Oman offers visa-free entry to Iranian tourists
Oman has opened its doors to tourists from over 103 countries including Iran by offering visa-free entry for up to 14 days, local media reported.
According to the Royal Oman Police (ROP), Iranians do not need to obtain a visa to see Oman’s tourist attractions, Gulf Insider wrote.
An ROP official clarified that tourists from the 103 countries have the option to extend their visa-free stay for more than 14 days, with a fee applicable for the extension.
Additionally, following the specified period, travellers from these countries must apply online for an e-visa for a fee of OMR 20 for a period of one month.
They can also apply for a multi-entry visa for one year, provided that their stay on each visit is not more than a month, and that certain conditions are met.
ROP noted that some Indian tourists can also obtain a visa on arrival, provided they have an entry visa from the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Schengen countries, or Japan, or have a resident permit of one of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and work in a profession approved by the Oman government.
This decision was made to support the tourism industry in Oman, and according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information, the Sultanate of Oman saw a massive 348 percent increase in tourists in 2022 compared to 2021, with 2.9 million tourists arriving in Oman in 2022.
A top official at Omran Group, Mohammed Al Ghufaili, said that the growth can be attributed to integrated steps, some of which include free entry visas to more than 100 countries.