Do You Need A Visa For Oman On A Cruise

Oman, the Arabian country on the shore of Arabian Gulf, is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Indians. Tourists from all over India are flocking to Oman and exploring its fascinating coastal locales, including Salalah and Musandam Peninsula. If you are planning to visit this exotic land, you may want to get an Oman visa before you step onto its soil for the first time.

Have you ever wondered what does it mean when you dream about monsters? Well, the meaning may vary based on the context in your dream. Fairy tales and our imaginations have led us to think of monsters as scary creatures. On the other hand, if you are someone who lives life to the fullest, your perception of a monster could be different.

Do You Need A Visa For Oman On A Cruise

Visas

All visitors except GCC nationals require visas. The issuing authority is the Royal Oman Police, usually referred to as ROP. According to the ROP website visitors from more than 70 ‘G1 countries’ – which include the UK, EU countries, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – can obtain a tourist visa (listed on the website under ‘Visit Unsponsored visas’) through the Oman eVisa service. Applicants of some other nationalities who already have a valid Schengen visa may be eligible to obtain a visa for Oman.

In 2021 Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism announced a free-of-charge 14-day tourist visa for nationals of 103 countries (which include those G1 countries) to replace the ten-day visa costing OMR5. However, since the price of the ten-day visa had been in place for many years, this might be reverted to. Other options include: OMR20 for 30 days or OMR50 for a multi-entry one-year visa; all must be paid for by credit/debit card. Visitors from New Zealand can also apply for a three-month length of stay.

Overstaying the period of the visa attracts a penalty of OMR10 per day. It is possible, though difficult, to extend the validity through the ROP at the airport. A better solution is to obtain a visa for a time period longer than you plan on staying, especially if the optimal visa is valid for only a day or two longer than your intended stay.

Oman’s entry regulations have changed several times over the past few years, so check well before travelling with the Royal Oman Police. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office should also be consulted.

Getting there and away

By air

Muscat International Airport, located 40km west of Old Muscat (about a 40min drive), is Oman’s main international airport and also the hub for domestic flights. Salalah Airport, in the south of the country, receives flights from other GCC countries and India, and charter flights from Europe, as well as domestic flights from Muscat. In the north, Sohar Airport has flights from Qatar Airways and Salam Air.

Pre-pandemic, a standard direct return flight from Heathrow (terminal 4) with Oman Air flew twice a day to Muscat, at a cost of around US$1,000. Oman Air also flew between Manchester (terminal 2; evening only) and Muscat, with fares around US$1,100, thus enhancing Muscat’s hub status for onward flights to Asia.

By road

Oman borders three countries, but almost all road crossings are through the United Arab Emirates, whose entire international border is fenced. It is possible to travel between the UAE and the main part of Oman (ie: south of Al Fujayrah) from four areas: Al Buraymi, with three separate border posts; Al Wajajah; Aswad, a forthcoming opening on Oman’s Route 3 for easy access to the UAE via Sharjah’s route E102; and Khitmat Milahah.

By sea

Domestic services operate in northern Oman between Khasab in Musandam and Shinas on the northern Al Batinah coast; Khasab and Lima in Musandam; Shinas and Lima; and Lima and Dibba. In central Oman there are ferry services between Shannah on the mainland and Masirah Island. Contact National Ferries head office regarding the current domestic ferry situation.

Getting around

By air

Within Oman there are domestic flights from Muscat (MCT) to Khasab (KHS) in Musandam, and Salalah (SLL) in Dhofar. Oman Air also flies to Ad Duqm DQM. Check Salam Air for resumption of daily flights between Salalah and Sohar.

By sea

National Ferries operate in the Musandam area serving Khasab, Lima, Dibba and Shinas. A connecting coach service operates from Shinas to Muscat. Between Shannah and Masirah Island, there are several fast services daily. Information, including schedules and prices, as well as booking are available at nfconline.om. Advance booking, especially for vehicles, is suggested for all services; note that personal identification is required and vehicle documents should be produced.

Between Shannah and Masirah Island there are also several slow-boat services run by independent operators, which carry cars and trucks, and depart when each ferry is loaded with vehicles to its capacity. Passengers travel free of charge.

By road

The road network in Oman is excellent, with huge improvements having been made over the past few years. Major roads have street lighting, as do many minor roads even away from towns. Road surfaces are well maintained and road signs are in clear Arabic and, usually, also English, though occasionally the location of a sign might be improved.

