Criminal defence9 min read
How do I check for, and lift, a travel ban in Qatar?
Faysel Al-MohannadiLawyer admitted before the Court of Cassation · Reviewed on
Short answer
You can check through the Ministry of Interior's e-services portal, whose "Travel Ban Inquiry" lists any ban circulars on your ID and the authority behind each. A ban is lifted by the authority that ordered it (the Public Prosecution, a criminal court or the enforcement judge), usually after payment, settlement, adequate security or a successful grievance.
Who can order a travel ban in Qatar?
Travel bans in Qatar are usually ordered by a judicial authority: the Public Prosecution or a criminal court in criminal cases, and the enforcement judge in debt, judgment and cheque cases. Each has its own conditions and route for lifting.
| Authority | When it can ban travel | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Attorney General | During an investigation, or when a criminal sentence is enforced, if the investigation or enforcement requires it | Criminal Procedure Code, Article 133 |
| Criminal court | While it hears the case, if the trial requires it | Criminal Procedure Code, Article 133 |
| Enforcement judge | After an enforcement request, on its own motion or at a party's request, where there are serious reasons to fear the debtor will flee or move assets | Judicial Enforcement Law, Articles 36 and 39 |
| Court, by petition order | At a claimant's request in a civil or commercial dispute | SJC portal service "Request for Travel Ban / Petition Order" |
Enforceable instruments include court judgments and orders, arbitral awards, notarised settlement records, cheques, and registered or notarised leases (Judicial Enforcement Law, Article 6). Where the debtor is a company, the judge may ban its representative from travelling if flight or the removal of its assets is feared (Article 39).
In labour cases, a decision of the Labour Disputes Settlement Committee has the force of an enforceable instrument and is provisionally enforceable (Labour Law, Articles 115 bis 4 and 115 bis 5). If it is not paid, it is enforced through the Enforcement Court, whose tools include a travel ban. Family judgments are enforced the same way (Judicial Enforcement Law, Article 45).
A complainant, or their attorney under a Ministry of Justice power of attorney, can also ask the Public Prosecution to consider banning the accused from leaving. The prosecutor decides.
How do you check whether you have a travel ban?
The official way to check is the "Travel Ban Inquiry" service on the Ministry of Interior's e-services portal, under "Inquiries". It lists the travel ban circulars recorded on your ID number and the authority that ordered each one.
Go to the Ministry of Interior e-services portal (eservices.moi.gov.qa) and log in with your smart card.
Choose the transaction type: personal, or the name of a company you are authorised for.
Click "Inquiry", then "Travel Ban Inquiry".
Read the "List of Travel Ban Circulars": it shows each circular on your ID and the ordering authority. If there is none, the system says so.
In March 2022 the Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) said that travel ban circulars can be viewed in the Metrash2 app, through an electronic link with the Ministry of Interior. The new Metrash app replaced Metrash2 on 1 March 2025, so look for the inquiry in the current app's inquiries section.
To find the case behind a ban, follow criminal reports through the Public Prosecution's report inquiry service («الاستعلام عن البلاغات») and search by case number on the SJC portal. In August 2026 the SJC said its "Virtual Employee" on WhatsApp (44597777) also handles inquiries.
What usually causes a travel ban in Qatar?
Common causes are a bounced cheque, an unpaid judgment or other enforceable debt, and a criminal report under investigation or trial.
- Bounced cheque: the holder may file a criminal complaint under Article 357 of the Penal Code, and the Attorney General may then bar travel during the investigation. The holder may instead enforce the cheque directly before the enforcement judge, without suing first (Judicial Enforcement Law, Article 23). See our guide on bounced cheques in Qatar.
- Loan, debt or unpaid judgment: the creditor files an enforcement request, and after notice the judge may take measures step by step, including a travel ban (Article 36). See enforcing a judgment in Qatar.
- Criminal report: any investigation may come with a travel ban if it is needed. See what to do after a police summons.
- Unpaid labour decision or family judgment: enforced through the Enforcement Court, as above.
- Company in difficulty: the ban may reach its representative (Article 39).
Enforcement requests are served at your national address, and the notice gives you ten working days to comply before forced enforcement (Article 31). Service on your national address details counts as personal service (Article 107), so keep your national address and phone number up to date.
How is a travel ban lifted?
