Muscat: Tourists who plan to travel to Oman or expatriates who wish to bring relatives on a tourist visa continue to seek clarification on the availability of visa of arrival at Muscat Airport.
Sources at the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) and Royal Oman Police (ROP) clarified to the Observer that the visa on arrival is available, but it is better for tourists to procure an appropriate visa for a seamless trip.
An official at the emigration department of Muscat International Airport said the visa on arrival is available, for example nationals coming from one of the eligible countries such the UK, for one month stay (RO20) and a ten-day stay (RO7).
“Sometime back, I saw reports about the authorities urging travelers to avail the e-visa option instead of visa-on-visa arrival. The visa on arrival is a better option for me because travelers may be not comfortable applying online and then waiting for the response or no response,” Rebecca, a UK passport holder, who wants to get her friends to Oman early January.
But sources at the Ministry of Tourism want tourists to process their visa electronically prior to arrival in Oman and avoid standing in queues at the counters.
The Muscat Airport has been equipped with e-visa gates to help in-bound tourists avoid queues and enter the country smoothly.
Travel agents feel that tourists should depend on less e-visa to avoid any possible unpleasant experiences. “Immigration officers are within their rights to deny anyone a visa if they found the person ineligible. E-visa or booking through an agent is not expensive anymore. It will allow tourists to travel with a less degree of uncertainty,” said a senior executive of a popular travel agency.
Similarly transit visa is also available for travelling using the Oman-based airlines. The travel itinerary must involve Oman plus two countries.
Applicants must have a six month valid passport and the length of stay in Oman should not exceed 72 hours. He or she should have enough money to cover expenses and an onward ticket. A short stay transit visa for a 24-hour stay is also available on similar conditions.
Visit to Oman for both 10 and 30 days is granted to person with a valid Schengen visa or a valid visa to one of the following countries (USA, UK, Canada, Australia or Japan).
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