GoQatar Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

1、 Visa

Starting from December 21, 2018, Chinese citizens holding valid Chinese diplomatic, official, and regular passports are exempt from visa requirements for stays in Qatar for up to 30 days. Those who intend to enter Qatar for work, study, settlement, news reporting, and other activities that require prior approval from the competent authorities of the country should complete relevant procedures before entry. For specific visa requirements and procedures, please log in to the website of the Ministry of the Interior www.moi.gov.qa and the website of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China to inquire.

Entry and exit

Individuals entering Qatar, regardless of their passport, must undergo security checks, and their luggage and belongings must be inspected by X-ray machines. Any prohibited items found will be confiscated, and those who bring them into the country will be fined or even detained for examination.

Chinese citizens holding valid passports who enter the country without a visa and need to stay for more than 30 days must apply for a visa extension from the Expatriates Affairs Department of the Qatar Ministry of Interior. Visa overstayers are required to pay fines. Specific requirements and procedures can be consulted by phone with the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Interior of Qatar (00974-44890423), or by logging into their website

https://portal.moi.gov.qa/wps/portal/MOIInternet/departmentcommittees/expatriatesaffairs .

If some holders of work visas need to leave Qatar, they must present a departure permit certificate issued by the visa sponsor before leaving.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

Qatar prohibits the import of alcohol and pork products, and strictly prohibits the entry of any alcoholic beverages, pork based foods, drugs (except for moderate personal prescription drugs), and firearms and ammunition.

Qatar adopts a free exchange system and does not implement foreign exchange controls. Investment funds, loan funds, and personal income can be freely remitted overseas.

Residency and Naturalization

Qatar does not recognize dual citizenship. Those who have obtained residence visas for work, study or other purposes should complete the medical examination and other procedures at the designated department as soon as possible after entering the country. Only those who pass the medical examination can apply for a residence permit at the Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of the Interior (the validity period of the residence permit varies from 1-3 years). To complete the residency procedures, please refer to the website of the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Interior of Qatar (www.moi. gov.qa).

Qatar risk level is blue (low risk)

public security

Qatar has a stable social order, good security conditions, and relatively few criminal activities. The speed limit on urban roads is generally 80-100 kilometers per hour, and the speed is relatively fast, resulting in a higher incidence of traffic accidents. It is recommended to take a taxi or public transportation and avoid walking on the road as much as possible. Walking across the road requires caution.

natural disaster

Qatar has a tropical desert climate, with hot and humid summers (April to October each year), strong sunlight, and temperatures reaching over 50 degrees Celsius. There are no major natural disasters, and sandstorms often occur. People with respiratory diseases need to take protective measures. They can wear sunglasses during outdoor activities to prevent strong light from damaging their vision, and take appropriate sun protection measures.

FDA

The Qatari government has established unified hygiene standards for the catering sector and conducts regular inspections, ensuring good hygiene conditions.

Urgent Help

Chinese citizens can call the local emergency and help hotline 999 in case of emergencies (medical, fire, robbery, or other accidents) during their stay in Qatar.

Water and electricity malfunction: 991

Emergency assistance for hearing-impaired individuals: 992

Number inquiry desk: 180

Emergency appointment hotline of Qatar Ministry of Public Health: 00974-107

Tourism Service Center: 00974-4406 9921

Hamad International Airport Medical Assistance Hotline: 00974-4010 9222

Lost and Found Office at Hamad International Airport: 00974-4010 6666

Hamad International Airport emergency hotline: 00974-40109666

Qatar Airways: 00974-4023 0000

Consultation hotline for the Consular Department of the Chinese Embassy in Qatar: 00974-44933794

Emergency contact information for consular protection of the Chinese Embassy in Qatar: 00974-30177679

air traffic

Qatar Airways operates over 170 international routes, with direct flights to major cities in surrounding countries. At present, cities in China that have opened direct flights with the capital city of Qatar, Doha, include Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, and Xiamen (shared code with Xiamen Airlines).

