If you are planning international travel by air, there is a chance you may require a COVID-19 PCR test for entry to your destination. Passengers to certain countries may be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result as a part of the entry requirements.
This article explains the procedure for getting an RT PCR test in Qatar. Also, you can see a list of private clinics and hospitals offering this service, the cost of PCR tests in Qatar, and the documents required for testing.
A COVID-19 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test is performed to detect genetic material from a specific organism, such as a virus. The test is used to directly detect the presence of an antigen and will show if a person has COVID-19.
1. COVID-19 Testing at Government Clinics
Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has stopped the provision of COVID-19 PCR swabs for people travelling abroad. Private sector hospitals will provide all COVID-19 PCR swabs for people travelling abroad.
2. COVID-19 Testing at Sidra Medicine
According to Sidra Medicine’s website, travel-related COVID-19 PCR testing is no longer offered at Sidra Medicine.
3. COVID-19 Testing at Private Clinics
How To Do PCR Test in Qatar for Travel
Step 1: Call the hospital or clinic to fix an appointment
Most private clinics in Qatar require you to call and make an appointment for an RT-PCR test. The clinic staff would give you an appointment depending on your travel date. Walk-in tokens are also available in some clinics but are not guaranteed.
Step 2: Visit the clinic with the required documents
The documents required for the RT PCR test in Qatar for travel are your Passport, Qatar ID, and a copy of the Flight Ticket.
Step 3: Go to the reception, take a token number and pay the fees
The Ministry has fixed the maximum fee for PCR testing at private clinics as QR 160, effective from 4th October 2021.
| Type of Test | Cost Per Test |
| PCR Test | QR 160 |
| Rapid Antigen | QR 50 |
| Serology Antibody test (point of care) | QR 50 |
Step 4: The medical staff will collect the swab and send it for testing
The staff will ask a few verification questions before swab collection. Then they would collect the swab from your nose and/or throat.
Swab collection involves inserting a long stick that looks like cotton buds into your nose and/or mouth. The swabs are then taken away securely for laboratory testing.
Usually private centres collect the swab and send it to Hamad Medical Corporation laboratories for testing.
Step 5: You will receive an SMS with the test result
You will receive an SMS after the swab is received and testing is done. Usually, the test result is available within 24-48 hours. Note that while you are awaiting the test results, your Ehteraz app may be showing grey colour.
If you are tested positive, you will be moved to an isolation facility or a designated treatment centre or instructed to do home quarantine depending on your symptoms.
If you are tested positive, the colour on your Ehteraz app would turn red. If the test result is negative the colour would change from grey to green.
Step 6: Collect the test certificate as advised by the clinic
In most cases, you can visit the clinic the next day to collect the test result certificate. Please ensure that the details on the test report (like your name, date of birth, date of the test, etc. are correct to avoid any issues during travel).
As per the protocol from HMC, a softcopy of the test result will not be considered a valid document. So you need to collect the hard copy from the concerned clinic.
Approved Covid Test Centers in Qatar
You can find a list of approved COVID test centers on the MOPH website.
4. Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT)
Private Medical Facilities: Rapid antigen tests are offered at over one hundred private hospitals and clinics across Qatar, priced at QR50 per test. Typically, results are available within 15 minutes of testing.
Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC): All 28 PHCC health centers provide rapid antigen tests. Results are delivered via SMS within two hours of testing, and the results are updated in the Ehteraz app.
5. Self-Testing With Rapid Antigen Kits
You can find self-testing rapid antigen kits at authorized pharmacies and Al Meera hypermarkets all over Qatar, priced at a maximum of QR35 each. Here’s when to use them:
- If you have mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms, you can use these kits to check if you’re infected.
- Even if you don’t have symptoms but were in close contact with someone who tested positive, these kits can help you detect the virus early.
- Planning to visit a vulnerable friend or family member? Take a test beforehand to make sure you’re not carrying the virus.
- Before attending any social gatherings, use these tests to confirm your COVID-19 status and keep yourself and others safe.
With these self-testing kits, you can quickly and easily monitor your COVID-19 status in various situations, helping to prevent the spread of the virus.
At the Airport
If you are travelling to a country or using an airline that needs a pre-travel COVID-19 test, your airline will verify this information at check-in and retain a copy of the test result. Please have additional copies of the test result available with you for submission at departure and arrival airports.
In addition to a negative RT-PCR test result, many countries worldwide have specific regulations in place for arriving and departing passengers to limit the spread of COVID-19. Please ensure you understand how all these travel requirements affect you when planning your trip.
Dedicated COVID-19 Hotline
Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has a dedicated COVID-19 hotline 16000 to answer public queries regarding the disease. The Ministry urges individuals who display symptoms of COVID-19 to quickly contact the helpline.
The toll-free hotline is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is available in Arabic and English.
FAQ on Pre-Travel PCR Test in Qatar
Related Posts:
- How To Get Hamad Health Card in Qatar
- How To Renew Qatar Hamad Health Card Online
- How To Register For COVID-19 Vaccination in Qatar
- Guide To Tawtheeq National Authentication System
- How To Get Golden Frame on Ehteraz App
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One of my friend going to travel to Nepal tomorrow at 7:30 am he has done PCR by 1 January 7:30 pm but until now he didn’t get report and they said come tomorrow morning by 8:00 am the problem is he has ticket already.. plz need useful support…thank you
Hi Rajesh, Unfortunately, all testing centres are busy nowadays and it is taking up to 3 days for results. Many travellers had to cancel or reschedule flights due to this.
He has Qatar Airways…what next
Hi,
I’m planned to travel to India on Jan 5th but my RTPCR result is positive now, so when I can take the next test for travel?
