New laws announced
With a super-long weekend fast approaching, many UAE residents may want to jet off to Oman for some down time. But, before you book, you should be aware that visa laws have been changed.
Starting from this month, November 2019, visitors will need to apply for entry visas in advance, according to Oman Police. Previously, tourists were able to obtain visas on arrival at the border between the UAE and Oman; however, in a recent tweet on their official account, Oman Police revealed that visas on arrival will be an exception to the rule going forward. This new law applies to all nationalities visiting the UAE’s neighbour.
#ROP kindly requests all visitors requiring visas traveling to #Oman to obtain their eVisas online before travel. This will facilitate easy and efficient processing at the border posts. Visa on arrival are now an exception to the rule and eVisas should be used wherever possible
— شرطة عُمان السلطانية (@RoyalOmanPolice) October 25, 2019
According to the tweet, visitors should make sure to obtain their eVisas ahead of their travel to Oman. This new move is designed to “facilitate easy and efficient processing at the border posts”. In order to apply for an eVisa ahead of time, travellers should visit the country’s online government portal, where they will be asked to: upload a passport copy, photo, pay 5 Omani Rials () and complete the online booking form. Through this process, visitors will be granted a 10-day unsponsored tourist eVisa to visit Oman.
The eVisa can take up to four days to be issued, according to the official website. Not only that, but tourists entering Dubai are eligible for a free tourist visa to visit Oman, you’ll just need to have at least six months validity left on your passport.
