Health insurance in Qatar.
Most visitors need a QAR 50 a month policy before Qatar issues a visa. The law covers expats too, but that part is still rolling out. Here are the rules.
The rules
What Qatar asks of you.
Checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Rules change, so the broker confirms them again before you apply.
- Law 22 of 2021: expats and visitors
The law makes basic health insurance mandatory for all expats and visitors. Employers must insure non-Qatari staff through registered insurers, and expats must insure family living with them.
Source: gulf-times.com - Visitors first, since February 2023
The mandatory visitor policy started in February 2023. Without insurance, visitors pay the full cost of treatment.
Source: moph.gov.qa - Expat phase: check with your employer
The ministry’s insurance pages still cover visitors only. Ask your employer what your staff plan covers, and for your family.
Source: moph.gov.qa - Visa before arrival: buy it first
If you need a visa before you travel, it is not issued until you buy a visitor policy.
Source: moph.gov.qa - Visa-free entry: 30 days without it
Visitors who enter visa-free don’t need a policy for the first 30 days. To stay longer, you must buy one.
Source: moph.gov.qa - QAR 50 a month, emergencies only
The visitor policy costs QAR 50 a month. It pays up to QAR 150,000 for emergencies and accidents in Qatar, with no co-pay.
Source: moph.gov.qa - International plans: strict rules
A foreign policy counts only if the insurer is on the ministry’s list, it covers Qatar for your whole stay, and pays QAR 150,000 for emergencies with no deductible.
Source: moph.gov.qa - Qatar only
The visitor policy does not cover other Gulf countries. On a single-entry visa, it ends when you leave Qatar.
Source: moph.gov.qa
Residents with a valid Qatar ID can get a health card for government health centres. The fee is QAR 100 for adult and child residents, and QAR 50 for domestic staff.
Source: phcc.gov.qaLocal or international
We compare both. You keep the one that fits.
The visitor policy must come from an insurer registered with the Ministry of Public Health, or an approved international insurer. An international plan works only if it meets the ministry’s rules.
- Local plans
Plans sold in Qatar. Often cheaper, sometimes required for your visa. Filed by a broker licensed in Qatar.
- International plans
Plans that cover you in Qatar and beyond, and stay with you if you move again. Filed by our international broker partner.
What it costs
Published prices in Qatar.
List prices from insurers and official schemes. Your quote depends on your age, health and the cover you pick.
- Visitor policy: QAR 50 a month
The basic visitor policy pays up to QAR 150,000 for emergencies and accidents in Qatar, with no co-pay.
Source: moph.gov.qa - PHCC health card: QAR 100
The fee for a new card for adult and child residents. Domestic staff pay QAR 50. Cards only, no cash.
Source: phcc.gov.qa
What to look for
Choosing a plan in Qatar.
Ankyro checks each of these on every plan, so you don’t have to read the fine print.
- Registered or approved insurer
Buy from an insurer registered with the ministry, or check your international insurer is on its approved list.
- No deductible
An international plan with a deductible or excess is not accepted for the visa. Check the policy wording.
- Single or multiple entry
On a single-entry visa, the policy ends when you leave. Multiple-entry visas need a multiple-entry policy.
- Top-ups
The basic policy covers emergencies only. Insurers sell top-ups for routine care if you need them.
Step by step
Getting covered in Qatar.
- 01Check how you enter Qatar. If you need a visa before arrival, buy the visitor policy first. Visa-free visitors need one only to stay past 30 days.
- 02Buy from a ministry-registered insurer. The visitor policy comes from an insurer registered with the Ministry of Public Health. An international plan works only if its insurer is on the ministry’s list and has no deductible.
- 03Match the policy to your visa type. A single-entry policy ends when you leave Qatar. A multiple-entry visa needs a multiple-entry policy.
- 04Once you have a Qatar ID, ask about your staff plan. Law 22 of 2021 makes employers insure non-Qatari staff. Ask what the plan covers for you and your family.
- 05Get a health card at your nearest PHCC centre. Bring your Qatar ID, a 4x3 cm photo, a utility bill showing your address and a bank card. You can also start the request in the Naraakom app.
Common mistakes
3 we see all the time.
- 01Using an international policy with a deductible. It is rejected for the visa.
- 02Staying past 30 days on visa-free entry without buying a policy.
- 03Expecting the visitor policy to pay in Dubai or another Gulf country. It covers Qatar only.
Real published prices, and the 6 things that move yours.
Questions
People also ask.
Is health insurance mandatory for visitors to Qatar?+
Yes, for visitors who need a visa before arrival, and for visa-free visitors who stay longer than 30 days. GCC citizens are exempt.
How much is visitor health insurance in Qatar?+
The basic visitor policy costs QAR 50 a month. It covers emergencies and accidents up to QAR 150,000.
Can I use my international health insurance for a Qatar visa?+
Yes, if the insurer is on the ministry’s approved list, the policy covers Qatar for your whole stay, and pays QAR 150,000 for emergencies with no deductible.
Do expats in Qatar need health insurance?+
Law 22 of 2021 says employers must insure non-Qatari staff. So far the ministry has rolled out the visitor policy only, so check what your employer provides.
Other countries
Going somewhere else?
Most UK visas don’t ask for private insurance. You pay a yearly surcharge instead, and it opens the NHS. Here is what the surcharge buys, and what you still pay for.
