As an Arabian country, Oman is known for its natural beauty and architecture. So, if you want to travel to this country from India for business, tourism, or any other purpose, get a valid visa first.
Thus, go through the guide below to learn about the requirements for an Oman visa for Indians. It also highlights the different visa types available, the processing time, and the application fee.
Information about Oman
The Sultanate of Oman is a country located in Arabia. Moreover, it joins its border with countries such as Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Muscat is the metropolitan city and capital of the country. In addition, Oman is a part of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council). The other member countries are listed below.
- the Kingdom of Bahrain
- the State of Kuwait
- the State of Qatar
- the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- the United Arab Emirates
Furthermore, Oman is also a member state of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Arab League, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
What is an Oman Visa for Indians?
An Oman visa is a travel document that permits the citizens of India to travel to the target country legally. This visa is further categorized into various categories depending on your purpose for the visit. For instance, a tourist visa, business visa, etc.
E-visa
Indian citizens can also submit their essential documents and applications online through the e-visa portal. An Oman electronic visa is the easiest method through which you can get your permit to travel to the host country.
Once approved, you will receive your e-visa via email or other electronic means.
Visa on arrival
Currently, Indian residents are not eligible to get a visa on arrival at the port of entry in Oman. Therefore, they must get a valid visa before leaving their home country.
Visa-free entry
For Indian citizens, Oman offers visa-free entry for up to 14 days. This means that you can travel and stay in the destination country for two weeks without a visa. However, in case of a longer stay, make sure to get a visa from your home country.
These efforts are made to make visa services easy for tourists visiting Oman. Other than India, there are other 99 countries whose citizens are exempted from a visa to travel to Oman for fourteen days.
General Issuance Guidelines for an Oman Visa
Read the following general guidelines for an Oman visa for a better understanding of the process.
- Make sure to get your e-visa before leaving the country through this official website.
- If you are an Indian living in Canada, Australia, the USA, Japan, the UK, or a Schengen member country, you can get a visa on arrival for fourteen days. However, make sure that you have certain documents such as health insurance, a hotel booking, or a confirmed return or onward ticket. The same applies to other accompanying applicants or children below 18.
- The Directorate General of Airport Security (Royal Oman Police) has stopped all kinds of visas for Bangladeshis traveling to Oman. This also includes the visa holders of the GCC residents.
- The nationals of Sudan living in any of the GCC countries cannot board a plane to travel to Oman unless they have a valid visa issued by the General Department of Passports and Civil Status.
- Furthermore, ensure to pay the fee for visa on arrival in the local currency of Oman (OMR).
- Applicants having a visa payment receipt will get a VOA.
- You can get your visa through this website.
- Other than the employment, investor residence, student, and family residence visas, applicants not holding a return or onward travel ticket might be refused entry to Oman.
Oman Visa Categories for Indians
Nationals of India have an opportunity to apply for several types of visas when traveling to Oman. So, you can choose any of the visa types considering the purpose of your trip to the host country.
This section also lists the validity and requirements for each visa category.
Tourist visa
You can apply for a tourist visa to visit Oman for purposes including tourism, sightseeing, or recreation. This visa allows you to enter the country once to explore and travel to different destinations.
For Indian citizens, a tourist visa is further subdivided into two categories.
- A tourist visit visa 10D (26 A) allows you to stay in the country for only ten days. This category is valid for up to one month (30 days).
- Secondly, you can apply for a tourist visit visa 30D (26 B) to stay in the country for almost one month.
Generally, a tourist visa is issued for 30 days, however, you can extend it for up to two months in rare cases.
Validity
Both the 10D and 30D Oman tourist visas are valid for almost three months. However, the maximum stay period for a 10D visa is ten days, and for a 30D visa is thirty days.
Requirements
- Indian passport with a validity of at least six months after you exit Oman. Also, make sure to attach the first and last page of your passport in a scanned color copy.
- Confirmed return tickets to show that you will go back to your home country before your visa expires.
- Proof of accommodation that should be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Oman. This could be in the form of a hotel reservation or a rental contract.
- Letter of invitation in case your trip is sponsored by an Omani friend or a family member.
- Two passport-size photos with white background and following the visa guidelines.
- Lastly, bank statements or other financial documents show that you can support yourself in the destination country.
