Qatar: Employers Now Required to Provide Health Insurance for Employees and Mandatory Insurance for Visitors
October 12, 2022
The government of Qatar issued a new regulation, effective immediately, which requires employers to obtain minimum basic health insurance from an approved Qatari insurer for all employees, including their eligible dependent family members (i.e., spouses and up to three children below the age of 18). Additional insurance, beyond the required minimum, is optional. Employers who do not provide the required health insurance coverage will not be allowed to obtain new work residence permits or renew existing permits. Further, noncompliant employers, including those who pass on the costs of the health insurance premium onto employees (or their dependents), may be subject to a fine of up to QAR 30,000 for each affected employee. Additionally, the legislation specifies that foreign nationals traveling to Qatar as visitors must provide proof of health insurance valid in Qatar covering their entire visit. These individuals may purchase a premium through one of the approved insurers in Qatar (at a cost of QAR 50 per month) or use their international insurance, provided it covers Qatar. These new requirements supplement the health insurance law the Qatari government announced last year.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
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