Qatar has 5 airports, among which Hamad International Airport is located in the capital city of Doha, 5 kilometers away from the city center, and has routes to over 160 destinations worldwide. Most hotels in Doha offer free shuttle buses to the airport.

land transport

The total length of roads in Qatar is 9830 kilometers, including 1580 kilometers of main roads and 8250 kilometers of branch roads, forming a preliminary road network covering the whole country. At present, there is no railway in Qatar. Qatar plans to build about 500 kilometers of railway in the long term as part of the railway network of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) six countries. The project has not yet been launched.

water communication

The main ports in Qatar are Hamad Port, Doha Port, Ras Laffan Port, and Mehmed Port. Hammad Port was officially opened in December 2017 and is one of the largest ports in the Middle East region. Raslafan Port is a specialized port for the export of liquefied natural gas in Qatar, while the Port of Maysay is mainly used for the export of Qatar's crude oil and petrochemical products.

Urban transportation

The Doha Metro is currently the latest automated railway network in Qatar, covering the entire city of Doha. The entire subway line includes three lines: the Red Line, the Gold Line, and the Green Line.

At present, the Doha metro network has been fully connected, greatly improving the convenience of public transportation in the city. The one-way fare of the metro is 2 Qatari riyals, which can be taken freely.

Many major attractions in Doha are located near the subway lines. The red line has a total of 18 stations, connecting the southern Al Wakra area and the northern Lusail area, with a total distance of 40 kilometers, passing through the West Bay Business District and the Doha Coastal Road. The Golden Line has a total of 11 stations, extending from Ras Bu Abboud to Al Aziziyah, running through the old city area and passing through cultural and historical attractions such as the Qatar National Museum, the Islamic Art Museum, and the Waqif Market. It is known as the "Historical Line". The Green Line has a total of 11 stations, extending from Al Mansoura to Al Riffa, passing through the Education City, National Library, and Aishakab Equestrian Center, known as the "Education Line". The airport line is connected to the Doha Metro Red Line, and direct access to Hamad International Airport from Doha city center can be achieved by taking the subway. For details, please refer to its official website:

https://corp.qr.com.qa/English/Projects/Pages/DohaMetro.aspx

In addition, Qatar also provides tourists with the Doha Bus, which passes through Hamad International Airport and major attractions in Doha city, including the Islamic Art Museum, National Museum, Vaqif Market, Cultural Village, etc. For details, please refer to its official website:

https://dohabus.com/listings/dohabustours/ .

Although Qatar's public transportation system is becoming increasingly complete, most people still rely on self driving or taking taxis for transportation, and tourists can rent cars for travel. Qatari vehicles drive on the right side, and there are multiple roundabouts (roundabouts) in Doha city. When passing through the roundabouts, vehicles on the left side of the roundabouts must go first. Multiple road sections in Doha city are equipped with electronic monitoring systems and mobile radar speed measurement devices, and strict penalties are imposed on those who violate traffic regulations. Suburbs have many sand dunes and deserts, and the terrain is complex, making it easy to lose direction. Vehicles are prone to getting stuck in sand dunes, so it is advisable to avoid driving alone into desert areas.

major city

1、 Doha

The capital of Qatar, located in the central part of the east coast of the Qatar Peninsula, is the political, economic, and cultural center of Qatar, one of the famous ports in the Persian Gulf, and has a population of over 1.5 million residents. There are several high-end hotels, business centers, etc. built in the city, and deep-water ports, seawater desalination plants, power stations, international airports, and residential communities built in the suburbs. Corniche is one of the main thoroughfares in Doha city, approximately 8 kilometers long. It is a major transportation artery and a major place for citizens to relax and exercise. Government agencies and modern buildings are built along the seaside promenade facing the sea.

2、 Ras Laffan Industrial City

Located in the northeast of Qatar, about 70 kilometers away from the capital Doha. In the city, there are not only natural gas liquefaction plants, gas to oil (GTL) plants, chemical plants, various pump stations, pipelines, and liquefied gas storage tanks as supporting facilities, but also auxiliary facilities such as enterprise office areas, self owned power plants, seawater desalination plants, liquefied gas (LNG) dedicated docks, bulk cargo docks, and dry docks, as well as living service facilities such as banks, department stores, and worker camps. The industrial city attaches great importance to energy conservation and environmental protection in the development and construction process, striving to build itself into a model of resource-saving and environmentally friendly industry.

