Smartraveller’s warning for the FIFA World Cup

In anticipation of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, Smartraveller has released a series of tips and warnings for travellers heading to Qatar.

To enter Qatar for the World Cup, travellers must:

• have a valid passport with an expiry date more than six months after your planned departure date
• have World Cup tickets
• have an approved Hayya Card and download the Hayya app on your smartphone
• have accommodation booked and validated through the Hayya portal
• get travel insurance
• have your return flight booked before you arrive.

To enter Qatar during the World Cup travellers must have an approved Hayya Card. Hayya Cards can be used for entry to Qatar until 23 January 2023. Standard visas won’t be issued for Qatar until after 22 December.

Travellers have also been advised to check the FIFA website for ticket information and only purchase match tickets from official providers. Match tickets bought through unofficial means may not be valid.

Smartraveller also noted that some countries in the region only accept Australian emergency passports for travel to Australia or for transit. If travellers lose their passport in Qatar, they may not be able to travel in the region and will have to return to Australia.

To do before take-off

Smartraveller has advised that travellers do the following before take-off:

• Read the travel advice for Qatar to understand the local safety risks. The local situation may not be the same as in Australia.
• Understand the local laws and customs.
• Subscribe to receive travel alerts and updates for Qatar and surrounding regions.
• Follow Smartraveller on Facebook and Twitter.
• Follow local government and organisation webpages and social media.
• Travellers should save important numbers to their phone:
  • the emergency phone number in Qatar is 999
  • the number for the Australian Embassy in Doha is (+974) 4007 8500
  • the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre number is (+61) 2 6261 3305
  • travel insurance provider’s 24-hour call centre number.
• Make copies of travel documents and keep them in a safe place separate from official documents.
• Give loved ones an itinerary and the contact number of your accommodation.
• Consider using a VPN as some apps don’t work in Qatar on the local internet.
• Download maps of Qatar to phones so they can still be used if offline.

If day-tripping to the matches from outside Qatar, travellers have been advised to read the travel advice for the destination they’re staying in.