14 February 2023
Medium
Summary
The Qatari Ministry of Interior (MOI) has recently announced that the validity of the Hayya Card, issued during the 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament, has been extended until 24 January 2024.
The Detail
With immediate effect Hayya card visitors can continue to visit the state of Qatar without the need to secure a visit visa prior to their entry to the country. The following conditions apply:
Visitors should have a proof of a confirmed hotel reservation or an accommodation with family/ friends approved through the Hayya portal;
Visitors’ passports must be valid for a minimum period of three months upon arrival in Qatar;
Visitors should obtain health insurance covering their entire stay in the country;
and visitors should hold a return ticket.
What this means
Hayya card extensions
The Hayya card is automatically extended for all visitors as a free service which allows card holders multiple entries to the country. The ‘Hayya with Me’ feature allows Hayya Card holders to invite up to three family members/ friends, and offers visitors access to the e-Gate system for entry and exit via State ports.
Obligatory health insurance
Effective from February 1st, 2023, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) announced the start of implementing the first phase of the health insurance system in the State of Qatar, in implementation of the provisions of Law No. (22) of 2021 regarding the organisation of health care services in the State of Qatar, which stipulates that visitors must be covered by health insurance.
MOPH explained that individuals who apply for new visitor visas or those who wish to extend their existing ones, will be required to enrol under a health insurance policy that covers basic health care services; emergency services and accidents only, and the premium for the mandatory insurance policy for a single 30-day visa is QAR 50 upon the initial issuance and each time the visit visa is extended. Visitors may obtain insurance policies that cover more services, and premiums vary according to the policies of each provider. This applies to Hayya card holders, who can now continue to enter and stay in Qatar with proof of health insurance coverage for the duration of their stay in Qatar.
How we can help
We will continue to closely monitor any new updates by the Qatari (immigration) authorities, and highlight the impact of any changes that may impact travel and entry to Qatar, or your expatriate workforce.
We can provide assistance with an impact analysis for your local employee population who are affected by the change and ensure their health insurance policy is in compliance with the new requirements.
We will continue to closely monitor and provide timely guidance on any new updates announced by the Ministry of Interior with regards to entry requirements.
Contact us
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Anir Chatterji, EMEA Immigration Partner | anir.chatterji@vialto.com
Rekha Simpson, Director, Middle East Immigration | rekha.simpson@vialto.com
Marilyn Serrao, Senior Associate | marilyn.serrao@vialto.com
Further information on Vialto Partners can be found here: www.vialtopartners.com
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