Express or Business visa
You can apply for a business visa to enter the country for business purposes and to organize festivals, based on short-term or urgent activities. If you wish to work in Oman, any of the Omani local companies need to sponsor you for your legal stay.
Moreover, make sure to use it within three months after the date of issuance.
Validity
Generally, this visa is valid for up to 21 days (three weeks). Furthermore, it is non-extendable.
Requirements
- You must have an Indian passport valid for almost one hundred and eighty days after your intended departure from Oman.
- Return or onward travel tickets to ensure the officials that you will not overstay your visa.
- In case your trip is sponsored, you are required to submit a letter of invitation from the Omani company.
- Proof of accommodation such as a hotel booking or a rental contract for an apartment/house.
- Passport-size photographs, two in number, and a light color background.
- Bank statement showing your financial health and whether you will manage the daily expenses or not.
Student visa
Indian students traveling to Oman are issued a student visa. For this purpose, you must enroll yourself in an educational institute in Oman. Generally, this visa type is valid for the entire duration of your course or program.
Moreover, you can apply for an extension considering your needs. In addition, a student visa also requires you to have a residence permit to stay in the country for almost 2-3 years.
Validity
A student visa is valid for almost six months to two years. However, it depends on the duration of your academic course.
Requirements
- Two photos with a white or gray color background.
- A diplomatic Indian passport with almost three to six months of validity.
- A confirmed flight ticket showing your intent to either return to your home country or travel to another destination.
- Medical certificate showing that you are healthy and capable of continuing your trip to Oman.
- If you are a student, you have to submit supporting documents to demonstrate how you will bear your expenses for the entire length of your course.
- A letter of invitation or admission letter from the school or university in Oman.
- Lastly, an accommodation document mentioning the details of your stay. The relevant university or school can also arrange a hostel or a dorm for you to stay in Oman.
Transit visa
You can apply for a transit visa when traveling to another destination en route to Oman. In case you have a long layover, you can exit the airport and explore the country. This is the best way to visit Oman within a few hours.
The application for a transit visa is submitted online after completing the form and presenting the required documents.
Validity
A transit visa is valid for up to 72 hours (three days). Since the date of the visa issuance, make sure to use an Oman airport within three months.
Requirements
- A valid visa for the next destination country.
- Confirmed onward flight ticket for your target state.
- A passport with a validity of a minimum of six months from the date of departure from Oman.
- Two passport-size photographs with a light color background.
- Financial documents showing your balance such as a bank statement or a salary slip.
Family residence visa
In case you get residency or become a citizen of Oman, you can bring your family by applying for a family residence visa. This applies to the spouses and children (under 21 years of age).
Validity
A family residence visa is valid for up to two years.
Requirements
- Proof of relationship documents such as a marriage certificate and a birth certificate
- Passport and residence visa of the sponsor (Omani resident/primary visa holder)
- The income certificate of the sponsor (min 600 OMR per month)
- The rental agreement or the document of ownership of the residence
- Health insurance certificate
- Character certificates from both home and host country
- Medical certificate showing HIV test results
- Visa payment receipt
- Passport with six months validity
- Two passport-size photos
Investor residence visa
If you want to invest in businesses located in Oman, you should apply for an Oman investor residence visa. However, before applying for it, you have to fulfill certain conditions to meet the criteria.
Validity
Usually, an investor residence visa is valid for a period of six months.
Requirements
- Registration documents of the business
- Proof of investment (at least 50,000 OMR)
- Proof of financial resources showing sufficient balance
- Lease agreement for the premises where you will conduct your business
- Letter of approval from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- Indian passport with 6 months validity
- Make sure to complete your visa application form as well
- 2 photos
- Payment receipt of the visa fee
Scientific research visa
Indian individuals who want to conduct scientific research in the Sultanate of Oman can apply for a scientific research visa. You have to complete your credit hours within the duration of your visa.
Validity
Typically, a scientific research visa allows you to stay in the country for almost three months.
