In a bid to boost tourism, Qatar has recently made two important changes to its travel policy. The country’s Ministry of Interior has extended the validity of the Hayya Card till January 24, 2024. Also, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) revised the country’s entry requirements to make health insurance compulsory for all visitors from February 1, 2023.
Extension of Hayya card validity: What does this mean?
The extension of Hayya Card validity means that those who had already purchased a Hayya Card, for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, can now have access to a free-multiple entry permit to the country. Visitors will also be able to use the e-gate system at state ports. The facilities can be accessed only by meeting the following criteria:
- Proof of hotel reservation or accommodation with friends or family authorised through the Hayya online portal.
- A passport valid for no less than three months upon entering Qatar.
- Valid health insurance for the period of the stay in the country, from the authorised list of insurance companies from MoPH.
- Valid return ticket.
Conditions and featurstay qatares of #Hayya Card validity extension to enter the State of #Qatar starting today until 24 January 2024. #MOIQatar pic.twitter.com/V627R8cxW8
— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) January 30, 2023
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There is also one more benefit for Hayya cardholders. They can now avail “Hayya with Me” feature, which would allow them to invite up to three friends or family members to enter Qatar.
Health insurance is mandatory for all visitors entering Qatar
This particular policy has been revised as per Law No. (22) of 2021, concerning the management of healthcare services in Qatar. It specifies that all visitors must be compulsorily covered by the Health Insurance Scheme. The scheme will be carried out in phases, and the first phase already started on February 1, 2023.
First phase of the Mandatory Health Insurance Scheme in the State of Qatar pic.twitter.com/cbJ87IZIht
— وزارة الصحة العامة (@MOPHQatar) January 28, 2023
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From now on, visitors will have to purchase the Mandatory Visitors’ Health Insurance policy for INR 1,132 (QAR 50), which is valid for 30 days, to enter the country.
Ministry of Public Health Announces the Implementation of the Health Insurance Scheme for Visitors to the Country as of 1 February 2023
Read more @ https://t.co/T3HLp7EasR pic.twitter.com/UGl5KJ0pRq— وزارة الصحة العامة (@MOPHQatar) January 28, 2023
All these steps are linked to driving tourism growth in Qatar, which would add to the country’s economy.
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Hero Image Credit: Fitria Ramli, Hasan Zaidi/Shutterstock; Feature Image Credit: Fitria Ramli, Sorbis/Shutterstock
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Shrestha Purkayastha
Digital Writer
With a well-built background in English Honours and Mass Communication, Shrestha is a writer who holds a fair experience in understanding and creating content in terms of writing. Previously, her professional exposure counted working with Curly Tales as a content writer. Besides the routine designation, she's a photographer and an artist by passion, a trained singer by heart and of course an independent writer by an incomparable zeal. The interesting disclaimer is, she’s always on the run for her comical laugh and hilarious escaping excuses.
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