After the Omicron variant was discovered, many governments — including Oman — have resorted to imposing heavier restrictions for travelers and nationals of certain countries.
Those who are interested in the Muscat visa for Indian nationals and are planning to take a trip to Oman should be sure to follow the latest entry rules, especially if the trip is coming up soon.
Omicron strain update: Which countries are banned?
Countries tend to close their borders after new variants of the coronavirus are discovered, which is certainly the case with Oman.
After news broke that the Omicron strain was found in a handful of countries in southern Africa, Oman joined dozens of other governments in banning nationals of specific countries.
According to the ONA, the official news agency of Oman’s government, the country’s Supreme Committee enacted an entry ban on seven African countries. These include South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Mozambique.
However, this list is temporary and may have more additions, especially as the Omicron variant continues to spread to more countries.
The travel ban began on November 28, 2021, shortly after news broke of the new variant, and is enacted until further notice.
Nationals of these seven countries, as well as foreign travelers who have passed through the countries within the last 14 days, will not be allowed entry into Oman.
The only exception is Omani citizens, permanent residents, and their families. Those who are exempted will have to undergo strict entry procedures, including taking a PCR test upon arrival, staying at a government quarantine center for 7 days, and repeating a PCR test on the 6th day.
Current entry requirements for Oman
Travelers who have not been to any of the countries on the ‘ban list’ are allowed to enter Oman as long as they follow the proper entry requirements.
All visitors to the Sultanate of Oman are required to have adequate health insurance that includes potential COVID-19 expenses. This insurance must be valid for at least one month.
From there, arrivals are divided into two groups: those who are vaccinated and those who are not.
Passengers who are not fully vaccinated (i.e. only one dose or none) will need to provide a negative PCR test before arrival into the country. The test must have been taken 96 hours before arrival (if the journey takes more than 8 hours) or 72 hours if the journey was less than 8 hours. Finally, the negative results must be uploaded to the eMushrif website before arrival.
Non-vaccinated passengers will be subject to another PCR test upon arrival.
Fully vaccinated passengers do not need to have any additional paperwork to enter Oman. However, those who do not have a negative PCR test before their departure will also be asked to undergo a test upon arrival at their expense.
Oman currently has 8 approved vaccines, which includes the following: AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Covishield, Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Sinopharm, Sinovac, and Sputnik. To be considered fully vaccinated, travelers must have their last dose at least 14 days before arrival into Oman.
Domestic restrictions in Oman
Similar to many countries around the world, the Omani government has recently introduced a number of domestic restrictions to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Perhaps the most important is that only vaccinated people are allowed to enter grocery stores, commercial buildings, and food establishments (i.e. cafes or restaurants).
In order to be granted entry, visitors will need to show proof of vaccination. Foreign visitors who have a vaccination certificate will need to make sure that it has a readable QR code.
Likewise, face masks must be worn in all public places, regardless if they are indoors or outdoors. The Omani government encourages keeping a safe distance (at least 2 meters), frequently washing hands, and using antibacterial spray to wipe down surfaces.
Besides the aforementioned restrictions, everything else is operating as usual. Oman is open for tourism and accommodations (i.e. hotels and resorts), public transportation, and catering establishments are working.
Traveling to Oman: What to know
As the world slowly begins to live with the ‘new normal,’ more and more people are planning trips to see friends and family, business associates, or simply to enjoy a holiday.
Those who are planning to travel to Oman soon will be pleased to hear that the majority of routes between India and Oman have been restored. There are more than a dozen direct flights from major Indian cities (i.e. Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi) to Oman’s capital, Muscat.
Likewise, this popular route is served by prominent airlines such as Oman Air, flydubai, Air India, SpiceJet, and Sri Lankan, among others.
To get around the country, travelers can take advantage of Oman’s domestic flights, which fly to destinations like Salalah and Khasab.
While in Oman, don’t miss the country’s stunning tourist attractions, including the fort in Nizwa (Oman’s former capital!), the Wahiba Sands desert, and the beaches of Masirah Island.
