Heathrow Airport: Is Qatar on the red list? Travel advice for the World Cup 2022 host nation

It’s the controversial host nation of next year’s World Cup – a competition England are on the brink of qualifying for.

The Gulf state of Qatar is home to around 20,000 British nationals and six flights a day depart to Doha from Heathrow Airport.

Around 10,000 visas are issued by Qatar to British travellers each year but that number is likely to increase in 2022 thanks to the biggest event in the football calendar.

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Like many countries, Qatar has had a number of travel restrictions in place and one would hope that they’ll all be lifted in time for the World Cup next November.

We’re taking a look at what the travel rules are currently for Qatar ahead of the tournament in 2022.

Is Qatar on the red list?

There are currently no countries on the red list for travel to the UK.

That means that anyone who travels from Qatar back to Heathrow will not have to quarantine unless they test positive for coronavirus.

Those who are fully vaccinated must book and pay for a Covid-19 test to be taken before the end of day two in England.

They must also complete a passenger locator form to be filled out within 48 hours before arriving back at Heathrow Airport.

Travellers can take a lateral flow test or a PCR test, but if they choose a lateral flow test and receive a positive result, they must take a PCR test to confirm the result.

While awaiting the result, they must self-isolate – and self-isolation must continue for a full 10 days if the PCR test is positive.

What if I’m not fully vaccinated?

Travellers who are not fully vaccinated from coronavirus must take a Covid-19 test in the three days prior to travel to England, as well as booking and paying for PCR tests on days two and eight.

A passenger locator form must be completed and anyone not fully vaccinated must quarantine at home or the place they are staying for 10 full days.

If the first PCR test on day two is positive, travellers do not need to take the day eight test.

What restrictions are in place in Qatar?

All visitors to Qatar have to register via a pre-registration platform at least three days before arriving in the country.

And while Qatar is not on the red list for travel to England, the United Kingdom is on Qatar’s red list.

This means that fully vaccinated visitors must take a PCR test with a negative result 72 hours before arriving in Qatar.

They must also quarantine in a hotel for two days or until they receive the result of a PCR test that must be taken upon arrival at the quarantine hotel.

Those who are unvaccinated must also take a PCR test before arrival and quarantine at a hotel for seven days.

A PCR test is required on the sixth day of quarantine and if the test is negative, unvaccinated travellers will be released from quarantine on day seven.

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