A travel ban is lifted by the authority that ordered it, or through a grievance or appeal to the competent court. The usual routes are payment or deposit, settlement, adequate security, or a grievance filed in time.
| Type of ban | How it can be lifted | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecution ban | A lifting request to the prosecution office that issued it, decided by the prosecutor. The person can also file a grievance with the competent court, which must decide within 15 days | Article 135; PP service "Request to Lift Travel Ban" |
| Criminal court ban | A grievance to the court hearing the case, filed at its clerk's office. The Attorney General cannot cancel it while the case is pending | Article 135 |
| Cheque in a criminal report | Settlement with the victim, at any stage, ends the criminal case; the ban is then lifted on request. The prosecution has an e-service for withdrawals in cheque reports | Penal Code, Article 359 |
| Enforcement judge's ban | Cancelled if you do what is required, pay, deposit the amount with the court, provide adequate security, or the judge finds strong reasons | Judicial Enforcement Law, Article 40 |
| Enforcement judge's decision | Appeal to the Enforcement Court's appellate circuit within ten working days of notice or knowledge; its ruling is final | Judicial Enforcement Law, Article 38 |
| Petition-order ban | A cancellation request or a grievance through the SJC portal | SJC services "Request to Cancel Travel Ban in Petition Order" and "Request to Appeal Petition Order" |
The Judicial Enforcement Law does not define the form of "adequate security" that cancels a ban (Article 40). For detention, it expressly names a bank guarantee or a solvent guarantor the judge accepts (Article 43). The judge may also cancel or change measures if he accepts the debtor's guarantees or excuses (Article 37). In criminal cases, permission to leave can be made conditional on bail (Article 133).
Enforcement measures end automatically once the amount is paid or the required act is done (Article 37). If the judge finds the debtor insolvent, none of the Article 36 measures, including a travel ban, may be taken, although the judge may bar the debtor from trading (Article 49).
Online, the SJC portal offers a "Request to Cancel Travel Ban" service (Tawtheeq login, case details and attachments), and in August 2026 the SJC listed "canceling a travel ban" among its WhatsApp Virtual Employee services. A lifting request to the Public Prosecution is made by a party to the report or their attorney, with the power of attorney and the supporting letter the service asks for; Hukoomi says it takes three days.
What should an expat do before travelling?
Before any trip, especially with debts, cheques or an open dispute, check early. If a circular appears, start with the authority that ordered it.
Check through the Ministry of Interior portal or the Metrash app well before you book.
Note the ordering authority and the report, case or enforcement request number.
Gather payment receipts, any settlement or withdrawal, bank statements, and details of any security you plan to offer.
Apply to the right authority (the Public Prosecution, the court or the Enforcement Court) and keep the request number.
Follow the decision, then check again before your travel day that the circular has gone.
Keep your national address and phone number current so notices reach you in time.
Don't try to leave while a ban is in place. The law punishes anyone who deliberately breaches the measures set by an order placing a person on the departure ban lists, helps another to do so, or attempts it (Criminal Procedure Code, Article 137).
When should you speak to a lawyer?
Speak to a lawyer if a ban appears and you don't know why, if it is linked to a criminal report, or if deadlines are short. Other signs:
- A circular appears and you can't tell which authority or case is behind it.
- The ban is linked to a criminal report, such as a cheque case.
- You dispute the amount in an enforcement request; objections are due within ten working days of notice (Article 33).
- You want to offer security or a settlement and need it drafted and documented.
- You need to travel urgently for a medical or family reason.
- You are a resident worried about the effect on your residency or job.
- The ban is against your company or its representative.
Before practising law, Faysel Al-Mohannadi spent 23 years with Qatar's Ministry of Interior. He is admitted before the Court of Cassation.
What the law says
This guide relies on the Criminal Procedure Code (Law No. 23 of 2004), Articles 133, 135 and 137, and the Judicial Enforcement Law (Law No. 4 of 2024), Articles 6, 23, 31, 33, 36 to 40, 43, 45, 49 and 107. That law repealed Book Three of the Civil and Commercial Procedure Law, including its debtor travel ban articles. It also relies on Articles 357 and 359 of the Penal Code and Articles 115 bis 4 and 115 bis 5 of the Labour Law. Texts checked on Al Meezan on 19 October 2026.
Read on Al MeezanQuestions people ask
In 2022 the SJC said travel ban circulars appear in Metrash2, which the new Metrash app replaced in March 2025. You can also check through the "Travel Ban Inquiry" on the Ministry of Interior's e-services portal.
In enforcement, measures end automatically on payment (Article 37), and a ban is cancelled if you pay or deposit the amount with the court (Article 40). A criminal ban must be lifted by the prosecution or the court. Either way, check again before you travel.
Six months from the order, unless renewed for similar periods (Criminal Procedure Code, Article 133). Article 39 of the Judicial Enforcement Law sets no fixed period; the ban is cancelled in the cases listed in Article 40.
Not automatically. In criminal cases, permission to leave can be made conditional on bail (Article 133). In enforcement, the judge may cancel or change measures if he accepts your guarantees or excuses (Article 37).
This guide is general information about Qatari law, not advice on your case.
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Ask about your situation
If a travel ban circular has appeared, or you plan to travel with a case or debt open, ask us about the general steps in your situation before your travel date.