Muscat and other major towns have a rush hour from 07.00 to 09.00 and from 16.00 to 18.00. Arterial routes may have elevated sections, and the previously congested roundabouts have been replaced by signalled junctions, at the loss of the very distinctive monuments at each roundabout’s centre.

However, with the dramatic increase in vehicles within Oman, the traffic is rarely free-flowing in the capital and other major conurbations. These are still more focused on vehicles than pedestrians, although there is increasing awareness that more pedestrian bridges are needed.

Going on a cruise party from your place to Oman? Well, you’d want to rethink about your Cruise Ship Passenger and Crew visa Oman. This visa is accessible for those people who will be arriving at the port of Oman via a cruise ship.

Overview:

• Who will be granted this visa?
• Subtypes of cruise visa
• 32A visa
• 32B visa
• 32C visa
• Cruise ship passenger and crew members transit visa
• Documentation needed for cruise 
• FAQs

WHO ALL WILL BE GRANTED THIS VISA?

This visa is granted to only the cruise ship passengers and crew members after the request for the application of a visa by the agent of the ship. If the request is done by a local sponsor then the passenger and crew members are allowed to stay in Oman for a period of one month.

SUBTYPES OF CRUISE VISA:

Still, wondering as to which type of visa will be the best for your trip?

Then there are 3 subtypes you’d want to know about before planning your trip:

1. 32A VISA: 

This visa is granted to passengers of the cruise ship and is valid for 48 hours of stay. This means that the tourists arriving at the port of Oman with this type of visa can stay in Oman for about 2 days. 

Entry:

One of the things that a tourist should keep in mind while travelling to Oman with this visa is that just having a valid visa won’t get you inside the country. The Royal Oman Police at the port entry will be responsible to let you in the country. The tourist can enter and leave Oman only on the same cruise ship.

VALIDITY OF VISA:

This visa will be valid for 6 months and that means you can enter the country with this visa during the 6 month time period from the date of issuance. 

DOES THE VISA ALLOW MULTIPLE ENTRIES?

The 48 hours cruise ship visa is only applicable for a single entry.

FEE:

There are no fees to be paid which means that this visa is available free of cost.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION:

Submission of application is to be done at the seaport in Oman. 

CAN THIS VISA BE EXTENDED?

This 32A type of visa cannot be extended and if there are any overstay then there will be a fine applicable of OMR 10 per day.

APPLICANT AND SPONSOR:

The applicant must be a cruise ship passenger visiting Oman only for tourism purposes and the sponsor must be an Oman shipping agent.

IMPORTANT SITES FOR APPLICATION OF VISA:

You can apply for the visa via an online method as well. You can apply online at www.omanievisa.com.

2. 32B VISA:

This type of visa has the same conditions as stated above. The only difference in this type of visa will be that the length of stay will be for 48 hours to 10 days in Oman. This type of visa is applicable to all the passengers and crew members of the cruise ship.

3. 32C VISA:

This visa also follows all of the conditions stated above. The difference in this type of visa will be that the stay period for the tourists visiting Oman will be for a month or 30 days from the entry into the country.

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER AND CREW MEMBERS TRANSIT VISA:

This visa is granted for those passengers and crew members on arrival to Oman. This will be a landing card which will be valid for not more than 24 hours. And if any of the members wish to stay for a period longer than 4 hours need to apply for a type of visa from the above-mentioned ones. Any of the citizens of Bangladesh and Israel are not allowed to enter Oman through the port.

DOCUMENTATION NEEDED FOR CRUISE:

While there are some of the documents you need to look for before planning your cruise trip, here are some of the common travel documentation that is required:

• A valid passport which is valid for more than 6 months
• A visa of any of the subtypes which are mentioned above
• A valid ID card which states the nationality of the tourist

Getting to know the subtypes of the visa and the requirements for the visa must have given an idea of which type of visa will be the best for your visit to Oman. You can now enjoy a nice time while you are here in Oman and take a cruise journey which will give you a memory to fill in your diary!

FAQS:

1. Can I go to Oman with Emirates ID?

A citizen of the GCC country can go to Oman with the Emirates ID.

2. Are there any cruise recommendations to visit Oman?

You can check MSC cruise or celebrity cruise Oman visa for a trip to Oman.

3. Can I travel via a cruise with a Dubai-Oman common visa?

Yes, you can travel via cruise if you have a Dubai–Oman common visa.

4. Are crew members exempted from taking a visa to Oman?

All the passengers and crew members must take a visa during their trip to Oman.

5. How can foreign cruise ship passengers enter Oman?

Cruise ship passenger and crew visa Oman is required for a foreign passenger to enter Oman.