Oman Visa Guide: Eligibility, Documents & Process for Indians

About Oman

Oman is an Arab country in Western Asia; it is also known as the Sultanate of Oman. Earlier, the country was not counted very high on the tourist or business destination list. However, over the last couple of decades, Oman has not only emerged as a growing business hub but also a popular tourist destination.

However, before you visit Oman either for business or tourism, you should know a few things. Oman is an Islamic nation while Omani Rial is its currency. Moreover, while English speakers are found easily in the country, the most popular language is Arabic while Baluchi and Urdu are also spoken.

Oman is home to many endangered species including nine types of mammals and at least five indigenous birds. Housing many rarely found animals such as Leopard, Hyena, Oryx and Ibex and birds like Vulture, Falcons, Arabian Partridge and Sunbirds, Oman is a treasure trove if you want to find animals in their natural habitat. Oman is a hot spot for tourists who are interested in watching whales with chances of catching a glimpse of whales such as Pygmy Blue Whales, Sperm Whales and Arabian Humpback Whale.

The largest cities in Oman are Muscat, Seeb, Salalah, Bawshar, Sohar, Suwayq, Ibri, Saham, Barka and Rustaq. The local male residents in Oman prefer to wear the national dress, i.e. Dishdasha. The men in Oman carry a Khanjar with them during the festivals, khanjar is the national dagger of Oman. As far as women are concerned, in some places they wear a burqa, some wear hijab, and some wear the abaya. It depends on their preferences. People in Oman are the fan of non-vegetarian dishes, they hardly eat vegetarian dishes, but Omani Halwa is considered to be a symbol of Omani hospitality.

What is the Gulf Cooperation Council?

The Gulf Cooperation Council is a council of countries namely Arabian Peninsula, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. GCC was established in the year 1981 to promote economic, security, cultural and social cooperation between the six states. GCC holds a summit everywhere to discuss regional affairs. This agreement allows GCC residents to travel in these countries without any obligation to seek a visa from a consular post.

The Gulf Cooperation Council or GCC has six main branches that are:

• The Supreme Council.
• The Ministerial Council.
• The Secretariat-General.
• The Consultative Commission.
• Commission for the Settlement of Disputes, and
• The Secretary-General.

GCC residents and companions travelling with GCC citizens need to apply for a visa online. The will be sent to the registered email address of the applicant once the application is approved and the payment . The applicant will have to show eVisa at the Oman airport, and he/she will get the stamp on his/her passport. This visa is valid for 30 days if the applicant is a GCC resident. The visa can if the applicant wants to continue his/her stay. The entry permit for companions travelling with GCC resident is valid for 60 days.

The applicant will not be allowed to enter Oman in the following cases:

• If the GCC resident’s visa is found to be expired or cancelled,
• If the GCC resident changes his profession without any notice,
• If the sponsor does not accompany the GCC resident.

Oman Visa Application Process

Apply for Oman Visa

The applicant needs to apply for the Oman Visa at the official website of Oman Embassy. The applicant firstly needs to fill the online application form which is available on the official website of Oman Embassy.

Fill up the application form:

The applicant needs to follow all the instructions and fill up the correct information. The form asks for personal details like name, age, gender, address, and contact details. Other than the personal information, there are fields like the purpose of visit, type of visa, the documents that will be submitted and many more. The applicant must make sure he/she fills up all the mandatory details; otherwise, the form can be rejected.

Payment method:

After filling up the application form the next step is to choose a payment method for the fees. Only Demand Drafts and Bank cheques are accepted for offline payment. For online payment, a credit card with a visa or master card is accepted. The cost may vary based on the type of visa and the number of travellers.

Confirmation email:

Once the payment is accepted the applicant will receive an email with the application code. Within 1 to 3 days the applicant will receive the confirmation letter through a mail. The applicant needs to attach a printout of the confirmation letter with the other documents that are to be submitted to the authorities. The applicant needs to show the print out of the Visa at the airport, after checking all the details the applicant’s passport will be stamped.

Can I apply for Oman Visa online?

There are websites which provide you with the eVisa. Just make sure that the site is registered with the Government of Oman. It is advisable to apply for eVisa through the official website of the Oman Embassy: www.omanvisagov.com. The website helps individual and legal entities to complete the necessary paperwork for short term stay in Oman.

The most important point is the applicant can apply for eVisa only if he/she meets all the requirements. The applicant is required to fill the application form that is available on the official website. The applicant must fill all the details. After the application is filled, the applicant needs to make the payment. The applicant will receive a mail with the eVisa. The applicant is required to provide the print out of eVisa to the concerned person.

Oman Visa Online India

There are Omani Embassy in India. The Omani embassy is the official representative of Oman in India. Omani Embassy is a mediator between the Government of Oman and India. The applicant can apply online, and the process is explained above in brief. After filling up the form, the applicant needs to submit the required documents. The applicant can visit or contact the Omani Embassy in India near your location. The applicant can visit the Omani Embassy in India during office hours. The office hour is 9.30 AM to 4.00 PM.

Address-

The Embassy of Sultanate of Oman,

Chandra Gupt Marg,

Chanakya Puri,

New Delhi – 110021

Contact details- 011 2688 5622, 011 2688 5623.

Oman Visa Requirements

The applicant is eligible only if he/she meets the requirements. The basic requirements are:

• The passport must be valid for six months, and it must have one blank page so that the visa can be stamped. The passport must be in good condition.
• The applicant has to submit a copy of the confirmation page of the application form with the date and applicant's signature or a print out of Oman eVisa.
• The applicant must provide two recent passport size photos that should be visible and identical to the photograph that is in the passport.
• The applicant has to provide a copy of his flight reservation ticket and hotel reservation ticket.
• The applicant must submit his/her recent bank statement.
• The applicant must have filled the sponsor’s detail in the application form.
• A medical fitness certificate.

Additional document if the applicant is minor:

If the applicant is minor, he/ she must attach his/her birth certificate with other documents. The applicant has to submit a copy of his parent's (father and mother) passport with their consent letter. The consent letter must be notarized.

Additional document for GCC resident visa:

• A digital photograph of the applicant,
• Applicant’s passport,
• Confirmation letter stating that the applicant will enter Oman directly through GCC states,
• Copy of GCC visa.