It is unusual that this insurance must be purchased from a list of specific insurance providers that are all based in Qatar or the Gulf region. This means that Australian and most other international travel insurance policies would not satisfy this visa requirement, even if they provide comprehensive coverage for travel to Qatar. What’s more, the new policy requires travelers to purchase insurance from a pre-approved list of providers, making it a unique requirement in the world of travel.
The mandatory travel insurance covers emergency medical treatment, COVID-19 (including quarantine costs if you test positive), and repatriation costs for a period of 30 days. The cost of this insurance is QAR50 (approximately AU$20) and can be purchased on arrival in Qatar, though the Qatari government strongly advises travelers to purchase the insurance in advance.
Passengers merely transiting through Doha without leaving the airport are exempt from this new policy. However, it is worth noting that TIMATIC now lists the travel insurance requirement, but does not specifically mention that this can be obtained on arrival, so there is a possibility that some airlines could erroneously deny boarding to passengers who don’t have this insurance.
Overall, while it is not uncommon for countries to make travel insurance a visa requirement, Qatar's new policy is unique in that it requires insurance to be purchased from a list of specific insurance providers that are all based in Qatar or the Gulf region. Therefore, it is important for travelers to be aware of this new requirement and ensure they have the necessary insurance coverage from a pre-approved provider before their trip to Qatar.
