Oman Introduces Free 14-Day Application-Based Tourist Visa

Oman has added a new, application-based tourist visa that costs nothing, effective Aug. 3. The move introduces a second route for short-term visitors on top of the country's long-standing 14-day visa-free entry, and it gives travelers a path to stay longer without leaving the country.

What changed

Royal Oman Police Decision No. 109/2026 formally added the free 14-day tourist visa to Oman's residence regulations. It was published Aug. 2 and took effect the following day. The visa fee is listed at 0 Omani rials, compared with 20 OMR for the standard tourist visa.

The key detail is that this is separate from Oman's existing visa exemption. Under the exemption, eligible travelers enter without applying for anything. The new option is a visa granted only after you submit an application — even though it is free. Oman has not yet published the nationality list for the new visa, so reports that it automatically covers all 103 visa-exempt countries are not confirmed.

Standard conditions for visa-free entry remain in place, typically including a valid passport, a confirmed hotel booking or documented accommodation, a return or onward ticket, and health insurance. Some nationalities — the source cites citizens of India, Egypt and Jordan — qualify only if they already hold an eligible visa or residence permit from countries such as the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan or a Schengen state. Certain Gulf Cooperation Council residents can qualify based on their profession.

What it means for nomads

The most practical difference is flexibility on length of stay. The existing visa-free entry generally cannot be extended. The new free tourist visa, by contrast, can be replaced from inside Oman with another paid tourist visa, subject to the relevant conditions and fees. If you want to stay beyond 14 days on the application-based visa, you must request the switch before it expires.

If you enter under the visa-free exemption, don't assume you can do the same switch — the source notes that travelers should confirm their options with the Royal Oman Police based on their specific status.

One thing hasn't changed: neither route allows paid employment. Both are tourist entries only. Anyone planning to work locally still needs a work visa or residence permit, which are unaffected by this update.

For remote workers scouting the Gulf, this is a low-cost way to spend a couple of weeks in Oman with a clearer route to extend if the country turns out to be a good base. Just keep in mind that working remotely on a tourist entry sits in the usual gray area, and Oman does not offer this as a work-authorized status.

Originally reported by Stamped Nomad.