Is it any possibility to get negative result on after 14 Days Quarantine??
Hi Shahid, You can test after 10 days quarantine.
Hi
I’m in Doha for 14 hours and I’m going out into Doha for the day.
I’ll have a valid RT-PCR from Australia when I arrive, however, I have read that I cannot use the same RT-PCR test in Dubai, my final destination.
Is there a fast turnaround RT-PCR testing facility in Doha (airport?) that I can use at Dubai immigration ?
Appreciate your thoughts.
Lorna
In airport not possible. And fastest where you can do PCR test for traveling ONLY Sidra hospital. You have to book and pay online in advance , no walk in. Less than 3 hours 660 QR ( approximately 200 $ ), 6-8 hours 300 QR and 24 hours 160 QR.
I need pcr test travel result withen6-8hrs
Hi Ahmad Abuajineh, For the fastest test result you have to go to Sidra. Please check if they can provide result in 8 hours.
Hi Lorna, As per the HIA website, PCR tests are currently not offered to transiting passengers until further notice. Please double-check if you can use the same result in Dubai.
hello,
we have plan to travel from finland to the philippines and be transiting Doha is their a need to have pt-pcr test when transiting Doha? Our plan is by January next year please help because in Philippine they don`t need one because they will swab at the airport upon arrival.
Hi Marlinda, Normally it is not needed for transit passengers. But, please check with your airline if pre-travel RT-PCR is required in your case.
From which website should I register online PCR to go from Sri Lanka to Qatar?
I am staying in Hotel Dusit Doha. I am travelling to US after a few days. Is there any lab which can collect the swab for PCR test before travel ? I don’t have local sim. Is it necessary to have a lical SIM card for the test? Kindly inform/ advise
Hello there,
My wife is travelling to Doha on August 13 from India and she will be quarantine for 10 days. She has her flight from Doha to canada on August 24 at 1:40am. She needs to get tested prior to boarding her flight on Aug 24 and she will be out of quarantine on Aug 23 around 12 in noon. Is it anyhow possible that any private clinic can come to quarantine facility to take her test sample for RT PCR so that she can have her result on time as she will not be able to leave hospital before 10 days period and she will only have 13 bourse time window after being discharged from quarantine facility. Can someone please help us out ? Much appreciated. Thank you.
What are the payment options available in Qatar? How can I pay for RT PCR test and other expenses in Qatar?
I am planning to take Thomas Cook forex card is that acceptable in most off the hotel and hospitals?
Is there any RT-PCR collecting clinic on Doha airport. as I’m a international student and I’m going to Canada via Qatar.
Hi Chintan, As per HIA website PCR tests are currently not offered to transiting passengers until further notice.
I have booked for a RT-PCR test at Sidra to travel to Geirgia. Now rules have changed and fully vaccinated passengers do not need a test. Will my money be reimbursed ?
If I am a passenger transiting via Qatar and the destination country makes it mandatory to do a pre-departure PCR test, how to handle the situation? Do they have facility at the airport to enable transit passengers to get test done before taking their flight out?
Any place to do the test and collect with in 24 hours.i am transiting to a another airline and they need pcr test before 72 hours.for that i need to take the test report at least within 36 hours
Hi Anju, Yes, it may be possible if you can do the test early morning. Please call the clinics directly to check.
I have done 2 rtpcr test but the result is reactive. Last 14 days I am in alone for quarantine. Now ethiraz color also change. Next what?
Hi Chitharanjandas, Please call 107 to check this.
In Qatar what’s the PCR test available?
Hi Issa, PCR test can be done from any private clinic in the above list. Now the standard rate is QR 300 at all clinics.
I recently did a PCR Swab test, but I was also chewing gum. I asked the staff member whether the chewing gum will affect the test, he said that he didn’t know. I am flying on the 12th. I am also fully vaccinated. Should I be worried? Will the result be invalid? I am afraid that I will not be able to fly.
Hello team, if I am flying 14th in the morning when do i have to do test? 12th in the morning or earlier? As I understood ehteraz will change colour, without green ehteraz i cant enter Airport and how many hours will take to change to green. what about certificate- 72 hours will be counted after we got certificate or from time when we did the test?
thank you very much
P.S. earlier then 12th morning my certificate will be expired when i will arrive to designated country.
Hello Emir, For almost all countries, the test must be conducted within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of your last direct flight (please confirm with your destination country’s immigration or airline website). It means that if your flight is at 6 am on 14th April, you can do the test after 6 am on 11th April. You can do it on the 12th also but note that the test result will take 24 hours (on average). So it is better to do it as early as possible but within the 72-hour frame. 72 hours will be counted from the time you took the test.
I don’t have the Health card, but i applied on Nar’aakom site, got my health card number online.
If I want to do PCR test where i have to go.
Does this health card number work without printing the health card.
Hi Saurabh, The health card number would be fine. But please note that PHCC has stopped doing PCR Tests for travel. Now you can do it only at private clinics. Please read the updated article above.
hii is that all the traveler need to be done with pcr test ?? or just some destination need showing pcr test
if the test exeeds 72 hours what will do
Hi Mashhod, You have to do the test 72 hours before travel. The test result is usually available within 24 hours.
I dnt have health card and i have only health card number which they gave me while taking vaccine after paying 100riyal
I am traveling this month i need pcr test so can they will allow me to do free pcr test after showing them my health card number.. reply please
We just called 107 to inquire about an appt (Saturday, March 20 at 7:50 PM). The person who answered said they do not make appointments for the PCR test and that you have to walk in for the testing?? How do we confirm what is the actual process?
Hi Darcy, Sorry to hear that. Did the operator ask you about your health card or health centre?