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Passport validity requirements

If you are visiting Qatar, your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you arrive. You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

If you are a resident of Qatar, your passport must be valid when you arrive.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements

You can get a tourist visa on arrival if you’re travelling on a full British Citizen passport.

You must still get a visa in advance if:

• you’re travelling for any purpose other than tourism
• you hold another type of British passport

If you need to stay longer than 30 days, you must extend your visa waiver before it expires through the Qatar Ministry of Interior. If you do not do this, you may be fined. The fine must be paid before leaving Qatar.

There is more information on visa requirements and extensions on the Qatar Ministry of Interior website.

Travel bans

If you are subject to a travel ban, involved in legal proceedings, have unpaid debt or are a child subject to a custody dispute, you may be prevented from leaving Qatar by the Qatari authorities.

Transit passengers

At the airport, all bags are scanned. Transit passengers found with even residual amounts of drugs may be arrested. This includes drugs which may be legal in other countries, but not in Qatar.

Travellers cannot stay in the transit area for more than 24 hours between flights, even if you are booked into the transit hotel in the airport.

There is more information about transit through Qatar on the Hamad International Airport website.

Mandatory health insurance

If you’re staying in Qatar for more than 30 days, you must buy health insurance from a registered Ministry of Public Health ( MOPH) insurance provider before you travel.

For more guidance see the MOPH website. 

The standard insurance premium is 50 Qatari riyals per person, per month.

Vaccine requirements

To enter Qatar, you must have certificates to prove you’ve had:

• a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk
• a polio vaccination in some circumstances

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about what goods you can take into and out of Qatar. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

It is illegal to import and sell vapes and electronic cigarette products. This includes the sale and purchase of related liquids and other similar products, including electronic shisha pipes. The law applies regardless of quantity and intended use. Customs officials may confiscate any such items from your luggage or from packages sent by post.

Qatar also prohibits the importation, sale and purchase of electronic cigarettes, liquids and other similar products, including electronic shisha pipes. The law applies regardless of quantity and intended use. Customs officials may seize and confiscate any such items from your luggage or from packages sent by post.

Taking medication into Qatar 

Qatar has guidance on medications that you can bring into Qatar. For further information on the legal status of a specific medicine, contact the Qatari Embassy in the UK.

Taking money, precious metals or gems into Qatar

If you are taking money, precious metals or gems worth more than 50,000 Qatari riyals into Qatar, you must complete a declaration form. This includes:

• currency – Qatari riyal or foreign currencies
• travellers cheques, money orders, cheques, promissory notes (including those endorsed without restriction, incomplete, payable to a fictitious payee or signed but without the payee’s name)
• precious metals – such as gold, silver, platinum
• precious stones – such as diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, pearls

You must also give customs officials any other information they request.

If you break these rules, you could be fined or imprisoned, as well as the funds or goods being seized.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about what goods you can take into and out of Qatar. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

It is illegal to import and sell vapes and electronic cigarette products. This includes the sale and purchase of related liquids and other similar products, including electronic shisha pipes. The law applies regardless of quantity and intended use. Customs officials may confiscate any such items from your luggage or from packages sent by post.

Qatar also prohibits the importation, sale and purchase of electronic cigarettes, liquids and other similar products, including electronic shisha pipes. The law applies regardless of quantity and intended use. Customs officials may seize and confiscate any such items from your luggage or from packages sent by post.

Taking medication into Qatar 

Qatar has guidance on medications that you can bring into Qatar. For further information on the legal status of a specific medicine, contact the Qatari Embassy in the UK.

Taking money, precious metals or gems into Qatar

If you are taking money, precious metals or gems worth more than 50,000 Qatari riyals into Qatar, you must complete a declaration form. This includes:

• currency – Qatari riyal or foreign currencies
• travellers cheques, money orders, cheques, promissory notes (including those endorsed without restriction, incomplete, payable to a fictitious payee or signed but without the payee’s name)
• precious metals – such as gold, silver, platinum
• precious stones – such as diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, pearls

You must also give customs officials any other information they request.

If you break these rules, you could be fined or imprisoned, as well as the funds or goods being seized.

Emergency services in Qatar

Telephone: 999 (ambulance, fire, police)

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking lawyers, and translators and interpreters in Qatar
• dealing with a death in Qatar
• being arrested in Qatar
• getting help if you’re a  victim of crime
• what to do if you’re in hospital
• if you are affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO 

Help abroad  

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency. 

Help in the UK  

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.  

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)  

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates  

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X
• travel advice on Facebook

Risk information for British companies

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in Qatar on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

Regional tensions

The US and Iran announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 17 June  in relation to the conflict in the Middle East, however the situation in the Middle East remains unpredictable. Since 8 July there have been strikes and retaliatory attacks by Iran in a number of locations across the region, including Qatar, against US military and civilian infrastructure. There is a risk of more attacks and unforeseen escalation in the region. Before the ceasefire, the Iranian regime had stated its intention to target locations associated with the US and Israel, including organisations, businesses, facilities, and institutions.  

British nationals currently in the Middle East should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions, and should: 

• read If you’re affected by a crisis abroad - GOV.UK. This includes guidance on “how to prepare for a crisis” with suggestions on what you might include in your emergency supplies and “what to do in a crisis”  

• sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts 

• follow advice from the local authorities 

• monitor local and international media for the latest information, including updates relating to airports and airspace which could close at short notice 

• stay away from areas around security or military facilities  

• keep your departure plans under review, and ensure your travel documents are up to date 

• if advised to take shelter, stay indoors or find the nearest safe building or designated shelter. An interior stairwell or a room with as few external walls or windows as possible may provide additional protection. The greatest risk is from falling debris caused by intercepts, and you are safest inside a secure structure. Do not approach or touch any drone or missile fragments or unusual objects

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

Follow FCDO:   

• travel advice on X
• travel advice on Facebook
• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences

Qatar is an Islamic country. Respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions. Make sure your actions do not cause offence, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or when visiting religious areas.

