- Oman has officially established a free fourteen-day tourist visa category under new police regulations.
- The change eliminates previous fees and formalizes entry rules for designated foreign nationals.
- Visitors must possess a six-month valid passport, return ticket, and confirmed hotel reservation.
Oman opened a free 14-day tourist visa on Sunday, August 2, 2026, after revising its entry rules under the Foreigners’ Residence Law. The change turns a short-stay permission into a formal visa category. The new category starts the next day. Fees drop to zero.
Lt Gen Hassan bin Mohsin Al Shraiqi, the Inspector General of Police and Customs, issued the rule under Royal Oman Police Decision No. 109/2026. It gives the visa to nationals of countries designated by the competent authority and sets the charge at zero Omani rials. The fee is gone.
Holders can switch before expiry into another tourist visa category if they meet the conditions and pay the required fee. That keeps the stay inside a legal lane. The window stays flexible.
The decision said it rested on the Foreign Residence Law promulgated by Royal Decree No. 16/95, the executive regulations in Decision No. 63/96, and approval from the Ministry of Finance. The amendments were published in Official Gazette No. 1659 on August 2, 2026, and the change is effective the day after publication. The rule also adds the category to Article 10 and lists it under Article 29, where the fee is set at zero. The paper trail is explicit.
Travelers still need a passport valid for at least six months, a return ticket, a confirmed hotel reservation, health insurance, and sufficient funds for the stay. Oman’s foreign ministry also says citizens of GCC countries do not require visas to enter Oman. GCC nationals stay exempt.
Visa rules have loosened alongside Oman’s tourism push
Oman Vision 2040 frames the longer campaign. Before the amendment, Oman had allowed a 10-to-14-day visa-free exemption for 103 countries since 2020/2021. Under Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi and Azzan bin Qassim Al Busaidi, the tourism plan aims to attract 12 million visitors annually by 2040. The target is large.
Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi recently said the government is focusing on "vibrant new destinations" supported by "tourism-friendly legislation including the easing of visa requirements." He tied the policy to a wider tourism push. The message was clear.
In June 2026, Oman eased residency rules for foreign property owners, allowing them to obtain residence permits without a local sponsor. In July 2026, the country reaffirmed that GCC residents can enter visa-free if they hold a valid residency card from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, or Bahrain. The changes came quickly.
The new category does not stand alone. Travelers can replace it before it expires with other tourist visa types, including 30-day or 1-year multiple entry, subject to normal requirements and fees. That gives the 14-day stay a path to a longer visit when the paperwork fits. The clock starts on August 3, 2026.
The rule also formalizes a short stay that had operated as a visa-free exemption. It now sits inside the residence law as a separate visa category. The legal shift is concrete.
