Visa for Oman: Types, Eligibility Criteria & Application Process

Oman is a beautiful Arabian country known for its stunning architecture and natural beauty. If you plan to visit Oman for any reason from India, you will require a visa. Applying for a visa can be challenging, as any mistake can cause a cancellation of your application. As of 2022, it is mandatory to purchase a travel insurance policy for visiting Oman from India, which is another major requirement for preparing for such a trip.

Wondering about the ways to apply for a visa for Oman? Keep reading this article to get a better idea.

The Sultanate of Oman introduced an electronic visa or e-visa facility in March of 2018. If you are visiting Oman and planning for a short stay, an e-visa will simply be the process of obtaining a tourist Oman visa. It is beneficial if you need to visit Oman within a few days. Applying for this visa will be helpful, as its processing time is much lower than regular visas. You can find the following three categories of e-visa for Omaha.

• Single-entry Oman e-visa: This visa allows only one entry into Oman and enables you to stay here for up to 30 days. Citizens of over 67 nationalities are eligible for this type of visa.
• Multiple-entry Oman e-visa: This visa enables you to enter Oman more than once without having to get new visas. However, your stay in Oman cannot exceed 30 days on a single visit.
• GCC e-visa: Foreign nationals with a GCC resident permit are eligible to get this visa. It enables individuals to stay here for about 28 days.

There are various types of visas for Oman. It is essential to know about these if you are planning to apply for a visa. You need to choose the right visa type based on your purpose of visit. Here are the common types of visas that you can get.

• Tourist Visa: As the name suggests, this visa is suitable for people visiting Oman for a holiday. It is ideal for tourists to get a single entry. It is usually valid for a maximum period of thirty days in Oman. For this, you need to provide your personal details with the application.
• Employment Visa: This type of visa is granted to Indian or other citizens when a resident of Oman sponsors a foreign person, mainly for employment purposes. To get this visa, applicants should be at least 21 years old.
• Family Residence Visa: This visa is granted to any Oman resident, original or naturalised citizen, who wishes to bring his/her family to Oman. In addition, the spouse and children (below 21 years) of such a resident can get this visa. It is usually valid for about two years.
• Student Resident Visa: Any Indian citizen can get this visa for education purposes. They can get it after getting admitted to any approved educational institution in Oman. You can stay about 2-3 years in Oman based on the study duration and education level.
• Investor Residence Visa: This type of visa is suitable for foreigners who are planning to invest in the businesses of Oman. It enables Indian investors who meet certain conditions to visit and stay in Omaha while investing their funds. It is valid for about six months in Oman.
• Express or Business Visa: This visa is granted to Indian professionals or business people with a local sponsor. The purpose can be for conducting business, festivals and other conventions. With this visa, you can stay in Oman for about three weeks.
• Scientific Research Visa: As the same suggests, this type of visa is granted to competent authorities on request for scientific research purposes in Oman. It will be valid for three months, within which one should complete the research.

While learning about Oman visas, it is essential to understand the eligibility criteria. Therefore, knowing if you are eligible for this visa is necessary before starting the application process. Here are the eligibility conditions.

• Applicants must possess a passport valid for six months from the entry date.
• They should be able to submit all the required documents and application forms.
• Applicants need to show sufficient funds to stay in Oman through bank statements.
• They should present a valid and authorised letter from the sponsoring company.
• Applicants must also provide an e-application form by local sponsors.

Before starting the application, you need to find out the requirements for an Oman visa. You must keep the following documents handy during this process, as these are mandatory to complete the application. Here are the generic documents required for any visa application.

• Copy of passport, valid for six month
• Completed application
• Passport-size photographs
• Aadhaar card
• PAN card
• Air tickets

Additional Documents for a Tourist Visa

Here are some additional requirements for a tourist visa.

• A cover letter mentioning the Consular's request besides other details
• Bank statement to prove sufficient funds to stay in Oman

Additional Documents for a Business Visa

Here are some additional requirements for a business visa.

• A cover letter from the concerned company
• An invitation letter from the company

You must be able to pay the application fee to get the visa. This charge is about USD 60 ( OMR 23.10) for 10 days. Whereas, for 30 days it will cost around USD 108.83 (OMR 41.89). Online payment can be made through debit or credit card, while you can make offline payment with Demand Drafts and Bank cheques.

Disclaimer: The visa fees are subject to change, based on new immigration rules, the country in which you apply, the local currency and currency exchange rates.

In order to get complete information for an Oman visa, you should be able to complete the application form. The following steps will help you do so.

Step 1: Visit the official website of Oman Royal Oman Police. Select the visa you wish to apply for from the Home page.

Step 2: Once you click "Apply", it will redirect to the login page. Click on "Register new user".

Step 3: Fill up the registration form and submit it. You will receive login credentials on your emails. Go back to the login page.

Step 4: Log in with the credentials you received. Start filling up with an online application form.

Step 5: Cross-check the details, submit the form and upload the required documents. Pay the required fee.

Step 6: Wait for the email confirmation. You can check the status of your visa application from the official website.

In offline application mode, willing candidates can visit their nearest embassy within working hours to apply for a Oman visa.

Now, if you are planning to visit Oman for any purpose, you can consider purchasing travel insurance. As it is far from India, it can be difficult for you to have a smooth experience without help. Here are the reasons behind the importance of travel insurance if you are visiting Oman soon.

• Journey Coverage: The best part of travel insurance is that it can cover all the adversities related to your journey. These may include trip delay, bounced airline, flight cancellation, loss of passport, etc. It will also help you with hotel bookings and any associated problems.
• Baggage Coverage: You can also receive services regarding your bags and luggage in a foreign county with such an insurance policy. It will assist you in case of loss of check-in baggage or delay. It is essential when you are new to a country and are unaware of the rules and policies around here.
• Medical Coverage: A travel insurance policy provides complete coverage against emergency medical requirements. For instance, if you fall sick or have an accident, this insurance will support your financial needs and help you receive the best medical assistance in the country.

Thus, as this article pointed out, every Indian citizen needs a visa for Oman if they are planning to visit the country. Getting a visa is quite simple, as this process is entirely online. You need to select the type of visa carefully based on your purpose of visit. Additionally, you should be able to produce the required documents and fee to get the visa.