Entry to Qatar - New Insurance Requirements
#76
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 2,028
It's probably worth requoting the detail here:
"Effective immediately, all visitors to the State of Qatar will be exempt from the
requirement of purchasing mandatory Health Insurance if their stay in the
country is less than 30 days"
#77
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BA Exec Club Gold, *G, EK Skywards Silver
Posts: 1,003
No issues this afternoon for my arrival. Not a question asked, even on my duration (it was only 24hrs anyway). Mind you, as others have commented, the officer had both headphones in and on a call.
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 16,971
Thinking about it, Doha's the only place where I routinely see agents engaged in calls while they deal with passengers. But that could be my low levels of observation. I've no real complaint, they deal with me efficiently, but it's not the best introduction to a nation's officialdom.
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 16,971
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...
Now that may be a delay in updating their info, or an error at Visit Qatar. We shall see...
The thirty day rule is a sensible refinement of the original badly thought out regulation. The policy was clearly aimed at longer stay visitors, most will be family or friends of resident workers, and some might be intent on a form of medical tourism.
There are all sorts of reasons the government does not wish to be explicit in targeting this cohort of visitors; but the tourism sector was upset that short-term independent tourists were getting caught up in the net. Lord knows, post world-cup they have plenty of hotel rooms and excursion places to fill, and discouraging bread-and-butter short-term visitors was the last thing they needed.
#80
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: AS 100K, HH Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 189
#81
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,292
#83
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LON
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,884
#84
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: AS 100K, HH Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 189