Oman visa
#16
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Midwest/Mideast (ORD/DTW/FNT/BAH)
Programs: QR Gold/Gulf Air Gold/UA Gold
Posts: 345
Just to answer a few of the questions (I was there last month(US citizen/GCC resident went to Salalah):
1. They do accept the sister countries visas (I know for sure Qatar with the stamp they do, but not 100% sure about Dubai)
2. You can get VOA at Salalah. Supposedly you can also do it online, although I tried like 50 times and it failed.
3. As indicated, the visa is 5OR for tourist visa short term for US Citizens or GCC residents, and 20 OR for longer term. You just pay at the visa desk and then head to the passports.
1. They do accept the sister countries visas (I know for sure Qatar with the stamp they do, but not 100% sure about Dubai)
2. You can get VOA at Salalah. Supposedly you can also do it online, although I tried like 50 times and it failed.
3. As indicated, the visa is 5OR for tourist visa short term for US Citizens or GCC residents, and 20 OR for longer term. You just pay at the visa desk and then head to the passports.
#17
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: OZ, Perth
Programs: QF QR Silver, DJ,TG,MH
Posts: 509
For info.
I applied for a online Tourist Visa. No problems with the process.
I'm from Oz and used Oz Mastercard for payment.
I ended up with a VOA email from ROP that is both a Visa Application and a Receipt. It can only be done a max of 3 months prior to your arrival in Oman and must be presented (the email PDF) at Immigration on arrival.
I applied for a online Tourist Visa. No problems with the process.
I'm from Oz and used Oz Mastercard for payment.
I ended up with a VOA email from ROP that is both a Visa Application and a Receipt. It can only be done a max of 3 months prior to your arrival in Oman and must be presented (the email PDF) at Immigration on arrival.
Last edited by in2it54; Jun 27, 2016 at 7:28 am Reason: Provide clarity
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,622
Am I right in thinking that the short term Oman visa is no longer available and everyone has to get the longer term visa for OMR20? If so, that's a major downer.
#19
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
The Omani police have "upgraded" their website and I can't see any visa-on-arrival information in English any more, although some links do redirect to the "old" site.
OMR 20 = USD 56 which is quite expensive. Rather spend the money in the country itself...
But now that Qatar is visa-free for many western countries, can one avoid paying for an Omani visa by flying QR and passing through immigration at DOH? Will it be awkward to go in and out of Qatar on a short transit, and also not sure how to convince Oman immigration that this exists if they doubt it - any Arabic readers able to find a page which could be printed out that will at least encourage them to investigate further?
OMR 20 = USD 56 which is quite expensive. Rather spend the money in the country itself...
But now that Qatar is visa-free for many western countries, can one avoid paying for an Omani visa by flying QR and passing through immigration at DOH? Will it be awkward to go in and out of Qatar on a short transit, and also not sure how to convince Oman immigration that this exists if they doubt it - any Arabic readers able to find a page which could be printed out that will at least encourage them to investigate further?
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,622
I will be on the LX flight from Zurich which makes a stop in Dubai. But I don't suppose that will count. Been to the UAE earlier this year, in March, but that's probably too far back.
#21
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
People (who have the right passport and are) joining the LX flight at DXB won't need an Omani visa but if you are coming from ZRH and not getting off you will.
I await anyone who can report whether entering Qatar first now works
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
The problem is you'd have to line up to (almost certainly) get knocked back, buy the visa and then rejoin the line. The line can be punishingly long.
Insult to injury, the short term visa is no more: only the 30-day OMR20 version. That's around EUR45.
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,622
Do you really think the line would be so punishingly long at 10h30pm? I'm willing to give this a try and hopefully get a friendly immigration officer or be sent to the back of the queue when I arrive there this Thursday. I'll report back anyway.
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,622
The line wasn't punishingly long at MCT tonight, but the friendly enough immigration official told me to go and get a visa. It was OMR20 or EUR60, not cheap for a short visit. I'm not sure the free visa if arriving from Dubai thing is working any more.
#25
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
What is this 60 euro thing? 20 Omani riyals is (exactly, due to a currency peg) 52 US dollars.
#26
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: CBG
Programs: QR Platinum, ITA Executive, HH Silver, IHG Silver
Posts: 236
I potentially have a ~7h connection in MCT. I would very much like to leave the airport and see the city, but I'm not quite sure about the visa. Would I need the 20 OMR tourist visa, or is there some sort of transit visa available? Online search led me to a free 72 hour air transit visa, but I can't confirm if that still exists.
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,622
I thought 60 Euros at the time was far too high for the visa, but I didn't know how to fight it. I paid OMR20 for mine and my pal paid EUR60 for his. I wonder if I could take on about it when I get back to the airport in a day or two. And as I said I am pretty sure the visa exception if you're coming from the UAE has been discontinued. But I'm not 100% sure.
#28
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
I potentially have a ~7h connection in MCT. I would very much like to leave the airport and see the city, but I'm not quite sure about the visa. Would I need the 20 OMR tourist visa, or is there some sort of transit visa available? Online search led me to a free 72 hour air transit visa, but I can't confirm if that still exists.
The BA flight to MCT used to continue from AUH, but now both cities are served directly (i.e. capacity doubled)
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
I potentially have a ~7h connection in MCT. I would very much like to leave the airport and see the city, but I'm not quite sure about the visa. Would I need the 20 OMR tourist visa, or is there some sort of transit visa available? Online search led me to a free 72 hour air transit visa, but I can't confirm if that still exists.
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
That's weird. The visa folk bill in OMR or any other sensible currency at sensible exchange rates: it's pretty straightforward. Offered me OMR20 or GBP40. They'll also take credit cards, debiting these in OMR in a fast, simple transaction.