Oman promises an amazing vacation experience as it is home to breathtaking dive locations, fascinating archaeological ruins, historical forts and Souq (markets), and some of the best trekking trails in the area. Compared to its Gulf neighbours, this intricate, storied country has more red tape to get through, yet visas are simple to get.
Many tourists travel to Oman after staying in Dubai for a few days in the neighbouring United Arab Emirates, but applying for an Oman visa may leave you feeling a little overwhelmed. Here is a guide to the most recent visa requirements for this intriguing desert sultanate, whether you intend to unwind on the beach, learn about Muscat's history, or go trekking in the Hajar Mountains.
Who wants to travel to Oman?
As long as the stay does not exceed 14 days, citizens of 103 countries—including the US, Canada, the UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the majority of EU and EEA countries—can visit Oman without a visa. For a complete list of nations where visitors are permitted to travel without a visa, visit the Omani Foreign Ministry website.
Travel to Oman is entirely visa-free for nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, which include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Check the website of the Royal Oman Police, the organization in charge of regulating Oman's immigration system, if you have any questions concerning the regulations that apply to your nationality.
For the duration of their stay, all visa-exempt travellers must show proof of confirmed hotel reservations. They must also show proof of health insurance and a return ticket out of Oman during the visa-free period.
Additionally, your passport must be valid for at least six months following your arrival in Oman.
Additional conditions for travel without a visa
Only those having a valid Schengen Area visa or a valid visa for the US, Canada, Australia, UK, or Japan may enter Oman without a visa, including citizens of some nations on the authorized list including Mexico, India, and Jordan (or are legally resident in one of these countries).
How to extend your visit to Oman beyond 14 days?
All travellers, except those from the GCC, need a tourist visa to enter Oman if they plan to remain for longer than 14 days. Before travelling to Oman, all forms of tourist visa applications must be submitted online at the official Oman e-visa website.
Visas for visitors who reside in the GCC
Visitors who reside in the GCC but are of a different nationality may apply for a Resident Tourist Visa as long as they hold a job on Oman's list of permitted occupations (or are accompanied by someone in one of those professions). These OR5 (around $13) visas permit stays of up to 28 days in Oman.
Your GCC residency visa must be valid for at least six months following admission into Oman, and applications must be submitted via the official Oman e-visa website.
Visas for visitors who do not reside in the GCC
Visitors who intend to stay in Oman for more than 14 days but do not reside in a GCC nation must apply online for an Unsponsored Visit Visa. Unsponsored Visit Visas come in a variety of forms and each has its requirements and restrictions. They can be used for transiting through the nation, going on business, or going on vacation.
Visas for stays in Oman of 30 days
For a single-entry visa that allows you to stay in Oman for 30 days, you can apply for a 26B Tourist Visit Visa from one of 72 nations, including the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, and many European nations. Applications must be submitted on the official website, where a complete list of eligible nationalities is accessible, for this, which costs OR20 (US$52).
The same nationalities are also eligible to apply for the 36B Tourist Visit Visa, which is a lengthy, multiple-entry visa with one-year validity and a 30-day maximum stay in Oman for each visit. The price is OR50 ($130).
Other categories of tourist visas
Foreign nationals may be able to apply for a single-entry 26M Tourist Visit Visa for OR20 (US$52) or a one-year multiple-entry 36M Tourist Visit Visa for OR50 (US$130) if they already have a valid Schengen Area visa or a visa for the US, UK, Canada, Australia, or Japan. India, Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, the Maldives, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam are among the accepted nations.
How to get from Dubai to Oman?
The Type 21 Dubai/Oman Common Visa, also known as the Dubai/Oman Joint Visa, is available to travellers who meet the requirements for admission into Oman without a visa and who also possess a current Dubai tourist visa. It is not possible to extend this free, single-entry visa, which is only good for a stay of up to 21 days in Oman. Only those who enter Oman directly from Dubai may use it (and not from any other emirate in the UAE).
Through the Sultanate of Oman's General Consulate in Dubai, you can apply for this visa. Your Dubai tourist visa must still be valid for at least 21 days from the date you enter Oman to be eligible for this kind of visa.
Other Oman visa options
US residents who are visiting Oman to attend a training session or as a member of an international organization registered in Oman, such as the World Health Organization, and who hold diplomatic US passports are eligible for five- and ten-year multiple-entry visas. You must submit supplementary paperwork outlining your visit's objective to apply.
Requesting a visa for Oman
Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after the date you intend to enter Oman before applying for an Omani visa using the official e-visa portal. You must submit a photo, a copy of your passport, a hotel reservation, and tickets with verified dates for your arrival and exit from Oman.
Depending on the type of visa, processing dates can change; plan on the procedure takes anywhere between 24 hours and a few days. To ensure your visa is issued before you check in for your flight, submit an online application at least four days before your trip.
It's a good idea to apply online for the appropriate sort of visa before your trip, even if you plan to drive to Oman from Dubai and enter through a land border. Although this process is being phased out and wait times might approach several hours, it is possible to apply for an Omani visa in hard copy form at the border.
Visa extensions and overstays for Oman
You risk having problems re-entering Oman if you overstay your visa, which carries a fee of OR10 (about US$26) for each extra day. You can apply for a visa extension via the official e-visa portal. Single-entry tourist visas can be extended for an additional 30 days, however multiple-entry tourist visas cannot.
ORIGINAL CONTENT:- Is a visa required to enter Oman?
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