Oman to restart issuing tourist visas

Oman will resume issuing tourist visas to select categories of individuals, the country’s Supreme Committee dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic ruled on Monday, November 30.

Tourist visas will reportedly only be issued to those whose visits are organised by hotels or tourism companies.

“The Supreme committee decided to allow the issuance of tourist visas to enter the sultanate, provided that the arrival of tourists is within the framework of tourist groups organised by hotels and tourism companies,” said a statement issued by Oman News Agency, reported the Times of Oman.

Read: Over 75% of visitors to Oman show Covid-19 symptoms within 7 days

The country had initially suspended the issuance of tourist visas in March as the Covid-19 pandemic began to accelerate globally.

In June, it decided to extended the validity of tourist visas until March 2021. All tourist visas issued from March 1, 2020 until August 31, 2020 were eligible for the extension.

Read also: Oman to extend tourist visas until March 2021; protocols to reopen airports complete

Oman reopened its airports for regular commercial international passenger operations on October 1, 2020, nearly six months after closing its airports on March 29.

Read more: Oman to reopen airports for international flights in October

Earlier this month, the authorities in the UAE decided to allow Omanis to enter the UAE through its land ports without prior approval. Omani citizens are however required to present a negative PCR test result, taken a maximum of 48 hours before their arrival. Additionally, they are also required to conduct a Covid-19 test at the entry ports upon arrival.

Read: UAE to allow Omanis to enter through land ports from November 16