Finally a simple and efficient way to fast track through Hamad International Airport and avoid the long immigration queues.
Once you have your Qatar residency card (ID) one needs to register at the E-gate Enrollment section which is located before immigration.
The E-Gate Enrollment section is found at both the International Departures section (the E-Gate enrollement section is located on the far right of the immigration section opposite the E-Gates) and the International Arrivals section of Hamad International airport (HIA).
As we landed at 5.30am the E-Gate enrollment office was not open yet and we needed to wait till after 6am for the E-Gate enrollment section to open. The section is located in Arrivals opposite the Immigration queues and can be found on the left when one enters the immigration area.
The E-Gate facility is only open to Qatari citizens and Residents above 18 years old with normal Qatar ID cards. Children under 18 years cannot use the E-Gate facility and families are still required to stand in the Immigration queue.
Procedure at E-Gate Enrollment section:
Present your QATAR ID to the official who scans it (your passport is not required).
Your picture and fingerprints appear on the screen. Some people in the queue needed to redo their fingerprint on the machine before being given the go ahead.
The process takes two minutes and is FREE and one is then able to proceed to the E-Gates.
Once enabled for the E-Gate one does not need to repeat this initial process.
If your picture does not appear on the screen they will not be able to activate your Qatar ID to use at the E-Gate and you need to go to the Immigration offices in Doha to query the problem and activate the system.
For more information go to Ministry of Interior – Qatars website
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Procedure at E-Gate:
Place your Qatar ID card under the scanner of the e-reader at the E-Gate which will read the vital data stored on the card and verify the passenger.
The E-Gate device will direct the passenger in Arabic or English to move ahead as the first glass barrier will be opened making access for the passenger to the middle of the E-Gate.
The device will then match the data obtained from the travel document by capturing your eye print and fingerprints.
If the data matches the device will open the final exit gate which enables the traveller to move to the security and boarding gate (if you are in DEPARTURES AREA) or security and baggage collection area (if you are in the ARRIVALS AREA).
This process does not take more than two minutes.
The above information was based on my personal experience using the service as of July 2017. Rules, procedures and requirements may change. Kindly go to the MOI website to verify any changes.
Have you tried using the E-Gate? We would love to hear about your experience in the comments section below. Kindly like and share the above article if you have found it to be useful.
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