Visa On Arrival in Oman Discontinued This November 2019 Onwards
A new rule announced by the Omani police suggests that the “Visa on arrival” policy is being discontinued from November 2019 onwards. Foreign tourists will now have to apply for visas before heading to Oman.
What Changed?
Up until now, tourists applied for visa on arrival on the borders of UAE & Oman. The police confirmed the new rule via a tweet which stated that visas on arrival would be an exception to the rule going forward. The rule will apply to the visitors of all countries visiting Oman. From now on, E-Visas would be compulsory.
Statement of Purpose
The police also mentioned the statement of the purpose behind the withdrawal of this rule. The reason stated was to 'facilitate easy and structured processing at the border posts.'
Tourists have to apply for an E-Visa by visiting the government portal to get a 10-day unsponsored tourist eVisa to visit Oman. The procedure is as follows:
Upload a passport size photograph.
Pay 5 Omani Rials (Dhs50) to after filling out the form.
The procedure takes a minimum of 4 days to get the visa sanctioned by the officials.
Visa Grants
Citizens from 71 countries can apply for eVisas including members of the European Union, Australia as well as the USA.
Citizens of the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain or Saudi Arabia do not require a visa.
Tourists visiting Dubai can also visit Oman with a free tourist visa with a 6- months validity on the passport.
Since the process has been revised, one has to apply for a eVisa before heading to Oman. Are you happy with the revised rule? Let us know in the comments below!
