New Update on Travel Restrictions in Oman

Merge 104.8  |  17 August 2021

The Supreme Committee, in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), announced new COVID-related travel restrictions for entry into the Sultanate:

  • Entry to Oman has been limited to only Omanis and residents, who have visas issued on or before April 5th, 2021.
  • The suspension of entry from the following countries has been extended until further notice: Sudan, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, India, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Tunisia, Libya, Argentina and Colombia. Citizens and residents coming in from any other countries will be allowed in, unless they have passed through any of the aforementioned countries in the 14 days prior to their entry to Oman. Omani citizens, diplomats, health staff, and their families are exempt from the ban, but will still be subjected to Coronavirus precautionary measures upon entry to the Sultanate.
  • Institutional quarantine will be applied for all arrivals from Iraq and Iran, including Omani citizens. Anyone who passed through these two nations in the 14 days prior to their entry to Oman, will also be subject to institutionalized quarantine.
  • All non-Omani arrivals to Oman, including families with children below the age of 18, will also have to undergo institutionalized quarantine.
  • Omani citizens and other excluded categories mentioned before, will not be required to undergo institutionalized quarantine and will be allowed to quarantine at home (except those coming in from Iran and Iraq). Teaching staff working in government, private, and international institutions, along with their families, are also excluded from institutional quarantine.
  • All travelers coming into Oman on international flights (no less than 8 hours, including transit) will have to show a negative PCR test taken within 96 hours of travel. Those coming in on shorter flights will have to present a test taken within 72 hours.
  • Omani citizens who test positive after recovering from COVID-19 will be allowed to travel to Oman, if they show proof that they have completed the required quarantine period.
  • All arrivals to the Sultanate will have to undergo another PCR test at Oman Airports, and prior to their arrival, they will be required to pre-book the PCR test through the Sahala platform, pay the RO 25 fee for the PCR test, book an institutional quarantine (if required), and download the Tarassud+ app. After their arrival, travelers will have to wear the Tarassud+ bracelet, quarantine for 7 days and get tested on the 8th day (only leaving quarantine once they receive a negative PCR result).
  • Travelers coming into Oman will no longer be allowed to stay in the country for a period less than 8 days, and airlines will be responsible to ensure that no bookings to leave the country are made before the mandatory 8-day quarantine period ends.
  • All arrivals into the Sultanate must ensure that they have an international health insurance, that covers the cost of COVID-19 treatment valid for one month. Omani citizens, GCC nationals, and passengers with free treatment cards will not be required to carry this document.
  • Children below 16 will not be required to take the PCR test or wear the Tarasaud+ bracelet upon arrival,
  • Diplomats working at foreign embassies accredited to Oman and diplomats who are visiting, will not have to take a PCR test, but they will still be required to wear the Trassud+ bracelet, and quarantine for seven days.
  • Aircraft crew are exempt from PCR test, Tarassud+ bracelet, and isolation requirements. They will, however, be subject to precautionary measures issued by the Ministry of Health.
  • Children under the age of 18 will be exempt from institutional quarantine.
  • All other previously issued requirements for entry to Oman remain in force, unless they contradict with the newly mentioned requirements above.
  • Citizens and residents are advised to check the latest COVID-19 travel and testing requirements for the destination they are travelling to, if they decide to travel outside of the Sultanate.
  • Travelers leaving Oman will required to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to their scheduled flight time.