02AustraliaMost visitors can’t use Medicare, and many visas carry condition 8501. Here is what each visa asks for, who gets Medicare, and what to check.
03Dubai and the UAEIn Dubai, no insurance means no visa. Your employer covers you, but not always your family. Here are the rules, and what the basic plan leaves out.
04PhilippinesThe retiree visa asks for a medical certificate, not a policy. The new nomad visa does ask for cover. Here is what each visa needs, and how PhilHealth works for foreigners.
05NetherlandsIf you live or work in the Netherlands, Dutch basic insurance is the law. A few people are exempt. Here is who must sign up, by when, and what it costs in 2026.
06CanadaEach province runs its own health plan, and some make you wait. The super visa has strict insurance rules. Here is how Ontario and BC differ, and what the super visa needs.
07Saudi ArabiaIn Saudi Arabia, no insurance means no iqama. Your employer pays for you and your family, and visitors need a policy too. Here is who pays, and what each policy covers.
08JapanIf you live in Japan, joining public insurance is the law. A private plan can only sit on top. Digital nomads are the exception.
09GermanyEveryone in Germany must be insured, and a residence permit needs cover equal to the public system. Here is how to choose, and what gets rejected.
10SingaporeThe national plan is for citizens and PRs. Hospital bills for foreigners are high, and families are often left out. Here is what to check.
11ThailandRetirement visas have hard minimums, the DTV has none, and public care is not free for foreigners. Here are the rules, and what to check.
12SpainSpain has the strictest visa insurance rules in Europe: a Spanish-authorised insurer, no co-pays, no waiting periods. Here is what passes.
13MalaysiaPublic hospitals charge foreigners full price, and work schemes only cover injuries at work. Here is what each pass asks for, and what to check.
15FranceThe public system is open to residents, but not on day 1 if you don’t work, and it only pays part of each bill. Here is how to cover the gaps.
16PortugalThe visa asks for travel medical cover. The public system opens once you are a resident. In between, and after, here is what to check.
17MexicoNo visa asks for it, so many expats skip it. Then a private hospital asks for payment first. Here is how cover really works in Mexico.
18ItalyWorkers join the public system for free. Retirees and nomads need private cover for the visa, then pay at least €2,000 a year to join. Here are the rules.
19South KoreaStay more than 6 months and you must join the national plan. Before that, and for your share of each bill, you need your own cover.
20VietnamOnly long local contracts come with public cover, and most expats use private hospitals anyway. Here is what the rules say, and what to check.
21Bali and IndonesiaMost Indonesian visas don’t ask for insurance. But hospitals ask for payment first, and serious cases fly to Singapore. Here is what to check.
22GreeceThe consulate takes travel cover for the visa. The residence permit then asks for full health cover. If you don’t work for a Greek employer, that means a private plan.
23ColombiaNomads and retirees need a private policy with exact wording. Residents who work must join the public EPS system. Here are the rules.
24Costa RicaResidents must pay into the Caja, whatever private plan they have. Nomads need their own cover for the visa. Here is how it fits together.
25USAThe US has no public plan you can simply join. Some visas set minimum cover. Others leave it to you. Here is what a J-1 needs, who can use the Marketplace, and what plans cost.
26SwitzerlandBasic health insurance is compulsory for everyone who lives in Switzerland. You have 3 months to sign up. Here is how it works, and what to check.
27IrelandNon-EEA students must hold private medical insurance. Everyone else gets public care once they count as living in Ireland for 1 year. Here is what to check.
28Dominican RepublicThe residence visas for retirees and rentistas ask for a medical certificate, not an insurance policy. Public care is limited. Private care is good but costly.
29New ZealandStudent visas require insurance. A work visa of 2 years or more may open public health care. ACC covers accident injuries. Here is what to check.
30IsraelIn Israel, the public system is for residents. If your life is centred there, you join a health fund (kupat holim). If not, you need private cover.
31Hong KongPublic hospitals in Hong Kong are cheap for eligible persons. Many foreigners are not on that list. Here is who is, what the rest pay, and what to check in a plan.
32ChinaIf you work in China on an employment permit, your employer must enrol you in social insurance. That includes basic medical cover. Here is how it works, and what to check on top.
33ArgentinaEmergency care is open to everyone. For other care at national hospitals, foreigners without permanent residence must show insurance or pay first. The rules are new, so check them.
34IndiaWe found no official rule that ties health insurance to an Indian work visa. We also could not confirm a public scheme for foreign residents. So the plan is yours to choose. Here is what to check.
35TurkeyA residence permit application needs valid health insurance for the whole permit. Most new expats buy a private policy. The public SGK system opens later, after 1 year of residence.
36BrazilThe digital nomad visa needs health insurance valid in Brazil. The public system is open to migrants by law. Many expats add a private plan for speed.
37PanamaThe Pensionado visa asks for a health certificate, not an insurance policy. The public system is tied to the Caja. Private care is the main option for most expats.
38South AfricaStudy and exchange visas ask for proof of cover from a registered medical scheme. Public clinics offer free primary care. Here is what to check.
39KenyaKenya’s public fund is run by the Social Health Authority (SHA). A foreigner who lives in Kenya for more than 12 months pays into it. Shorter stays need travel health insurance instead.
40TaiwanTaiwan has one national health insurance. Foreigners with a residence certificate can join. If you have a job, you join through your employer. If not, there is a wait.