Requirements
- Plan and proposal of the research
- Approval letter from the research institute in Oman
- Letter of sponsorship from the Institute of Oman
- Qualifications documents (degrees and certificates)
- An updated CV
- Supporting documents from the Research Council of Oman
- Health insurance certificate
- Character certificates from both home and host country
- Visa payment receipt
- A six months valid Indian passport
- Recent passport-size pictures, two in number
- Ensure to fill out a visa application form
The Application Process for an Oman Visa for Indians
As an Indian citizen, you can apply for a visa to travel to Oman. Various methods can be adopted to start the application process. For example, you can either apply online or visit the embassy/nearest visa office to submit your documents physically.
Online visa application
The guide mentioned below will help you learn about the details of the online visa application process. You can use this method when applying for a short-term visa.
- Firstly, visit the official website of the e-visa portal and register yourself.
- After that, fill out the visa application form. You can find it here.
- Once done, upload all the required scanned documents such as a passport and photographs, etc.
- This step requires you to pay the application fee online using the available payment options.
- The officials will send you a confirmation email during the processing of your application. The processing of e-visa usually takes three to five days.
- After approval, you will get your e-visa through an email.
- Lastly, print a copy of this e-visa so that you can carry it during your trip to Oman along with your passport.
Physical visa application
Alternatively, you can visit a visa office or embassy of the target country in your home state to apply for a visa physically, especially a long-stay visa. For this purpose, follow the steps discussed below.
- You can fill out and download the visa application form from the website of the Embassy of Oman in India.
- Once completed, make sure to print out the application form. Before doing it, review it to rectify any errors or mistakes.
- The next step requires you to visit the nearest office to submit the form and the supporting documents.
- Then, pay the visa fee in local currency
- Once you have submitted the essentials, you can track the status of your application from the same official website mentioned above.
- Moreover, when the officials are done processing your application, they will send your documents back to you via a courier service. After that, you can pick up your passport/visa and start your journey to the Sultanate of Oman.
Visa Processing Time
The Oman visa processing time for Indians differs as per the category and purpose of your trip when applying for the process. However, generally, it takes at least five to seven working days to get your Oman visa.
Also, make sure to consider the weekends (Friday and Saturday) and public holidays in Oman while applying for a visa.
Moreover, if the visa requirements are not fulfilled, the processing time gets extended. This includes,
- the submission of incorrect documents
- fake information when completing the form
Visa Application Fee
The application fee for an Oman visa for Indians depends on the visa type you have applied for. Besides, it also caters to the duration of your stay in the target country.
Here is a comprehensive fee structure for Oman visas for Indians.
| Visa type | Fee in USD | Amount in Omani Riyal | Fee in Indian Rupee |
| Tourist visa | 51 dollars | 20 OMR | 5,600 INR |
| Express visa | 77 US dollars | 30 Omani Riyal | 6,524 Indian Rupee |
| Student visa | 51 dollars | 20 OMR | 5,600 INR |
| Transit visa | Not specified | – | – |
| Employment visa | 129 United States Dollars | 50 Omani Riyal | 10,872 Indian Rupee |
| Family residence visa | 51 dollars | 20 OMR | 5,600 INR |
| Investor residence visa | Not specified | – | – |
| Scientific research visa | Not specified | – | – |
FAQs
- Are Indians eligible to get a visa on arrival in Oman?
No. Indian citizens are not allowed to get a visa on arrival at the port of entry in Oman. They can apply for an e-visa to travel to the host country.
- Is it allowed for Indians to enter Oman without a visa?
Yes. Nationals of India can enter Oman visa-free for two weeks. After that, they are required to get a valid visa to stay longer in the destination country.
- What could be the possible reason for my Oman visa rejection?
Various reasons could lead to the rejection of your Oman visa. However, the most common ones are criminal charges or offenses, incorrect information provided on the application form, and submission of fake documents.
- What can I do if I have a layover and want to leave the airport in Muscat?
If you have a long layover and want to leave the airport in Muscat, make sure to apply for a transit visa before departing from your home country.
- Can I extend my Oman tourist visa?
No. It is not permissible to extend the validity of a tourist visa when traveling to Oman. In case you want to stay longer, exit the country, go back to your home state, and then apply for a new tourist visa.
Moreover, if you overstay your tourist visa, you have to face serious consequences.
- When should I apply for an Oman visa from India?
The visa officers of Oman take almost 7-8 working days to process your visa application. So, make sure to apply for an Oman visa for Indians at least two weeks before you visit the destination country.
Read Also: Visa Rejection Reasons