Oman - conflicting advice re visas

[k_sheep]

Has anyone transited MCT recently? The internet is full of conflicting advice as to whether I need a visa or not - one is just a quick overnight then a longer 4 day stay. Smartraveller says you need a visa, other places don't. Here's something stolen from flyertalk about USA passports:

"According to Omani Embassy in DC, 103 countries can travel visa free for tourism up to 14 days:
Entry visas - FM.gov.om

According to Turkish Airlines (Sherpa) Visa Requirement Page:
"Travelers don’t require a visa if staying for 14 days or less in Oman."

According to ExpertFlyer:
Visa is required, and it provides the evisa link to apply. But then it also said Visa on Arrival is available, which I thought they don't do VoA anymore since a few years ago.

According to State:
It says visa is required (no mention about free visa up to 14 days)
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...ages/Oman.html"

At $80 a pop I'd really rather not pay if I don't need to, especially for the overnight!

Likewise, taking any advice as to what to see and do on short visits!

According to Wiki, which also cited from Omani Police Website:
Visa free up to 10 days.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_r...tates_citizens

 

[Pushka]

You will need a visa. We did in May. How much it costs depends on what you answer here. Even a transit needs a visa. Don't know the $$

Visa types - Evisa

309

evisa.rop.gov.om

 

[clifford]

You will need a visa. We did in May. How much it costs depends on what you answer here. Even a transit needs a visa. Don't know the $$

Based on my own experience pre-Covid I think you're right.

Perhaps it might be best for k_sheep to stay in the airport for the overnight transit without needing a visa (there are lounges that could be used).

 

[Scarlett]

The free visas appear to have specific restrictions and do not appear readily available for AUS tourists. See the Royal Oman Police site @Pushka provided the link for above as that’s the official info. Airport transit visa and 10-day tourist visa both cost the same 5 Omani Riyals (~AUD20) per person.

It is weird that the Oman Foreign Ministry says visa free for 14 days, yet the process for applying for the visa has a cost. Maybe don’t get one in advance (as you’d qualify for VoA) and see how you go showing the Foreign Ministry site? Especially if you can show a version in Arabic. Maybe email the foreign ministry and include a copy of that page and ask them why applying for a visa then has a cost?

You can also check timatic (this is what your airline will check) via Emirates:

Visa and Passport | Before You Fly | Emirates Oman

Check your visa requirements to make sure you have a valid visa if needed and that your passport is valid for the period you require.

www.emirates.com

Or via Vistara:

Visa Timatic

www.airvistara.com

I see Kiwis get an exemption from a visa. If you’ve got an NZ passport in the family then it appears everyone gets visa exemption from that one.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes, as per Scarlett’s post, TIMATIC is the ‘law’ for boarding a flight and ‘visa free’ is very limited.

 

[RooFlyer]

The Sherpa website is very good for checking entry requirements. Actively and regularly checked and updated. Worth a look.

 

[Scarlett]

The Sherpa website is very good for checking entry requirements. Actively and regularly checked and updated. Worth a look.

So really we’ve just gone around in circles and not helped @k_sheep at all.

They mentioned Sherpa in the OP and that it gives info for visa free. But Timatic disagrees. So you have to go with Timatic, even if Sherpa is generally good.
Timatic does list the various exemptions such as the joint Oman-Dubai visa, Oman-Qatar visa, NZ passport etc, but they are specific cases.

I still maintain that if it was me, I’d not get a visa beforehand and try my luck with the info from the foreign ministry website, because there’s always the easy fallback of just getting VoA (same price I think) if it fails. Doesn’t help making the decision on whether to stopover in Oman whilst still planning the travel.

 

[Pushka]

So really we’ve just gone around in circles and not helped @k_sheep at all.

They mentioned Sherpa in the OP and that it gives info for visa free. But Timatic disagrees. So you have to go with Timatic, even if Sherpa is generally good.
Timatic does list the various exemptions such as the joint Oman-Dubai visa, Oman-Qatar visa, NZ passport etc, but they are specific cases.

I still maintain that if it was me, I’d not get a visa beforehand and try my luck with the info from the foreign ministry website, because there’s always the easy fallback of just getting VoA (same price I think) if it fails. Doesn’t help making the decision on whether to stopover in Oman whilst still planning the travel.

My first post here said he needed a visa and how to get it online from the Govt site which is where I got mine in May. Didn't know the cost as it depends which category they fall into. Pretty clear to me.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So really we’ve just gone around in circles and not helped @k_sheep at all.

They mentioned Sherpa in the OP and that it gives info for visa free. But Timatic disagrees. So you have to go with Timatic, even if Sherpa is generally good.
Timatic does list the various exemptions such as the joint Oman-Dubai visa, Oman-Qatar visa, NZ passport etc, but they are specific cases.

I still maintain that if it was me, I’d not get a visa beforehand and try my luck with the info from the foreign ministry website, because there’s always the easy fallback of just getting VoA (same price I think) if it fails. Doesn’t help making the decision on whether to stopover in Oman whilst still planning the travel.

Yup. TIMATIC is used by check-in agents to determine who gets to fly, and what requirements you need the other end.

 

[Scarlett]

@Pushka, I’d respectfully suggest then that you didn’t look at the OPs link to the Foreign Ministry website Entry visas - FM.gov.om
It is also a .gov.om site, like the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and appears official. It disagrees with the ROP site as it does clearly indicate that Australians may enter for 14 days visa free.
(The OP may have given you reason to skip the link by describing it as being a link from the Omani Embassy in DC, but it is not US specific).

This is a case of the Foreign Ministry indicating visa free but the issuers of visas, the ROP, not following same information. Hence, confusion.

 

[k_sheep]

My first post here said he needed a visa and how to get it online from the Govt site which is where I got mine in May. Didn't know the cost as it depends which category they fall into. Pretty clear to me.

*she

Hence the confusion - different official sources saying different things!. Planning on staying airside for the overnight transit now (either snag one of the nap rooms in the lounge, or will spring some $$ for the transit hotel) and will ask there what the story is for the return. Seems there's no hurry to apply for it anyway as it looks to be quick.

Will report back ...

 

[Pushka]

*she

Hence the confusion - different official sources saying different things!. Planning on staying airside for the overnight transit now (either snag one of the nap rooms in the lounge, or will spring some $$ for the transit hotel) and will ask there what the story is for the return. Seems there's no hurry to apply for it anyway as it looks to be quick.

Will report back ...

Ah. My sincere apologies. They?

 

[k_sheep]

An update! I'm now back in MCY.

On the way to Europe, at check in I was asked if I had an Oman visa - I said no as we were not leaving the airport.

On the way home they asked and I said, no Australians didn't need them - they just asked to see my confirmed hotel booking (various sites on the internet say you need to show hotel bookings, proof of insurance and flights out - all of which I had).

Success! Happy to save the $80!

Oman is gorgeous, and definitely worth a visit. Oman air - well I'm 50/50 on them, 50 absolutely amazing and 50 appalling so ... hmmmm.

 

[bam71]

Good to know! Thankyou.