• Qatar’s Ministry of Interior announces year-long extension of Hayya Card validity
• Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health introduces mandatory health insurance policy for all visitors

Doha, Qatar, February 2023: Qatar has announced two important travel policy updates for visitors to the country. The state’s Ministry of Interior has announced the validity of Hayya Cards will be extended until 24 January 2024. Those who obtained a Hayya Card for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ can now gain a free multiple-entry permit to Qatar and use of the e-gate system at state ports, provided they fulfil the following conditions:

• Proof of hotel reservation or accommodation with family or friends approved via the online Hayya Portal
• A passport valid for no less than three months upon arrival in Qatar
• Health insurance valid for the duration of the stay in the country – from the approved list of insurance companies from MoPH
• A valid return ticket

International fans with Hayya Cards can also access the “Hayya with Me” feature, which allows them to invite up to three family members or friends to visit Qatar.

The news comes as the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has updated the country’s entry requirements to make health insurance mandatory for all visitors to Qatar, from February 01, 2023. To enter Qatar, visitors must now purchase the Mandatory Visitors’ Health Insurance policy, for QAR 50 valid for 30 days, from the list of authorised Qatari providers.

The authorised Qatari health insurance providers are listed here: https://www.moph.gov.qa/english/derpartments/policyaffairs/hfid/hirs/insurancecompanies/Pages/default.aspx

For more information on the Mandatory Visitors’ Health Insurance policy, visit: https://www.moph.gov.qa/english/derpartments/policyaffairs/hfid/Pages/Health-Insurance-Scheme.aspx

About Qatar:

Qatar is a peninsula surrounded by the Arabian Gulf in the heart of the Middle East, with 80% of the earth’s population within a six-hour flight. Ranked the safest country in the world in 2022 by Numbeo, Qatar welcomes all travellers, and guests from over 95 countries can enter visa-free. Qatar has an incredible variety of easily accessible tourist attractions, a plethora of fauna and flora including Whale Sharks and the majestic national animal the Arabian Oryx, and most experiences are a unique combination of cultural authenticity and modernity. From iconic museums to high-rise restaurants, from thrilling desert adventures to world-famous events including none other than the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, there is something for all types of travellers and budgets. Travellers set to transit through Qatar should turn one holiday into two with the world’s best value stopover packages, launched by Qatar Airways and Discover Qatar and supported by Qatar Tourism.

About Qatar Tourism:

Qatar Tourism is the official government body responsible for the development and promotion of tourism in Qatar, facilitating the sector’s exponential growth. Qatar is a destination where people of the world come together to experience unique offerings in arts, culture, sports, and adventure, catering to family and business visitors, rooted in Service Excellence. Qatar Tourism seeks to boost the entire tourism value chain, grow local and international visitor demand, attract inward investment, and drive a multiplier effect across the domestic economy. The Qatar Tourism Strategy 2030 sets an ambitious target to attract over six million international visitors a year by 2030, making Qatar the fastest growing destination in the Middle East.

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