Oman Visa Policy

The visa policy for Oman includes the list of rules and regulations that govern which nationalities can enter the Middle-Eastern state and which visas they must have in order to do so.

There are different visa options depending on the purpose of traveling to Oman, the length of time the individual intends to stay in the country, and the nationality of the visitor.

The Oman eVisa is an online visa that allows eligible foreign nationals to enter for the purpose of tourism and permits stays from 10 to 30 days depending on nationality.

Citizens of a large number of different countries can apply online for the eVisa for Oman, which usually only takes a matter of minutes due to the streamlined application system.

Residents of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are also eligible for the Omani eVisa.

Nationals of a few countries must apply for an Omani visa at an embassy even for short stays as a tourist.

In addition, certain types of visas and permits, such as employment visas and residence visas must be obtained from an Omani embassy by citizens of the majority of countries.

In line with Oman’s immigration policy, citizens of 5 countries are exempt from visa requirements. These sovereign states are all located in the Persian Gulf, like Oman itself. Travelers of these nationalities can enter the country visa-free for any purpose, including to live and work in Oman.

See below a full list of travel visa restrictions and requirements for visiting Oman, including the Omani visa policy towards each nationality.

The Oman tourist visa policy determines the visa requirements for foreign nationals visiting the country for the purpose of tourism.

There is more than one kind of tourist visa for Oman and the type required depends on the nationality of the traveler.

Citizens of eligible countries, as well as GCC residents, can apply online for an Omani eVisa, which functions as a tourist visa. Individuals planning to visit Oman must complete a simple online application form to receive an approved electronic visa sent by email.

The Oman eVisa can either permit a single entry or multiple entries, depending on the option selected by the applicant. The terms of each variant are slightly different.

Visitors from countries that are not eligible for an eVisa can apply for an Oman tourist visa from an embassy.

Certain travelers enjoy visa exemption for Oman and do not need to apply for a tourist visa. In order to visit the country for the purpose of tourism, nationals of 5 other Middle-Eastern countries need to present only a passport or GCC national identity card at Omani border control.

Find out more about the tourist visa policy of Oman with regards to travelers of different nationalities in the information provided below.

The Electronic Visa or eVisa for Oman is a digital visa which can be obtained by eligible travelers via an online application form.

The Oman eVisa system was implemented in 2018 by the Royal Oman Police to facilitate visa applications for foreign nationals visiting the country, while increasing security.

The Oman visa online is available to nationals of around 220 different countries. 

The simple online application process makes the Oman eVisa easily obtainable without having to visit an embassy to apply. The form can be completed from the applicant’s home or office and takes very little time to fill in.

There are 2 types of eVisa for Oman: a single-entry eVisa or a multiple-entry eVisa. The desired option must be selected on the application form.

A single-entry Oman eVisa grants the holder a maximum stay of either 10 days or 30 days, depending on the option chosen, and is valid for one (1) month starting the day it is approved.

Multiple-entry eVisas for Oman permit multiple entries of up to 30 days and are valid for one (1) year starting from the date of approval.

See below the list of countries whose citizens can obtain an eVisa for Oman (when they are not an official resident of a GCC country).

According to the Oman visa policy, citizens of around 20 different territories are required to obtain a visa for the country from an embassy prior to traveling, regardless of the purpose of visit or intended length of stay.

Travelers in this category must apply for a visa from an Omani embassy in good time before the planned trip, allowing for sufficient time for application to be approved.

In order to visit Oman for purposes other than tourism, almost all nationalities must apply for the relevant visa at an embassy. This may be an Oman work visa, residence visa, or business visa, for example.

Applying for a visa at an Omani embassy requires the foreign traveler to complete an application form beforehand. This can be found online and must be brought to the embassy to be submitted.

Applicants’ passports must be valid for at least a year from the date of the intended arrival in Oman. A photocopy of the first 2 pages of the passport must be provided along with a passport-size photograph and a letter explaining the purpose of the visit as part of the application.

The validity of an embassy visa for Oman depends on the type of visa and the purpose of traveling to the country.

See below the list of nationalities that require an embassy visa for any kind of visit to Oman, including for short stays and holidays as a tourist.

According to Oman’s visa and immigration policy, nationals of 5 countries are able to travel to and enter Oman without a visa.

These visa-exempt countries are all located around the Persian Gulf and are all members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), of which Oman is also a member.

The GCC was established in 1981 and since then has consisted of the same 6 member countries, all on the Arabian Peninsula.

This political and economic union allows citizens of all 6 countries to travel freely between GCC member states without applying for a visa. This includes the right to live and work without restrictions.

Due to the freedom of movement and right of abode policies of the GCC, all nationals of the other 5 member states can visit, live in, and work in Oman without a visa.

In addition to the visa-exempt countries, travelers of any nationality can transit through Oman for up to 6 hours without a visa, providing they are leaving on the same flight and have onward tickets.

Check the list of countries that enjoy visa exemption for Oman below.

Nationals of a number of countries are able to enter Oman if they already hold a visa for the Emirate of Dubai, without needing to apply for a separate Omani visa.

This is because of an agreement between Dubai and the Sultanate of Oman to encourage tourism between the 2 destinations.

A similar agreement exists with Qatar that allows certain nationalities to visit Oman using a valid Qatar visa instead of an Oman visa.