Religion

Religion is a sensitive topic in Qatar, approach any discussions with care. You could face imprisonment for defaming, desecrating, or committing blasphemy against Islam, Christianity or Judaism. Public worship and proselytising by non-Islamic faiths is illegal and can result in deportation or imprisonment.

Personal ID

You must always carry your passport as an official form of identification. A copy is usually acceptable, but in some situations you may have to produce the original at a police station within a specified time limit.

If you live in Qatar, your residence card is acceptable.

Dress code

Dress modestly in public, including while driving:

*men and women should cover their shoulders and knees * the dress code is strictly enforced in government buildings, healthcare facilities and banks - you may be asked to leave or be denied entry

Ramadan

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates change every year. Ramadan in Qatar in 2026 will likely start on 17 February and will last approximately 30 days. During this time, do not:

• eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in the daytime, including in your car
• play loud music or dance
• swear in public

Get more advice when you arrive from your tour guide, hotel or business contacts.

You should also:

• check opening hours of shops and restaurants
• be aware that if hotels and restaurants are providing food or drink in fasting hours, they may separate you from Islamic guests, for example with screens
• follow local dress codes – clothing that does not meet local dress codes may cause more offence at this time
• be aware that driving may be erratic, particularly when people are trying to get home at dusk
• be patient and show tolerance

Alcohol laws and bans

Only licensed hotels, restaurants and bars can sell alcohol. Expatriates living in Qatar can get alcohol on a permit system. Don’t carry alcohol around with you (except to take it on the day of collection from the warehouse to your home). The legal drinking age in Qatar is 21. Places serving alcohol will ask for original photo IDs (copies are not accepted) upon entry.

It is illegal to drink alcohol or be drunk in public. For example, if you drink in a non-licenced public place, you could get a prison sentence of up to 6 months or a fine up to 3,000 Qatari riyals.

Relationships outside marriage

Any intimacy in public, between any couples (including between teenagers), can lead to arrest.

Couples living together while unmarried is illegal in Qatar. Sex outside marriage is illegal for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. You can be arrested and punishments can include a fine, a custodial sentence and deportation once the sentence is complete.

Because of laws on sex outside marriage, if someone becomes pregnant outside marriage, both partners could face imprisonment or deportation. Doctors will ask for proof of marriage during antenatal checks.

An unmarried woman who gives birth in Qatar may also face problems registering the birth of the child in Qatar, and could be arrested, imprisoned or deported. To get a birth certificate from the Qatari authorities, you must provide a marriage certificate. Authorities may compare the marriage date against the estimated date of conception.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Qatar. See our information and advice page for the LGBT+ community before you travel.

Protests

Organisers of protests need to get permission from the Ministry of Interior. This must be done in advance and cannot be spontaneous.

Swearing and rude gestures

Swearing and making rude gestures are considered obscene acts. You can be jailed or deported. Take particular care when dealing with police and other officials.

Smoking and e-cigarette bans

Smoking is prohibited in all closed public spaces including educational institutions, healthcare facilities, public transport, malls, restaurants and government buildings.

It is illegal to vape or use an e-cigarette. Police can arrest you and courts can impose a fine, a prison sentence or deportation.

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

There is zero tolerance for drugs-related offences in Qatar. Some medications that are legal in other countries are illegal in Qatar. See guidance on medications that you can bring into Qatar.

Penalties for using, trafficking, smuggling and possessing drugs, including cannabis, (even residual amounts) are severe.

You should expect a long prison sentence, deportation and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport. 

Airports in Qatar have highly effective technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.

Using cameras, binoculars and drones

Be aware of cultural sensitivities when filming or photographing. Taking pictures and sharing any visual imagery of people without their consent can lead to imprisonment or a fine of up to 100,000 Qatari riyals.

Some visitors attempting to film or photograph near religious, military, government or construction sites have been arrested. If in doubt, seek permission.

Drone use, including aerial photography and filming, is regulated in Qatar. You may need licences or permits before importing or operating a drone. Breaching drone regulations may result in fines, imprisonment and confiscation of equipment.

Check the latest requirements with the relevant Qatari authorities before travelling.

Journalistic activity

Journalists must get permission from the Qatar News Agency (QNA) to film or photograph as part of their work and enter the country on a visiting press permit. Even with permission to film or photograph, you cannot capture or share imagery of individuals without their consent. This permit allows you to take technical equipment like cameras through airport customs.

Social media

There are strict privacy laws in Qatar. See the guidelines for using cameras and binoculars. Posting messages, videos or photos that appear to insult or slander people, or are culturally insensitive, may be considered a crime. Individuals have been detained, prosecuted and convicted for posting this type of material.

Financial crimes

Financial crimes include:

• fraud
• giving somebody a cheque which bounces (including post-dated and ‘security’ cheques)
• non-payment of bills (for example hotel bills or car hire)

You may also be liable for cheques that you have signed on behalf of a company.

Financial crimes can be punished with:

• imprisonment
• travel ban
• fines
• deportation
• freezing bank accounts and other assets
• seizing of any end-of-service benefits or bonuses 
• blocking your access to possible future sponsors (employers)

If you have unpaid loans or financial commitments you may be prevented from leaving Qatar.

See more details about financial crimes if you are living and working in Qatar.