The procedures of accrediting the heads of diplomatic missions

  • The embassy advises the Department of Protocol of its nomination of the head of the mission.
  • The Department of Protocol takes the needed actions.
  • The Department of Protocol notifies the embassy of the taken decision.
  • The embassy notifies the Department of Protocol of the date and timing of the arrival of the head of the mission.

 

The arrival of the heads of diplomatic missions and the presentation of their credentials

  • The director of the Department of Protocol or whom he/she may deputize receives the ambassador as soon as he/she arrives for the first time in the country.
  • The Department of Protocol shall be notified by a letter from the embassy of the arrival of the head of the mission so that the required arrangements can be made to specify a ate for the presentation of a copy of his/her credentials to HE the Minister of Foreign Affairs or to whom HE may deputize, and assign another date for the presentation of the original credentials to HH the Emir.
  • Delivering a copy of the credentials: in case of an appointment to deliver a copy of the credentials was set, the embassy shall be notified thereof, and HE the ambassador shall be received by HE the director of the Protocol Department at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the specified date. The director of the Protocol Department shall lead the ambassador to the right office.
  • Delivering the original credentials: In case of an appointment to deliver the original credentials is set, the embassy shall be notified thereof, all required actions shall be taken with competent authorities and HE the ambassador shall be contacted by an employee at the Department of Protocol to make the required preparations and take the ambassador from his/her residence or the embassy to the Emiri Diwan (where to submit the credentials) and where he /she shall be received by the director of the Department of Protocol, who shall lead him/her to submit the original credentials and explain to  him/her, her all the logistical arrangements in accordance with protocol.

 

Departure and end of tenure of the head of the diplomatic mission

  • The Department of Protocol shall be notified by a letter of the end of tenure of the head of the mission and of his/her date of departure.
  • The Department of Protocol makes the required arrangements to specify an appointment of audience for the ambassador with HH the Emir on the occasion of the end of tenure of the ambassador.
  • The Department of Protocol organizes a farewell ceremony hosted by HE the Minister or whom he/she may deputize in honor of the ambassador and invites all the diplomatic missions accredited to the country for the ceremony after specifying for them the venue and time of the event.

 

The procedures of accrediting the diplomatic attaches (military, medical, cultural, commercial….etc)

  • The Department of Protocol shall be notified of the request for the accreditation of the attaché.
  • The Department of Protocol addresses the competent authority.
  • The competent authority notifies the Department of Protocol of the result.
  • The Department of Protocol notifies the concerned embassy in Qatar and Qatar's embassy in the home country of the concerned embassy of the approval.

 

The staff of the diplomatic mission and their family members

  • The Department of Protocol shall be contacted to issue entry visas for the staff of the diplomatic mission.
  • The Department of Protocol addresses the relevant authority.
  • The embassy follows up the procedures.
  • In case the embassy employs a local staff, it notifies the Department of Protocol thereof, and the latter addresses the competent authorities to finalize the procedures.
  • Diplomatic ID cards shall be issued for the diplomats and their family members.
  • Administrative cards are issued to local employees who hold Special and Service Passports by the Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As for the local employees who hold ordinary passports, the cards will be issued to them by the General Directorate of Passports and the Ministry of Interior. The procedures shall be carried out through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Entry visas to Qatar

  1. In case of official visits the visiting delegations shall be granted free visas through:
    • The embassy of the State of Qatar in the concerned country;
    • The relevant authorities in the state of Qatar, or
    • At the arrival of the delegation in the airport.
  2. In case that the embassy wishes to issue a visa for a diplomat to visit Qatar:
    • The embassy addresses the Department of Protocol regarding the reason of the visit and supplies the data and a copy of the passport (if possible) of the concerned diplomat;
    • The Department of Protocol addresses the relevant authority; and
    • The embassy follows up and finalizes the procedures.

Exemption from customs duties

A- Purchasing commodities and services in Qatar:
No exemption from customs duties is granted for commodities and services purchase in Qatar.
B- Purchasing commodities and services from outside Qatar:

Customs Law No (04) of 2002 on Diplomatic Exemptions stipulates to the following:

  • Article (98): Exemption from custom duties, on condition of reciprocity, shall be for what is delivered for the diplomatic and consular agencies, international organizations, heads and members of the diplomatic and consular corps accredited to the State, in accordance with international conventional conventions, laws and resolutions that apply.
  • Article (99): It is not permissible to dispose of the goods exempted under the preceding Article in a manner that is opposing to the purpose of its exemption or waiver, except after notifying the authority and paying the customs duties due thereon.
  • Article (101): the right of exemption for persons benefiting therefrom under Article (98) of this Law shall be effective as of the date of their employment at their official workplace in the State.

Commodities and services purchased outside Qatar are exempted from customs duties only in favor of the embassy and diplomats (in accordance with the principle of reciprocity), in the following way:

  • The embassy addresses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the Department of Protocol) regarding the facilitation of commodities entry and presentation of the required official documents.
  • The Department of Protocol addresses the competent authorities to facilitate the entry of the commodities and the exemption thereof from customs duties.
  • The embassy contacts the competent authorities to finalize the procedures.
C- Importing and Transporting personal effects and household items:

Personal effects and household items imported or transported from abroad to the embassy and diplomats in Qatar are exempted from customs duties only in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, as follows:

  • The Embassy addresses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs(the Department of Protocol) regarding the facilitation of entry of personal effects and household items and the presentation of the required official documents.
  • The Department of Protocol addresses the competent authorities regarding the facilitation of entry of these items and the exemption thereof from customs duties.
  • The embassy follows up with the competent authorities to finalize the procedures.

