The Sultanate of Oman, with its new e-visa system, now allows all tourists to apply for their visa
online so that they can expedite the approval process of the visas. Salem Adi Al Mamari, Director
General—Tourism Promotions, Oman Ministry of Tourism, shares more details with TravTalk
Shehara Rizly
Please brief us about the new e-visa system.
The new e-visa system, which allows millions of tourists visiting Oman to apply their visa online and facilitate travel, is set to accelerate the processing and approval of visas. The Oman government has put in place one of the safest and most secure systems in the world certified by ISO standards, to implement the visa application and submissions with Royal Oman Police specialists who are available 24*7 to provide support. The new policy coincides with the opening of the new Muscat International Airport, which was expanded and transformed to accommodate the growing number of visitors in the Sultanate.
Any changes for GCC nationals?
The new visa system is not applicable to GCC nationals as they just need their citizens’ ID or passport to enter Oman.
What is the period of the general tourist visa?
For general tourist visas, visitors are allowed to stay for a maximum of 30 days. However, visitors have another option which allows them na shorter stay of 10 days.
How will the payments be made?
Payments can be done through the website after the submissions are made and applicants are directed to a secure global payment gateway where they can use their credit cards or debit cards to pay the fees.
How much will it cost?
The cost of the visa varies depending on the type of application being done; however, a general tourist visa is 20 OMR for 30 days and 5 OMR for 10 days.
What is the aim of the government to redo the tourist visas?
It has been an ongoing project in line with our efforts to streamline our procedures following the digital transformation taking place worldwide. With the new online facility, this efficiently cuts the waiting time as visitors can now process their visas before travelling. The system automates and simplifies the procedure for all and generates accurate statistics on the number of people visiting the Sultanate. It also enhances the communication between visitors and authorities.
How many visitors are targeted for this venture?
The e-visa system was created to accelerate the process of gettinga visit visa to Oman and not to target specific numbers.