Visa to Oman for Russians
Russians need a visa to Oman. It can be obtained in two ways: at the airport upon arrival on the territory of the Sultanate (if the tour was purchased through an official travel agency) or when visiting the Embassy of Oman in Moscow. The latter method is not always possible. It is important to note the following features of obtaining a visa to Oman: the validity of a foreign passport for another 6 months after the start of the trip, the need to fill out a questionnaire, the availability of air tickets and hotel reservations, as well as a photograph of a tourist 3.5 by 4.5 centimeters, taken no more than six months back. Check a2zdirectory for history of Oman.
To apply for a visa to Oman through a tour operator, the following documents are required:
- Color photo on a plain blue background (4 by 6 centimeters). In the scanned version, the size must be at least 500 mb;
- A scanned copy of a foreign passport with a validity of 6 months at the time of sending to the country;
- A questionnaire filled out in English, indicating the last name, first name and patronymic, date of birth, passport number, date of issue and expiration date, as well as the exact place and time of the last trip abroad, place of work and position, citizenship, home phone number and the traveler’s address, mother’s first and last name, travel dates to Oman and a scan of the hotel reservation (usually a hotel reservation is required to open the visa).
All of the above documents must be sent to the party opening the visa, and she will send a visa request to the Immigration Service of the Sultanate of Oman. Obtaining a visa to Oman lasts from a week to 10 days. Documentation is sent to the receiving party or travel agency, which is their representative in Russia (the list of firms is available in the Moscow Embassy of Oman).
If the applicant receives a positive response, a confirmation of the opening of a visa to Oman will be sent by e-mail or fax. It will need to be presented at the time of check-in for a flight to the Sultanate. Upon arrival at the airport of the state, the tourist is given the original visa from the hands of the representative of the host country in front of the passport control counters.
Visa fees
For obtaining a visa to Oman with the help of the host party, a fee of 30 rials is charged, it must be transferred to this party. For their services, the host may charge an additional 35-70 dollars. The average final cost of a visa is from 90 to 110 dollars.
Valid term of a visa
The validity of a visa to Oman, issued with the help of the host country, is 21 days. Such a visa allows you to enter Oman once and stay there for up to 3 weeks.
Denial of a visa
Visa applications are often denied to women under 30 who are planning to travel around the country alone, without a husband/father/brother/male friend. Israeli stamps and other marks in the traveler’s passport do not prevent obtaining a visa and entering Oman.
Cruise visa
For participants in a sea cruise (with a stopover in Oman), it is possible to issue a transit visa upon arrival in the Sultanate, but on condition that the foreigner has a valid visa to the UAE. To do this, the liner employee gives a list of passengers who need a visa to the border service.
If the stay of the liner lasts up to 24 hours, no visa fee is required. If the parking lasts more than a day, you need to pay a fee of about 5 rials (can be debited from the onboard account).
Customs regulations
Oman Customs has the following rules:
- Unlimited currency transit;
- Possibility of export without payment of duty up to 8 video cassettes (for personal use), up to 2 liters of alcohol (only for tourists arriving by plane), up to 300 cigarettes.
If a foreigner is found to have violated the rules for entering Oman, he will have to pay a fine of about $520, after which he will be deported to his country of residence (at his expense). If you need to import medicines (for personal use), you need to present a prescription for it (it is good if it is translated into English). See Oman import restrictions.
The import of pets is allowed only if there is a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Oman, a veterinary certificate (an international sample obtained in the country of residence of the animal) and a certificate of vaccination against rabies (issued at least one year and no more than six months before visiting Oman ). To import a bird (parrot), you also need an expert certificate to allow its export from the country of origin.
It is forbidden to import into the state unpreserved food and drinks, medicines, obscene printed and video products, weapons (sports, gas, cold, toys), palm fruits, bees and drugs. Importation of meat products is allowed only in cases where they are made in accordance with Islamic laws.
On the territory of Oman, the import and export of Israeli currency is prohibited. It is forbidden to export old books and archaeological items.