 

Automobiles

A- Purchasing automobiles inside Qatar:

  • The Embassy addresses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the Department of Protocol) and attaches a (Vehicle Registration Plate) request form.
  • The Department of Protocol addresses the competent authorities to finalize the procedure after fulfilling all the requirements of these authorities.
  • The embassy follows up with the competent authorities to finalize the procedures.

B- Purchasing automobiles abroad and the conditions of importing them to Qatar:

  • The embassy addresses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the Department of Protocol) and attaches the official form.
  • The Department of Protocol addresses the competent authorities to finalize the procedures and facilitates the entry of the vehicle after fulfilling all the required conditions.
  • The embassy contacts the competent authorities to finalize the procedures.

Article (10) of the Customs Law No. (40) of 2002 reads: the vehicle exempted in accordance with the provisions of Article (98) of this Law shall not be disposed of before the elapse of three years from the date of its exemption, except in the following cases:

  • End of the mission of the diplomatic or consular member benefiting from the exemption in the State.
  • A damage occurring to the car as a result of an accident after exemption which makes it unsuitable for the use of the diplomatic or consular member-relevant and the relevant Ministry's Department.
  • Selling from one diplomatic or consular member to another member, in such a case the assignee should be entitled to exemption.

 

Diplomatic Pouch

  • Notifying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the Department of Protocol), issuing a letter facilitate the entry of diplomatic pouch into the embassy, presenting the required official documents.
  • The Department of Protocol addresses the concerned authorities to facilitate the entry of the pouch and exemption thereof from customs duties in accordance with Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
  • The embassy contacts the competent authorities to finalize the procedures.

 

THE LOCATION OF THE MISSION AND THE ACCOMMODATION OF THE AMBASSADOR

  • The embassy decides the Location of the mission and the residence of the ambassador (at its sole discretion).
  • The Department of Protocol shall be notified of the details of the two places.
  • The Department of Protocol addresses the competent authorities thereof and notifies the embassy of the result.

The Airport has a number of lounges: Emiri Lounge, Ministerial Lounge, VIP Lounge.

 

The VIP Lounge

A- Head of diplomatic mission and his/her family members:

The head of the diplomatic mission and his/her family members are granted the privilege to use the VIP Lounge with due respect of the principle of reciprocity.

B- Guests:
  • The embassy addresses the Department of Protocol to request the opening of the VIP Lounge to guest, specifying the names and designations thereof.
  • The Department of Protocol decides the type of the lounge in which guests are to be received, and notifies the embassy thereof.

 

Access to the Airport

  • A cared titled "Airport Entry Permission" shall be issued for the head and staff of the diplomatic mission to enter the lounges and facilities of the airport in accordance with the principle of reciprocity.
  • The Embassy presents a request to the Department of Protocol for "air-port entry permit".
  • The Department of Protocol undertakes the necessary measures.
  • The Department of Protocol specifies the places admitted for entrance by the head and the staff members of the diplomatic mission.
  • The Department of Protocol communicates with the Embassy to collect the permits from the competent authority.
  • For the guests: The Embassy communicates with the Protocol Department for opening of the Protocol lounge, it stated the guest's name and capacity then the Protocol Department will specifies the type of lounge where the guest will be received, and informs the embassy accordingly.

 

Vehicle registration and license plates

  • Notifies the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the Department of Protocol) by a latter to facilitate the purchase of a vehicle, attaching the authorized forms.
  • The Department of Protocol addresses the competent authorities to complete the registration procedures in the name of the diplomatic mission or one of its staff members after completing all the necessary requirements.
  • The embassy communicates with the competent authority to finalize the procedures.

 

The driving license

  • Informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the Protocol Department) by a letter to issue or replace the driving license (in accordance with reciprocity principles) attaching a copy of the license.
  • The Department of Protocol addresses the competent authorities to complete the procedure after fulfilling the requirements.
  • The Embassy communicates with the competent authorities to finalize their procedures.

 

Traffic Violations

In case of a registered traffic violation by the embassy's vehicles or the staff member's vehicles, traffic violations will be canceled in accordance with the reciprocity principle except of the violations of Traffic light, which is done in accordance with the following procedures:

  • Addressing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Department of Protocol), by letter to cancel the traffic violations stating the vehicle details.
  • The Department of Protocol addresses the competent authorities to cancel the violations.
  • The embassy communicates with the competent authority to finalize the procedures.

Protection of premises and persons

In the event that the embassy demands additional security measures, the followings steps should be considered:-

  • The embassy addresses the Department of Protocol for Justifications of tightening the security measures.
  • The Department of Protocol shall address the competent authority accordingly.
  • The Department of Protocol shall immediately address the embassy conveying the response as soon as one is received.

 

Political Events

  • Embassy addresses the Protocol Department regarding to the type of event, details, reasons and the approximate number of attendees and venue.
  • The Department of protocol undertakes the necessary measures.
  • The Department of Protocol informs the embassy of what has been done.

 

Official ceremonies of the diplomatic missions

In the event of the diplomatic missions national celebrations the following measures will be taken:

  • Embassy addresses the Department of Protocol informing of the details, such step should be done in amble time in advance (minimum on month).
  • Department of Protocol nominates a senior official to attend the ceremony, taking into consideration the reciprocity principle.
  • Department of Protocol shall inform the embassy of the level of attendance/representation.
  • Department of Protocol prepares all the logistics and security measures necessary for the event.

In case of organizing other events for the diplomatic missions the following shall be taken:

  • Embassy addresses the department of protocol for notice and details of the ceremony, at least one month prior to the event.
  • Department of Protocol addresses the competent authorities to issue the necessary licenses for the ceremony.
  • Department of Protocol informs the distinguished embassy of what has been done.