FIFA World Cup: Qatar Suspends Entry of Visitors Who Are Not Attending the Tournament

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The Ministry of Interior, Qatar has announced new entry and exit regulations to and from the country during the FIFA World Cup, this includes the entry restrictions for all visitors from November 1 to December 23, who are not attending the tournament.

This means that those who wish to travel to Qatar on a visitor visa for reasons other than attending the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be denied entry.

These restrictions, however, will not apply to Qatari nationals and holders of a residence permit.

Notably, all visitors planning to visit Qatar for the FIFA World Cup should be aware that they will need to obtain a Hayya Card in order to attend the tournament.

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Qatar: Entry Restrictions During 2022 FIFA World Cup

According to the Ministry of Interior of Qatar, the suspension of entry applies to individuals entering by land, air and sea.

Exempted categories include Qatari citizens, residents, and GCC citizens holding a Qatari ID card, holders of personal visas and work entry permits, and approved humanitarian cases.

  • Applies to all modes of entry. The suspension of entry applies to individuals entering by land, air and sea.
  • Exceptions to the entry ban. The following categories of individuals are exempt from the temporary entry ban:
    • Nationals of Qatar.
    • Nationals of Gulf Cooperative Council countries holding a Qatari Identity Card.
    • Foreign residents holding a Qatari Identity Card.
    • Holders of a personal recruitment visa; and
    • Holders of a work entry permit.
  • Emergency exceptions. Entry will be permitted in emergency situations, subject to the approval of the relevant government authorities.

Also Read: Qatar Scrapped Red List, Quarantine Requirements for Travellers Starting September 04: Full Guidelines Here

Hayya Card

Hayya Card For Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022

The Qatar Hayya Card is a Fan ID issued by the Qatari government for attendees of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. This document, which serves in place of an entry visa, is only valid for the duration of the tournament. As soon as you have confirmed your match ticket purchase, you should apply for a Hayya Card.

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The Hayya Card is for foreign nationals who wish to attend matches and stay in Qatar until January 23, 2023. It is worth noting that only those who have purchased a match ticket are currently eligible to apply for the Hayya Card.

Also Read: FIFA World Cup: UAE Announces Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa For Hayya Card Holders

Reason for Entry Restrictions

Over a million visitors are expected to visit Qatar during the FIFA World Cup. As a result, other visitors are likely to be suspended by the Qatari government due to the impact of visitors on local infrastructure, including airports, and to maintain a safe environment for visitors and residents, particularly in light of COVID-19.

According to FIFA, 2.45 million of the three million tickets have been sold, with a final round of online sales scheduled for later this month.

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Meanwhile, the $675 million stadium that Qatar will use for this year’s World Cup final saw its first sellout earlier this month, on Friday, with a match between Egypt’s and Saudi Arabia’s champions.

Bottomline

International travellers who are not attending the FIFA World Cup should be aware that they will be unable to enter the country between November 1 and December 23 unless they fall into one of the exemption categories.

The restriction is anticipated to be removed on December 23, 2022, when the FIFA World Cup 2022 is over.


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Manish Khandelwal
Manish Khandelwal

Manish Khandelwal, a travel-tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in the travel industry. Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Travelobiz.com, he's passionate about writing.

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