QID holders coming from Turkey CAN skip hotel quarantine in Qatar

There’s a lot of confusion regarding the status of hotel quarantine for QID holders arriving from Turkey.

While official information states that Qatari residents and Permanent Residence holder (which is NOT the same as an expat holding a Residence Permit/QID) are allowed to skip mandatory hotel quarantine on conducting a test (with a negative result) in one of the accredited centres in Turkey.

According to the Government Communications Office, Qatari citizens in Turkey can visit four approved hospitals for a COVID-19 test and obtain a COVID-free certificate which is valid for 48 hours.

Travellers with a Qatari residency permit who are in the Republic of Turkey can use this service to return to Qatar once the third phase of the gradual reopening begins (1 August). When the test is conducted in one of the accredited centres and the person is found to be free of the virus, this qualifies him or her to obtain an exception from the mandatory hotel quarantine in Qatar, provided that the certificate holder is committed to home-quarantine for a period of 14 days upon arrival in Qatar.

Those accredited will need to sign a pledge confirming that they will follow home-quarantine regulations in accordance with the procedures and standards set by the Ministry of Public Health.”

The Ministry of Public Health additionally states: “The Ministry states that citizens in the Turkish territory can visit the following hospitals for a COVID-19 test and obtain a COVID-free certificates, noting that the certificate is valid for 48 hours only. The accredited hospitals are: Ankara Sehir hospital, Yesilkoy Murat Dilmener Emergency Hospital, Basaksehir Cam ve Sakura Sehir hospital and Kartal Dr. Litfi Kirdar hospital.

In addition, travellers (with a Qatari residence permit) who are in the Republic of Turkey can use this service if they wish to return to Qatar, once the third phase of the gradual lifting of the COVID-19 measures starts.​”

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