Oman finally allows on-site conversion of free visa to long-stay visa

The legal text entered into force on 3 August 2026. It does not affect most Europeans, who were already exempt from prior visa requirements for the same 14-day stay, but it extends eligibility to nationalities previously required to pay on arrival.

What the Omani text says

Decision no. 109/2026, signed on 27 July 2026 by Lieutenant-General Hassan bin Mohsin Al Shuraiqi, Inspector General of Police and Customs, amends the implementing regulation of the law on the residence of foreigners (Decision no. 63/96, issued under Royal Decree no. 16/95).

It makes two key changes. First, it inserts a new paragraph 4 into Article 10 of the regulation, creating a “تأشيرة سياحية لمدة (١٤) أربعة عشر يوما” (14-day tourist visa). This visa is granted by the competent authority “to nationals of countries it determines, upon their request,” according to its own criteria. Second, it adds line no. 33 to the entry-visa fee schedule in Article 29, listing a single entry for the new visa: “مجانا” (free of charge).

The text also provides for conversion. Before the initial 14 days expire, holders may exchange the visa for any other tourist visa category under the regulation, subject to the applicable conditions and fees. Extended stays, therefore, are handled through category change, not extension.

Article 3 of the decision sets entry into force on the day after publication. Since the text appeared in Official Gazette no. 1659 of 2 August 2026, the measure has applied since 3 August 2026.

Which nationalities are covered

This is the unresolved point. The decision explicitly refers to “the list of countries the competent authority determines,” without attaching that list. No eligible-nationality roster has been published to date by the Royal Oman Police, but it is reasonable to expect a shortlist close to the countries already allowed a free visa on arrival.

In other words, the legal framework exists as of 3 August 2026, but the scope of application is to be defined administratively. Until an official list is published on the official portal, no traveller can state with certainty that they qualify for this new visa. Be wary of any rumored lists of countries already circulating; they carry no official weight.

What to do if you plan to stay longer than two weeks

The 14-day rule—whether stemming from the visa-free country list or the new free visa—does not cover longer stays. Beyond that period, travellers must obtain a paid tourist visa, applied for online before departure via the Royal Oman Police e-visa portal or through an agency like Visamundi.

Count full days of presence, not nights. Arrival day and departure day both count; a flight after midnight on day 15 already incurs overstay penalties. If your itinerary nears the two-week mark, secure a 30-day visa instead of testing the limit.