Introduction
Qatar has become a popular stopover and destination, with most visitors arriving through Doha and spending time in Doha. At the same time, a mandatory health insurance system for foreigners is in place, and arriving without a valid policy can mean denied boarding or entry.
It is important to distinguish between Qatar’s mandatory visitor health insurance and an additional international travel policy.
This guide explains who needs which type of insurance for Qatar, how the system works, what it costs and how to combine local and international coverage in a smart way.
Key Takeaways
- Qatar operates a Mandatory Visitor Health Insurance scheme for most foreign visitors – insurance is usually checked during visa processing or at the border.
- The basic mandatory policy mainly covers emergencies and accidents, with a typical medical limit around 150,000 QAR.
- The fixed government-approved price for the standard visitor policy is about 50 QAR for 30 days, bought from Ministry of Public Health–approved insurers.
- Even with the mandatory Qatari policy, it is highly advisable to purchase an additional international travel insurance plan with higher limits, evacuation and trip cancellation.
- Activities like dune bashing, desert safaris and water sports often require extended sports coverage and explicit rescue benefits.
- Extra international insurance typically costs about 4–8% of your total trip cost – for a 7–10 day trip to Qatar this often means roughly 20–60 USD per person.
- Travelling without insurance or relying only on a minimal local policy exposes you to significant financial risk, given Qatar’s healthcare and service prices.
Is Insurance Required to Enter Qatar?
For most foreign nationals, health insurance is effectively required to enter Qatar.
Key points:
- For visas issued in advance (visit visas, some work and business visas), having a compliant health policy is a formal requirement during the application or extension process.
- For many tourists entering on a visa or visa-waiver on arrival, Qatar expects them to hold a policy from an insurer approved by the Ministry of Public Health – airlines and border officers may check this.
- In the past, some short stays under 30 days for certain nationalities had limited exemptions, but rules are updated regularly and carriers increasingly expect passengers to be insured.
In practice, planning a trip to Qatar without any insurance is not realistic – even if an exemption technically exists, the risk and responsibility remain with the traveller.
Mandatory Visitor Health Insurance Scheme
Qatar runs a Mandatory Visitor Health Insurance (MVHI) scheme for visitors.
What to know:
- The policy is purchased from insurance companies registered and approved by Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health.
- A typical basic visitor policy:
- covers emergency and accident-related treatment only;
- has an overall medical limit around 150,000 QAR;
- includes medical evacuation back to the country of residence with a separate sublimit;
- provides COVID-19 coverage and quarantine benefits within specified limits.
- The standard government-set price is about 50 QAR for 30 days of coverage.
- The policy is valid only within Qatar and only for the services and facilities stipulated in the policy terms.
- Coverage is linked to your visa: if you extend your stay, you must extend your insurance as well.
If you already have a foreign health policy, it must still meet Qatar’s rules: explicitly cover Qatar, remain valid for the entire stay and be issued by a company recognized or accepted by Qatari authorities.
Extra Travel Insurance on Top of the Mandatory Policy
Qatar’s mandatory visitor insurance is a minimum package focused on emergencies. It does not cover many common travel risks.
Typically, the basic MVHI does not cover:
- trip cancellation or curtailment;
- lost, stolen or delayed baggage;
- personal liability to third parties;
- a broad range of non-emergency or outpatient care;
- many high-risk or adventure activities.
This is why it is wise to add a separate international travel insurance policy:
- with higher medical limits (from 50,000–100,000 USD or more);
- including medical evacuation and repatriation home;
- with zero or low deductibles;
- with trip cancellation, interruption and baggage cover;
- with a sports/activities add-on for desert safaris, quad/buggy tours, water sports and similar.
The mandatory Qatari policy keeps you compliant with local law, while the international policy protects you against the full spectrum of travel risks.
Qatar-Specific Risks: Heat, Driving and Activities
Qatar’s hot climate and popular activities affect which insurance coverage you need.
Consider:
- Heat and sun exposure – your policy should cover acute conditions caused or worsened by heat such as sunstroke, dehydration and complications of chronic illnesses.
- Desert safaris and dune bashing – often classified as higher-risk activities and sometimes excluded from basic policies unless a sports add-on is purchased.
- Water sports (boat trips, kayaking, kitesurfing, diving) – may require specific sports coverage.
- Car rental – it helps to have strong medical coverage plus liability protection if you plan to drive outside central Doha.
- Family trips with children – even minor health issues can lead to costly visits, so generous medical limits are a sensible choice.
What Kind of Policy Do You Need for Qatar?
A sensible set-up combines:
- Mandatory Qatari visitor policy (MVHI)
- Covers emergencies and accidents within Qatar.
- Medical limit around 150,000 QAR, with sublimits for evacuation and COVID-19.
- Priced at about 50 QAR for each 30-day period and purchased from approved local insurers.
- Additional international travel insurance
Recommended features:- at least 50,000–100,000 USD medical coverage per person;
- medical evacuation and repatriation benefits;
- zero or low excess (deductible), such as 10–50 USD;
- trip cancellation, interruption, delay and baggage cover;
- explicit coverage for desert and water activities when relevant.
