Oman Announces Visa Free Entry for Tourists from Over 100 Countries

Oman is offering visa-free entry for up to 14 days for tourists from 103 countries. 

The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has shared the list of countries from which tourists are eligible for this new policy, which includes:

• Germany
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Canada
• Portugal
• Sweden
• Norway
• Italy
• Bulgaria
• Switzerland
• Croatia
• Hungary
• Serbia
• Georgia
• Denmark
• Greece
• Iceland
• Belgium
• Romania
• Slovenia
• Finland
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• Cyprus
• Ukraine
• Spain
• Czech Republic
• Austria
• Ireland
• Poland
• Slovakia
• France
• Netherlands
• Venezuela
• Colombia
• Uruguay
• Paraguay
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Japan
• Thailand
• South Africa
• Russia
• China
• Turkey
• South Korea
• New Zealand
• Iran
• Australia
• Indonesia
• Taiwan
• Malaysia
• Singapore

Indian tourists can obtain a visa on arrival if they have an entry visa to the USA, Canada, The UK, Japan or Schengen countries. They can also obtain a visa on arrival if they have residence permits in any Gulf country and work in a profession approved by Oman's government.

Tourists from the 103 countries can extend their visa-free stay in Oman for more than 14 days, but they have to pay a fee for it. These travellers can apply for an e-visa for a month, which will cost OMR 20. 

This policy is supposed to increase the number of tourists visiting Oman. The Sultanate's National Statistics and Information Center has provided data, which shows that the country witnessed a 348% increase in tourists in 2022 compared to 2021 because 2.9 million tourists visited the country in 2022. 

There has also been a boost in domestic tourism with an increasing number of festive events held in various governates.