the World Cup, you were asked for everything at check in. Once you arrived in DOH they didn't ask to see anything.
I cant try this out as I don't need the insurance!
Mar 2, 2023, 2:43 pm
#68
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MEX
Posts: 1,014
I read about the insurance thing but ignored it and wanted to ask for more clarification on arrival. Went through immigration around 1am on Feb 27th.
Was prepared to buy it on arrival, but then...they didn't ask me for anything. Not a single word about it.
I had a layover of less then 24hrs...does that play in?
Was prepared to buy it on arrival, but then...they didn't ask me for anything. Not a single word about it.
I had a layover of less then 24hrs...does that play in?
Mar 7, 2023, 9:56 pm
#69
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: USA
Programs: Alaska MVP, Marriott Lifetime Titanium (United Silver), Hilton Gold
Posts: 779
Has the requirement changed for short stays? I went to purchase online and noticed that this page says that insurance is only required for stays over 30 days: https://visitqatar.com/intl-en/pract...alth-insurance
Mar 8, 2023, 9:15 am
#71
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BA Exec Club Gold, *G, EK Skywards Silver
Posts: 1,020
Has the requirement changed for short stays? I went to purchase online and noticed that this page says that insurance is only required for stays over 30 days: https://visitqatar.com/intl-en/pract...alth-insurance
Mar 8, 2023, 12:42 pm
#72
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Programs: QR PC Platinum, TK M&S elite, UA silver, ITA Voltaire Executive (lol), Marriott Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 1,171
Can anyone that’s crossed into Doha recently confirm that the insurance requirement for even a quick 12 hour stopover has been rescinded? Have a stopover coming up soon and want to see if there’s first hand reports if I indeed still need this insurance or not.
Mar 8, 2023, 7:32 pm
#73
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 2,155
Has the requirement changed for short stays? I went to purchase online and noticed that this page says that insurance is only required for stays over 30 days: https://visitqatar.com/intl-en/pract...alth-insurance
Now that may be a delay in updating their info, or an error at Visit Qatar. We shall see...
https://www.moph.gov.qa/english/derp...
Mar 10, 2023, 12:14 am
#74
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 179
Passed through AUH-DOH-AUH on a 36 hour visit earlier in the week and purchased the policy online, but no one anywhere along the way even mentioned insurance.. unless they managed to link the insurance system with the check in/immigration? Because they do ask for the passport when you buy the policy
If not, then a waste of QAR 50
If not, then a waste of QAR 50
Mar 10, 2023, 12:34 am
#75
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ Elite, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 908
I also spotted that on the Visit Qatar website a couple of days ago. But before anyone gets too excited, the MOPH website still says this today:
Now that may be a delay in updating their info, or an error at Visit Qatar. We shall see...
https://www.moph.gov.qa/english/derp...
Now that may be a delay in updating their info, or an error at Visit Qatar. We shall see...
https://www.moph.gov.qa/english/derp...