Brief guide to Oman visa

Oman is a beautiful Arab country located in Western Asia. Also known as the Sultanate of Oman, the country was not a popular tourist destination or business spot until recently. Over the last few decades, Oman has captured a prominent spot among tourist destinations. Oman tourist visas and other visa types have been created since then according to demand. If you have plans to travel to Oman, you might also be on the lookout for getting a visa for Oman. This article answers some of the most frequently asked questions on how to get a visa for Oman.

Do you need a visa for Oman?

There are only 6 visa exempted countries, and hence, it is likely that you will need to apply for an Oman visa application before you travel. In addition, citizens of all foreign countries must have entry permit visas to travel to Oman. Nonetheless, if you are a citizen of member nations of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), you can travel to Oman without visa limits.

Is getting an Oman visa easy?

The Oman visa on arrival (VOA) type of visa was issued to applicants after they reached the country. However, in recent times, the visa policy of Oman has been revamped and now requires tourists to apply for an Oman visa on arrival (VOA) at least one week before their travel date. Getting the Oman visa on arrival visa is not a hectic process and is relatively easy since you can do it online. However, this is true only if you have all the relevant documents in hand and follow all the instructions correctly.

Which are the main Oman visa types?

Visa for Oman is broadly categorized into Short-term stay visas and long-term stay visas. There are subtypes under these categories and are being discussed in detail below.

Short-term stay visa

These visas are issued for a period of time that does not exceed a maximum of 90 days. Short-term visas can be obtained from the diplomatic missions of Oman authorized in the applicant’s country of residence.

The main short-term visa types in Oman are:

• Oman tourist visa

Oman tourist visa is required for all foreign nationals who intend to travel to Oman for merely tourism purposes. Issued for a single entrance, this visa is valid for six months. However, visits should not exceed one month from the date of entry.

• Oman express visa 

Upon requesting a local sponsor, people in business or professionals can obtain an Oman express visa to participate in conferences and cultural or sports programs. This single-entry visa is valid for only 3 weeks from the date of entry and can be issued only with relevant data proving the validity of the event/ conference.

• Investor residence visa

Any foreigner who wishes to invest his funds in the country of Oman can do so only after he receives an investor residence visa. The visa policy of Oman allows any foreigner with an investor residence visa to stay in the country for a duration of 6 months.

• Employment Contracting Visa

If a local employer wishes to sponsor a foreign employee for work that involves initial testing by a government organization before employment, then he has to obtain an employment contracting visa. This single-entry visa is valid for only 2 months from the date of entry and can be renewed for one month.

Long term stay visa

According to their specific needs, any national who wishes to stay in Oman for more than 90 days must obtain a long-term stay visa.

• Student visa

A licensed educational or training institute in Oman can seek to obtain a student visa by submitting an Oman visa application for a foreigner coming to study. This visa can be used within 6 months from the date of issuance and is valid for a period of 1 to 2 years from the date of entry. This multi-entry visa can be renewed if the application is supported by a letter from the institution.

• Oman work visa

Oman work visa is granted on the request of an Omani employer to a foreign national coming to the country for employment. A labour permit issued by the Ministry of manpower is required unless an Omani government institution invites foreigners. The Oman work visa is a multi-entry visa and is valid for 2 years from the date of stamping on the passport.

• Family joining visa

According to the visa policy of Oman, an expatriate employee can sponsor his spouse and children below 21 years with a family joining visa. Moreover, an Omani citizen can also apply for an Oman visa application for a family joining visa. In addition, the foreign wife of an Omani citizen is granted a visa upon validating their marriage by the Ministry of the interior. This multi-entry visa is valid for 2 years from the date of stamping on the holder’s passport.

How to get a visa for Oman online?

Foreign nationals can easily obtain an Oman e visa or online visa for travel to the country. The Oman e visa system is a web-based application and will help you to apply, pay and receive a visa before travel. Applications for the Oman e visa can be submitted on the Royal Oman Police website. Using modern technology in processing visas automates and simplifies the process of obtaining visas according to the traveller’s needs.

What are the general Oman visa requirements?

Firstly, it is to be noted that the Oman visa requirements may differ from one visa type to another. Hence, it is always best to check with the required document list for each visa type application. While applying for an Oman visa, it is required that certain documents along with your visa application are submitted to the diplomatic mission/website or authorized visa application centres. Nonetheless, the general Oman visa requirements that are valid to all visa types are as follows:

• Completely filled and signed application form along with two biometric photographs that are not older than 6 months
• Passport or travel document which has a validity of at least 6 months
• Confirmed two-way tickets and proof of travel
• Bank statement details to prove that the applicant can sufficiin4tly fund his/her travel
• Documentation of travel health insurance
• Evidence of certified documents in the case of employment visa, student visa, etc.
• Accommodation details to show the proof of stay in the country

Apart from the above-mentioned general documents, additional documents must also be submitted according to the visa application type. Moreover, the Diplomatic mission/consulate reserves the right to ask for additional documents if required.

How long to get an Oman visa?

Oman diplomatic missions/consulates usually take a time of 2 to 15 days to process and issue a visa. It may vary for various factors like analyzing the company sponsoring the visa, the visa policies involved, personal issues with the employee, and more. Nonetheless, you can obtain an e visa within a shorter period of less than one business day. However, additional processing fees are applicable in this case.

How much does it cost for an Oman visa?

The visa costs may differ from the visa type that you choose. However, an unsponsored Oman multi-entry tourist visa can come to around 130 USD under standard processing fees.

Do you need a transit visa for a stopover in Oman?

If you are in transit but do not intend to leave the airport, then there is no need for you to obtain a transit visa. However, if you are in a long transit of up to 72 hours, then you can apply for a transit visa by checking with your airline/ travel agent.

What documents to be presented at the immigration in Oman airport?

At the immigration in the airport, you will be asked to submit:

• Your passport with a minimum validity of 6 months after you arrive in Oman
• A print copy of your e visa was sent to you by email

Nonetheless, it is good if you also keep the following in hand:

• Return ticket proving your departure
• Proof of stay or accommodation booking

Is Oman issuing visas now?

Due to the present pandemic situation, travel to the Sultanate of Oman for foreign nationals is allowed, but only under certain restrictions. Oman is open to tourists from limited countries. However, they must submit a travel health form, proof of health insurance, and a negative covid 19 certificate that is taken within 72 hours before their arrival. All visitors must book their stay in institutional isolation or in hotels.