oman visa exemption policy

Oman is a beautiful country for both the adventure seekers and history enthusiasts. The country is an exotic destination that is filled with incredible and breathtaking views. People generally know about Muscat, but that is only a part of this beautiful country. To boost its tourism, the government has recently announced its visa exemption policy for 100 countries. Read these articles to find more about the Oman visa exemption policy and the new visa rules in Oman 2020. 

WHAT IS THE NEW OMAN VISA EXEMPTION POLICY

In order to strengthen the country’s tourism, Oman is now exempting 103 countries to enter without a visa. This is a plan which is named as Tawazon program. This new 2020-2024 fiscal initiative is expected to boost the economy by attracting more and more tourists each year.

This new visa policy will allow the visitors to stay in the country for 10 days. This decision of the new visa policy was basically taken to make it easier for the tourists who wish to visit the country easily. The nations in the list includes countries like Malaysia, Thailand, London, Singapore, Iran, Brunei, India, Lebanon, Bhutan, Singapore, etc.

This decision about visa exemption was put on twitter at first, and the details were later given through a press conference. The Oman visa requirements for this purpose are:

•     Health insurance
•     A confirmed return ticket to your country
•     Confirmed hotel reservations
•     Travel itinerary

The nation previously faced two lockdowns and a complete shutdown due to COVID-19. After all these, Oman opened its borders on October 1 for international journeys. However, this was only confined to the residents and citizens only. On 30th November, the sultanate reopened its borders for tourism purposes. However, there are certain regulations to travel during this period which the visitors should abide by.

READ ALSO: Traveling to Oman for the first time

OMAN VISA TYPES AND FEE

The table presented below will give you a complete idea about the types of visa as well as the Oman visa price for them. 

READ ALSO: Best restaurant in Oman

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

Before traveling to an unknown country, you must collect all the details about it. Every country asks for several documents. The documents required for Oman visa are:

•     Two passport size photographs that should abide by the rules of the passport size photographs.
•     Your passport. Make sure that it is valid for at least six months. In case, your passport is expired, or is going to expire, make sure to renew it.
•    Confirmed flight booking details.
•     Proof of funds to show that you would be able to take care of yourself financially while in the country.
•     Confirmed hotel bookings
•     Your travel itinerary details. 

OMAN TRAVEL TIPS

When you visit a foreign land, you need to take care of certain rules. Here we are providing you several tips you can use when you visit this country:

LEARN SOME BASIC ARABIC

It will serve you well if you know just some basic Arabic. Although English is widely spoken across the country, it won’t do you any harm by learning something new. Baluchi is also spoken in some parts of the country. Learn basic greetings that will help you get through the country in an easy and friendly way.

NO PDA

The country is generally conservative. Hence, you should indulge yourself to indulge in public display of affection. If you do so, you may get frowned upon.

DOWNLOAD O TAXI OR HIRE A CAR

The country is not at all walkable. The highways are extremely crowded and won’t give you any place to walk around the city. The buses around the country are not plenty in number, and they come often late.

Hence, if you are someone willing to drive, then do not hesitate. You can also download o taxi if you are not willing to drive. O taxi would be a better option for short trips around the city.

DRESS CONSERVATIVELY

We all know that the country is highly conservative. Due to Islamic traditions that are heavily followed all around, you need to respect that and dress accordingly. Hence, pack a lot of long sleeve dresses, leggings, and headscarves. The headscarves are not needed all the time, but when you visit a mosque or any religious place, you need to cover your head.

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO SIT ON THE FLOOR

In Omani culture, it is a tradition to eat meals while sitting on the floor. Also, eat with your right hand always. A lot of restaurants in the country consist of cubicles where the families go inside and close the doors. This gives privacy to them. In those restaurants, there is generally a buzzer which you can press to get the waiter service.

AVOID VISITING MOSQUES DURING PRAYER TIME

Foreigners are more than welcome to visit the mosques. But remember to respect the prayer time. You need to cover your legs and shoulders, and women need to cover their head while visiting the mosques.

AVOID FILMING AND PHOTOGRAPHY WITHOUT PERMISSION

This rule applies to any country in the world. You should never try to film something without asking for permission. People of the country sometimes do not like to face the camera; hence, asking for permission would help you not to land in some kind of trouble.

GENERAL FAQs

Q. Is Oman a safe country?

Yes, the country is generally very safe to travel. The country is very wealthy and has some strict laws. However, there are some general rules that you need to keep in mind when you visit a new country.

Q. Which countries require a visa for Oman?

If you are from the GCC countries, you will not require a visa. Additionally, if you belong to one of the visa exempt countries, you will not require a visa. The visa on arrival facility has been removed with the e visa policy. Hence, before applying for a visa, make sure to look at the list and find where your country stands.

Q. What is the best time to visit Oman?

The country has a warm climate that persists all over the year. The weather gets seriously hot during summers. Hence, you should avoid the months of June, July, and August. The best time to visit the country is between October to April. 

The country has so much to offer to its tourists that you cannot miss this amazing place. If you are someone who is thrilled by the desert landscapes along with mountains, beaches, the new Oman visa exemption policy would be the best for you to experience the country without any hassles.