3、 Dukhan

Located in the western part of the Qatar Peninsula, about 48 kilometers from the capital Doha, it is one of the important cities in Qatar. Duhan Oilfield is the largest and oldest oilfield in Qatar. Duhan Beach has beautiful scenery and attracts a large number of tourists for sightseeing and tourism.

Commodity prices

Qatar's main products are oil and natural gas. Due to year-round drought and water scarcity, there is little crop production, and residents' daily necessities such as food and daily necessities have long relied on imports. The overall price level is 2-3 times higher than that of China's prices. In the past two years, Ka has vigorously developed agriculture and animal husbandry, striving to achieve self-sufficiency, and has achieved mass production of milk, poultry, meat, vegetables, and other products.

The currency of Qatar is the riyal, which can be freely exchanged for US dollars, euros, pounds sterling, Japanese yen, Swiss francs, Australian dollars, as well as currencies of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, India, Pakistan and other countries at any bank and currency exchange point. Some exchange points accept direct exchange between RMB and Rial, but the exchange rate is relatively low.

The exchange rate between the Qatari riyal and the US dollar is stable, and has remained at 3.64 riyals per US dollar in recent years.

People working in Qatar are not required to pay income tax on their wages. Income that does not involve corporate capital can be exempted from taxes, such as bank deposit interest, treasury bonds, development bonds, corporate bond income, etc. Enterprises engaged in agriculture, fisheries, sea and air transportation, as well as small businesses (with less than 3 employees), are also exempt from tax on their income.

It is common for locals to use credit cards to pay various fees and shop. VISA and MASTER cards issued by domestic banks can be used locally.

Insurance Medical

Qatar has public healthcare institutions covering the entire country and highly specialized private clinics. All public hospitals and community clinics provide medical services for card citizens and foreign people who often live in the card. Those who hold valid long-term residence visas can apply for medical cards. They can enjoy a series of medical subsidies by paying 100 rials of medical insurance premiums every year. Non resident foreign personnel do not enjoy medical subsidies when they see a doctor.

Hamad General Hospital is a non-profit large-scale comprehensive medical institution founded by the Qatari government, with a highly specialized medical team and advanced medical facilities. It has five branches and community clinics across the country. Hamad Hospital fulfills the commitment of "everyone has access to health care" made by the Kadeer government, and provides medical services to Kadeer citizens and foreign people who often live in Kadeer, including vaccination, immunization and quarantine services, infectious disease control, rehabilitation services, and medical treatment in various medical departments. The emergency department of Hamad Hospital admits emergency patients, who can seek medical treatment with their passport or other identification documents.

Hamad Hospital contact phone number: 00974-44394444, website: www.hmc.org.qa。

Customs taboos

The state religion of Qatar is Islam, which prohibits alcohol and pork. It is taboo to discuss topics related to pigs. Women should avoid wearing overly revealing clothing in public places, while men should avoid wearing vests and shorts. Excessive intimacy between men and women is not advisable in public places. Please do not take photos of local government departments or military institutions, otherwise you may be detained. Do not take photos of local people, especially women and children. If you need to take photos, you must obtain their consent in advance. Drinking alcohol must be done in restaurants or bars with a license to sell alcohol, otherwise it will be considered illegal and drunk driving will result in heavy penalties.

Important Festivals:

Eid al Fitr: According to the Islamic calendar, it varies every year.

Eid al Adha: According to the Islamic calendar, it varies every year.

Islamic New Year: According to the Islamic calendar, there are changes every year.

Qatar National Day: December 18th.

Communications Power

Qatar has good communication facilities, with 4G LTE network covering the whole country, compatible with GMS network, and 5G network being laid out in an orderly manner.

The country code for Qatar is 00974. When calling Qatar from within the country, you should dial either "00974+landline number" or "00974+mobile number".

Qatar voltage: 220-240 volts, power interface is a British standard three-phase socket.

contact information