Oman Launches Free 14-Day Tourist Visa With Option to Extend Stay

Oman has revised its immigration rules, rolling out a free 14-day tourist visa for eligible travellers while giving visitors greater flexibility if they want to extend their stay. Under the updated Executive Regulations of the Foreigners’ Residence Law, eligible visitors can now convert this short-stay visa into another tourist visa category before it expires, as long as they meet the necessary conditions and pay the relevant fees.

For travellers who often pair an Oman trip with visits to the UAE or Qatar, this change eliminates a major inconvenience: no longer having to exit the country just because travel plans shift.

Who Can Get the Free 14-Day Tourist Visa?

The free visa is available to nationals of countries covered under Oman’s visa exemption policy. Indian passport holders qualify too, but only if they meet a set of additional conditions. To be eligible, Indian travellers must:

• Hold a passport valid for at least six months
• Have a confirmed hotel booking
• Carry a return or onward ticket
• Hold valid travel health insurance
• Show proof of sufficient funds for their stay

Additionally hold either:

• A valid visa or residence permit for the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, or a Schengen country, or
• Residency in a GCC country under an eligible profession

Travellers who don’t meet these conditions must apply for the standard Oman e-Visa before their trip.

What Has Changed?

Previously, the free 14-day entry was a fixed stay with little room for flexibility. Under the new rules, visitors can apply to switch to another tourist visa category before their free visa runs out, instead of being required to leave the country immediately. Any such conversion remains subject to Oman’s immigration rules and applicable fees.

This reflects a broader shift across the Gulf region, where governments are loosening tourism restrictions while keeping immigration checks in place.

Why It Matters for Indian Travellers

Oman has grown into a popular short-break destination for Indian travellers, helped by direct flights from cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Lucknow to Muscat and Salalah.

The updated rules make it simpler for eligible travellers to extend their trip if they choose to explore destinations like Muscat, Jebel Akhdar, Nizwa, or the Dhofar region further, without needing to leave the country mid-trip.

Before You Fly

Even travellers who qualify for free entry should carry:

• A passport valid for at least six months
• A confirmed return or onward ticket
• Hotel reservation proof
• Valid travel health insurance
• Proof of sufficient financial means

Omani immigration officers may request these documents upon arrival.