Muscat arrivals
Dec 31, 2017, 1:16 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 11
Muscat arrivals
Hi everyone,
March next I will be arriving Muscat (BA First) for just a couple of days to meet up with an old friend (the BA flight arrives early Friday morning circa 07.00). Can someone tell me the arrivals protocol. My searches have revealed that I need to purchase a visa on arrival which is first paid for at a currency exchange facility ( a separate first/business facility is apparently available) before proceeding to immigration for visa issue. Also arriving at 07.00 on a Friday morning will the immigration queues be big? Is it worth paying for the airport meet and greet service to circumvent possible queues?
Thank you in anticipation of your help.
March next I will be arriving Muscat (BA First) for just a couple of days to meet up with an old friend (the BA flight arrives early Friday morning circa 07.00). Can someone tell me the arrivals protocol. My searches have revealed that I need to purchase a visa on arrival which is first paid for at a currency exchange facility ( a separate first/business facility is apparently available) before proceeding to immigration for visa issue. Also arriving at 07.00 on a Friday morning will the immigration queues be big? Is it worth paying for the airport meet and greet service to circumvent possible queues?
Thank you in anticipation of your help.
Dec 31, 2017, 1:40 am
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR/Lifetime Gold, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 559
Queues can be long, I would pay for meet and greet. Although that can also be quite slow, as you wait in a lounge for them to get your visa. On balance, a slightly better experience.
Dec 31, 2017, 2:04 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Surrey
Programs: BAEC - Gold
Posts: 878
In First you should be at the front of the queue. When we arrived (in J) we were towards the front and had about a 5 min wait. Very easy. Head into the terminal and then go to the desks straight in front of you. It’s Ł40 each. They prefer Rials (ie cash) and apparently paying on a credit card sometimes comes out as a cash advance for some reason, so use a debit card. The chaps at the subsequent passport control desk were the friendliest I have ever come across! Getting off the transfer bus to reaching baggage reclaim was about 10 minutes.
Last edited by TheFlyingCyclist; Dec 31, 2017 at 2:13 am
Dec 31, 2017, 2:09 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: usually somewhere between 30000 and 40000 feet...but actually the English countryside
Programs: BA GGL/Lifetime Gold, EK Gold, Lowly M&M, Marriott tit, Hhonors Diamond, numerous others
Posts: 1,156
I wouldn't bother with meet / greet personally. Get off the plane sharpish, you may be bussed, (door opens on the right), the VOA counters are straight in front of you. They are also the currency exchange booths. They do take (but don't like) credit / debit cards, you then join the immigration queue. Ive been there 3 times this year and its never taken more than 10-15 minutes. I have no experience of arriving on a weekend morning though.
Dec 31, 2017, 2:25 am
#5
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
The final tests on the new airport are being undertaken now but in March the old terminal should still be in use.
Otherwise the above is true - there is no separate F facility I'm aware of. You buy the visa at the FX bureau, if you use a card they treat as a cash advance. Then turn right and join the immigration lines.
It is not the visa but the immigration lines that take time.....depending what other traffic arrives it can take a while. If you arrive at same time as an Emirates 777 it can be a pain, several times I have waited an hour, others less than 10 mins.
Otherwise the above is true - there is no separate F facility I'm aware of. You buy the visa at the FX bureau, if you use a card they treat as a cash advance. Then turn right and join the immigration lines.
It is not the visa but the immigration lines that take time.....depending what other traffic arrives it can take a while. If you arrive at same time as an Emirates 777 it can be a pain, several times I have waited an hour, others less than 10 mins.
Dec 31, 2017, 2:35 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Surrey
Programs: BAEC - Gold
Posts: 878
I think it would depend on your family. If they like walking and generally wandering around looking at things it’s fine. Apparently one of the three Shangri-La hotels is good for kids Activities etc.
In terms of a holiday, we found it a lot like Iceland in style; basically driving around looking at amazing things and doing a bit of walking.
In terms of a holiday, we found it a lot like Iceland in style; basically driving around looking at amazing things and doing a bit of walking.
Dec 31, 2017, 2:39 am
#8
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
You could combine Muscat with a trip down to Salalah or up to Mussandam.
Dec 31, 2017, 2:43 am
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,543
Hi everyone,
March next I will be arriving Muscat (BA First) for just a couple of days to meet up with an old friend (the BA flight arrives early Friday morning circa 07.00). Can someone tell me the arrivals protocol. My searches have revealed that I need to purchase a visa on arrival which is first paid for at a currency exchange facility ( a separate first/business facility is apparently available) before proceeding to immigration for visa issue. Also arriving at 07.00 on a Friday morning will the immigration queues be big? Is it worth paying for the airport meet and greet service to circumvent possible queues?
Thank you in anticipation of your help.
March next I will be arriving Muscat (BA First) for just a couple of days to meet up with an old friend (the BA flight arrives early Friday morning circa 07.00). Can someone tell me the arrivals protocol. My searches have revealed that I need to purchase a visa on arrival which is first paid for at a currency exchange facility ( a separate first/business facility is apparently available) before proceeding to immigration for visa issue. Also arriving at 07.00 on a Friday morning will the immigration queues be big? Is it worth paying for the airport meet and greet service to circumvent possible queues?
Thank you in anticipation of your help.
Dec 31, 2017, 3:46 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,343
You will always be bussed until the new airport opens. You have to stand close to the door of the bus and as soon as it opens, sprint into the terminal and towards the Travelex to buy the visa (it's on the right hand side). At least that's what I observed happening on my recent trip there - but I was in transit so didn't need to run 
Dec 31, 2017, 3:47 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: East Berlin
Posts: 1,533
You can save having to queue for a visa by ordering one online in advance. Still costs OMR20 and just need a scan of a photo and scan of passport page and easily done in advance. Just go to https://evisa.rop.gov.om/ , create an account and apply
Palmer
Dec 31, 2017, 3:55 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: usually somewhere between 30000 and 40000 feet...but actually the English countryside
Programs: BA GGL/Lifetime Gold, EK Gold, Lowly M&M, Marriott tit, Hhonors Diamond, numerous others
Posts: 1,156
You can save having to queue for a visa by ordering one online in advance. Still costs OMR20 and just need a scan of a photo and scan of passport page and easily done in advance. Just go to https://evisa.rop.gov.om/ , create an account and apply
Dec 31, 2017, 4:37 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,601
There used to be a short stay visa but they discontinued it. So the current visa is quite dear for short stays. Make sure you procure some local money before travel if you possibly can, although that is not easy. It proved quite expensive to pay a visa in Euros.
I really hope Muscat doesn’t become like Dubai. Otherwise it will be yet another ruined, anonymous, soulless city.
I really hope Muscat doesn’t become like Dubai. Otherwise it will be yet another ruined, anonymous, soulless city.
Dec 31, 2017, 5:45 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,647
Musandam, the Wahiba Sands, Jebal Akhdar, Snake Gorge, Tiwi, Ras Al Hadd (turtle sanctuary), snokeling, diving, ancient forts, souks. I could go on and on....
