COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Oman (24 March Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents are allowed to enter.

• Arriving residents should present proof of their accommodation to enter Oman.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes with exceptions

• Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are allowed to enter Oman.

• Oman has banned travellers from Lebanon, Sudan, South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Ethiopia until further notice.

• Travellers arriving from or with a travel history to the United Kingdom, Lebanon, Sudan, South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Ethiopia in the 14 days prior to arrival in Oman, will not be allowed entry to the country until further notice. Omani citizens and their family members, residents, diplomats, and health workers are exempt from the restriction.

• All arriving travellers must have a valid visa to enter Oman. Citizens from a list of countries are allowed to enter without a visa. The details and full list of countries can be found here. Visitors must have a confirmed hotel reservation, a valid health insurance policy, and a return ticket. Travellers will be allowed to stay in Oman for 14 days.

• Any other travellers should obtain approval via their airline. Alternatively, their sponsors can email the Omani MFA at this email address: [email protected] for approval to enter Oman.

• Visa-on-arrival services have been reinstated.

• Travellers arriving in Oman for tourist, business, or family visit purposes will be allowed to enter but must present proof of accommodation.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• No

• Transit is not allowed through Oman.

Is a test required on arrival?

• Yes

• All arrivals must complete a pre-registration for a mandatory PCR test on arrival, payment of the OMR25 test fee, and downloading of the Tarassud+ app. Nationals of the following 7 countries are exempted from the online registration requirements: Iran, North Korea, Russia, South Korea, Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria.

•   Aircraft crews, and children aged 15 years and below are exempted from the COVID-19 PCR test and Tarassud+ bracelet requirements

Is a test certificate allowed?

• Yes

• Test certificates issued outside Oman are accepted. The certificate must be in Arabic or English.

Test certificate required?

• Yes

• Arriving travellers must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate issued within the last 72 hours prior to arrival. Some airlines may ask for proof of a PCR test prior to boarding. Travellers with a diplomatic passport and travellers under 15 years of age are exempt from this requirement.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• Yes

• Travellers arriving in Oman through any border (land, sea, air) are subject to a mandatory 7-day institutional quarantine at their own expense and will be required to wear a tracking bracelet during the isolation period. A second COVID-19 PCR test is required on the eighth day. With a negative result, the traveller can leave quarantine and remove the tracking bracelet.

• Passengers must hold a pre-confirmed hotel reservation at Oman covering the mandatory quarantine period (at least 7 nights). All guests will need to provide proof of a hotel booking for 7 nights or a guarantee letter from their sponsor which specifies details of the arrangements that have been made in accordance with the institutional quarantine requirements.

• Effective 29 March, all passengers arriving in Oman must book accommodation in hotels and institutional isolation via the (Sahala) platform on https://covid19.emushrif.om/. All passengers must confirm the booking prior to check-in to avoid non-acceptance. Travellers aged 60 and above and unaccompanied minors aged 18 or younger are exempt from institutional quarantine but should undergo 7 nights home quarantine.

• Travellers arriving in Oman for a period shorter than 7 days are not exempt from the isolation requirements. Airlines are required to ensure that there are no travel reservations made to depart Oman before the mandatory quarantine period ends (7 days with negative PCR test result on the 8th day).

Is a vaccination required?

• No

• A COVID-19 vaccination is not required to enter Oman.

Insurance required?

• Yes

• All foreigners allowed to enter Oman must have a health insurance policy including coverage for COVID-19 for a period of one month from the date of scheduled arrival in Oman. Omani and GCC nationals do not require COVID-19 health insurance.

Entry form required?

• Yes

• Travellers will need to complete a traveller registration form and pay for the PCR test conducted on arrival before boarding. The form can be found here.

Recommended Border App

• Yes

• All travellers arriving in Oman must download the Tarassud+ app prior to departure for Oman.

• Anyone staying in Oman for more than 7 days must download the HMushrif application.

Airline restrictions

• Moderate

• International and domestic commercial flights are operating.

• Oman has suspended flights and banned travellers from Lebanon, Sudan, South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Ethiopia until further notice.

• Flights from the United Kingdom remain suspended until further notice. Cargo flights will not be affected.

• Repatriation flights may be available.

Border restrictions

• Significant

• Land borders will remain closed until further notice. Commercial truck traffic is not affected.

• The Royal Oman Police have resumed issuing visas, including “tourist” eVisas. Travellers can apply for an eVisa at this link.

• Cruise ships are prohibited from docking at Oman's ports.

Curfew restrictions

• Minimal

• A nationwide curfew from 20:00 to 05:00 (local time) is in place until further notice.

Social distancing restrictions

• Significant

• Mass gatherings are banned until further notice.

Internal travel restrictions

• Moderate

• Face masks are mandatory.

• Movement in streets and other public places is allowed.

• Public transport services are currently operating.

• Inter-governorate movement is allowed.

• Buses and ferries to Musandam and the Wilayat of Masirah are currently available.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Shop and businesses are allowed to resume services.

• Shopping malls and meeting halls are open. Swimming pools and gyms in hotels, fitness clubs, fish markets, tailor shops, traditional markets (souqs), and tobacconists have opened.

• Restrictions on most commercial and industrial activities were lifted.

• All non-essential commercial services remain closed from 20:00-05:00 (local time) until further notice until 3 April. Essential services will not be affected.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Hotels are open.

Restaurants open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Restaurants must be closed from 20:00-05:00 (local time) until 3 April.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes

• Bars and cafes are open. Cafes must be closed from 20:00-05:00 (local time) until 3 April.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• Yes

• Beaches are open for exercise activities only.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• Yes

• Museums are open.

Personal care services open?

• Yes

• Barbershops and beauty salons are open.

Places of worship open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Mosques are open. Other religious sites may be open with limited access.

Events allowed?

• No with exceptions

• Conferences and other events are suspended.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Face masks are mandatory in all public places. People violating this restriction could be fined.

Other

• Recreation places and parks are closed until further notice.

• Schools have reopened.

• Government offices are open with reduced staffing capacity.

• Companies are allowed to resume services at a reduced capacity.

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. This information is subject to change as the situation evolves. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Some countries are beginning to remove some restrictions gradually. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.