How to Get an Omani Visa?

To visit Oman, one needs to arrange for a Visa either before travelling or upon reaching Oman, depending upon their citizenship. With the advent of technology, there is also a facility for online visa application, which has been used for 71 countries. Let’s understand what a Visa is and the various types of Visas prevalent in Oman.

What is a Visa?

A visa is necessary for approval from the government to visit or stay for some time in the country. It is usually in the form of a stamp placed on one of the pages of the passport. Every foreigner, whether an investor or a tourist, needs to have a visa if he/ she wants to be in a country. In Oman, the visitor can choose from various types of visas as required by the foreigner.

Types of Visa in Oman

There are various types of visas in Oman, but only five types are prevalent among the public. They are as follows:

1. Tourist Visa

This visa allows a foreigner to visit Oman for up to thirty days and can be extended for the same period. It is valid for use within six months from the date of issuance and allows only a single trip to the country. The reasonable fee for this visa is 20 Omani Riyals; bVisapon its expiration, a fine of 10 Riyals per day is levied on the tourist.

2. Residence Visa

If a foreign investor desires to invest and set up a business in Oman, he needs to acquire an investor residence visa. The person should also get a certificate of doing business from the relevant authority. The Visa is valid until six moVisa from the date of issuance following the verification of the investment. When verified, the investor is granted a two-year residence permit, which can be renewed with the approval of the concerned authority.

3. Employment Visa

The employment visa will permit the holder to come to Oman for employment. It can be granted if the foreigner fulfils two requirements, which are

• The person should not be below 21 years or above 60 calendar years.
• A local Omani needs to sponsor the foreigner and will take responsibility in case there is any discrepancy in the information provided. 

The Visa is valid for three moVisa and can be extended to the same duration. The original fees for the permit and the extension are 20 Omani Riyals, but 50 Omani Riyals will be charged in the case of a late renewal.

4. Multiple Entry Visa

If a foreign investor does not want to reside in Oman, he may ask the local sponsor to submit an application stating so, and the sponsor would be liable for the foreign businessman. It can also be granted without a sponsor but to only those nationals whose countries are pre-mentioned in the list. This Visa will be valid for six visits to a year and allow the holder to reside in Oman for at least three consecutive weeks on each visit.

5. Transit Visa

Transit visa has been further divided into three sections:

Air Transit Visa

This visa is given to expatriats. Visit the relevant airway routes through an application submitted by the aviation carrier. It entitles the holder to enter Oman only once and reside in the country for 72 hours. The investor should also have enough money to cover the expenses and a valid ticket to continue the journey.

Road Transit Visa

This Visa is valid for two months. The competent authorities grant visas in coordination with the various embassies of Oman. It entitles the holder to travel to the neighbouring countries of the sultanate through legal routes for a maximum of three days.

Sailors Transit Visa

Those sailors who entered the country through sea but intend to leave through the air route require the Sailor Transit Visa. They can stay in the country for five days, after which they will have to pay a fine of ten Omani Riyals per day.

The ones mentioned above are some of the most current visas for the public. There are many more types of Visas in Oman. Now, let’s see what documents are required to get a visa in Oman.

Documents Required to Get a Visa

• Suppose the application is presented by someone other than the sponsor. In that case, the representative must be Omani and hold a written authorisation from the Directorate General of Passport & Residence per the sponsor’s request.
• Copy of the foreigner’s passport, which should be valid for at least six months
• Two passport-sized photographs (4X6 cm)
• Original labour permit issued by the Ministry of Manpower and a copy of it for each application form
• Copy of the approval of the concerned authority for specific professions such as Educational professions, Religious professions, Media professions, Medical, etc.
• A medical fitness certificate issued for citizens of countries like India, Pakistan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Syria, Sudan, and Ethiopia by the Ministry of Health and endorsed by the same.

Keep these documents handy while applying for an Omani visa. It should be noted that some documents may be added to the requirements depending on the type of Visa applied for. Let’s not wait until the process of getting a permit in Oman is complete.

How to Get a Visa in Oman?

The process of getting a visa is relatively simple. If one follows the steps below, the passport will be received by them in under two weeks. Hers is what one has to do:

1. First, the visa application must be filled in the online Visa Application Form
2. Then, a complete printout must be taken of the form
3. The documents mentioned above must be enclosed with the form and then couriered to the nearest visa office
4. The application can then be tracked online
5. Once the process is complete, the passport will be returned to the applicant through a registered courier service.

You can apply for an Omani Visa all by yourself, but it would require you to follow specific guidelines set by the Oman government. This would be a cumbersome process and would divert your attention from setting up your business. Thus, it is recommended that you hire the services of a firm that would help you acquire a visa, among other services.

We at Business Setup Worldwide offer a wide range of business-related services, such as tax and corporate secretarial services. We can also help you register your company. For more details about the services we provide, contact us—we would be happy to help.