To avoid wasting time applying for a traditional visa at an embassy, applying online has become the most efficient way of obtaining a visa quickly. There are various ways of obtaining an e-visa.
Obtaining an e-visa for Oman: what are the eligibility criteria?
An e-visa is the surest way to enter the Sultanate of Oman. It should be noted that the Omani embassy no longer issues traditional visas. You will therefore need to apply online. So how do you find out if you are eligible?
First of all, you must hold a nationality from one of the countries eligible for an e-visa. You must also have a passport that is valid for 6 months after your arrival in Oman. The purpose of your trip to Oman must be strictly tourist-related. Finally, your passport must still have 2 blank pages when you arrive in Oman.
Obtaining an e-Visa via the authorities' website
Now let's look at how to obtain your e-Visa for Oman. The very first step in this procedure is to create a personal account. This will enable you to make the actual application on the authorities' website. Once you have registered, you will need to choose the "apply for visa"then selectapply for unsponsored visas".
You must then enter your nationality and whether you are a resident of a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country. You must then select the type of visa. Finally, you will need to enter your marital status and passport details.
Once you have essentially paid the visa amount by credit card, you will receive an initial e-mail. This will confirm receipt of your request and validation of your payment. You will then have to wait for your application to be processed, which takes one day on average. At the end of the process, you will receive your e-Visa as a PDF file by e-mail, which you should print out and keep until you travel.
Don't apply for your e-Visa too far in advance
Be careful not to submit your application too far in advance, as your e-Visa may no longer be valid when you enter the Sultanate. You will have 30 days from the date of issue to use your e-Visa. If you apply too early, you will need to reapply to ensure that your e-Visa is valid when you arrive.
Opt for the e-Visa services offered by a private entity
A private company can also apply for an e-Visa for Oman on your behalf. You also need a valid passport, a bank card number to validate your payment and an e-mail address to receive your document. You will need to fill in the necessary information on the website form.
The process is the same as on the authorities' website, except that the authorisation will be sent here within a maximum of 3 days. The company also offers different e-Visa Oman rates depending on the length of your stay. You can also make a group application.
If you have applied too far in advance, the agency will tell you that your application will be submitted later, so that you do not lose the validity of your document.
If you have applied too far in advance, the agency can help you obtain a new one, although in most cases you will have to wait until the first early e-Visa has expired before applying for the next one.
An agency service 