Together these policies keep you compliant at the border and properly protected throughout your trip.
Prices (Updated: November 2025)
Figures below are indicative – actual premiums will vary by insurer, age and trip details.
Insurance
- Mandatory visitor health insurance (MVHI): about 50 QAR for 30 days of coverage at the standard government-set rate.
- Additional international travel insurance: usually 4–8% of your total trip cost. For a typical 7–10 day trip to Qatar, this often falls around 20–60 USD per person for solid medical coverage.
Typical on-the-ground costs in Qatar
- Meal at an inexpensive restaurant – about 4–17 USD per person.
- Cappuccino – roughly 1.5–8 USD.
- One-way ticket on local public transport – around 0.6–1.4 USD.
- Taxi start – about 2–4 USD, and 1.4–4 USD per km.
Compared to these prices, paying a bit more for robust insurance is a relatively small extra cost for significantly reduced risk.
Recommended Insurance for Qatar
The most practical approach is to combine the mandatory Qatari policy with a flexible international plan.
As your international policy, it is convenient to use a travel insurance plan from EKTA:
- focused on travel medical insurance suitable for Gulf destinations;
- lets you choose medical limits from 50,000 USD and up, including evacuation;
- offers options for trip cancellation, delays and baggage;
- is arranged fully online, with the policy sent instantly by e-mail as a PDF.
Best practice when buying:
- select a coverage region that includes Qatar (and neighbouring countries if you have a multi-country itinerary);
- set dates that fully cover your stay, with a one-day buffer on each side;
- add sports/activities modules for desert safaris, buggies and water sports where needed;
- double-check that emergency hospitalisation and repatriation are explicitly included.
Remember that an international policy from EKTA supplements Qatar’s MVHI – it does not replace the mandatory local scheme, which must still be fulfilled via an approved Qatari insurer.
Tips
- Check current insurance requirements on official Qatari and airline sites before booking flights.
- Buy the mandatory visitor policy as part of the visa process or before flying to avoid issues at check-in.
- Keep digital and printed copies of both your Qatari and international policies.
- Save the 24/7 emergency contact numbers for both your local and international insurers.
- If planning higher-risk activities, confirm in advance that they are covered, and add sports options when needed.
- Frequent travellers should consider an annual multi-trip policy plus local MVHI coverage for each entry.
- If you have chronic conditions, clarify in writing how emergencies related to them are handled under both policies.
FAQ
Do I really need insurance if I am only visiting Qatar for a couple of days?
Yes, in most cases you should still have at least the mandatory visitor policy, and in practice airlines or border staff may ask for proof. Even for short trips, combining a basic MVHI policy with a simple international plan is the safest option.
Can I enter Qatar with only my foreign travel insurance and no local policy?
Generally no – Qatar expects visitors to hold a policy that meets local requirements and is issued or recognised by approved insurers. In practice, it is usually easiest to buy the standard MVHI for 50 QAR and then add a separate international plan.
Does the mandatory visitor insurance cover COVID-19?
Yes, standard visitor policies include COVID-19 treatment and related costs such as hospitalisation and sometimes quarantine, within specific sublimits. Exact amounts depend on the chosen insurer.
Do I need special coverage for dune bashing, desert safaris and water sports?
Often yes. These activities are frequently treated as higher-risk and may be excluded from basic coverage. Look for a sports or adventure activities add-on in your international policy and check the list of covered activities carefully.
What should I do in an emergency in Qatar?
Contact your insurer’s emergency assistance line (local and/or international) as soon as possible. They will direct you to appropriate facilities and explain documentation requirements. Keep all receipts, medical reports and discharge summaries for your claim.
Can I get a refund for the mandatory policy if my trip is cancelled?
Refunds are generally not possible once coverage has started. Some insurers may allow partial or full refunds if your visa is cancelled before you enter Qatar; conditions depend on the insurer and local regulations.
Is an annual travel policy enough if I visit Qatar and the region often?
An annual multi-trip policy is very useful for frequent travellers, but it does not replace Qatar’s MVHI. You will still need to comply with the local mandatory insurance rules for each visit, while the annual plan provides broader global protection.
Recommended Services
- eSIM → Airalo / Ubigi / Yesim / Esim4travel / Saily / GoMoWorld / Voye / iRoamly
- VPN → NordVPN / Proton VPN / Surfshark
- Tours → Get Your Guide / Viator
- Transfers → Kiwitaxi / Welcome Pickups
- Car rental → Localrent / Economybookings
- Insurance → EKTA
Summary
For Qatar, health insurance is not just a formality – it is built into the entry rules. The mandatory visitor policy satisfies legal requirements and protects you in emergencies, but it leaves gaps for cancellations, baggage and many higher-risk activities.
The safest strategy is to treat the local MVHI policy as a baseline and build on it with a robust international plan from a dedicated provider such as EKTA, giving you higher medical limits, evacuation and full travel protection throughout your stay.