Over the past one year, it has become easier for the Indian folks to travel to various parts of the world. Qatar, UAE, Oman have been some of the countries in the Middle-east offering easy visas to Indians. UAE also plans to give free 48 hour visas in the coming days.

Now, a new Visa class issued by Oman, called Visa 26N Tourist Visit Visa, is going to make it even cheaper and easier to visit Oman for Indians. Indians with a valid residency or a multi-entry visa to the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan or a valid Schengen visa can now avail of the new e-visa for 5 Omani Riyal (~INR 900). You can apply for it online at the website of the Royal Oman Police.

You need a scanned picture, scanned passport, existing visa copy from the countries mentioned above. The Visa can be used within a month from approval. You do need an existing hotel booking in the Sultanate, along with a return ticket. People who still need sponsors can also get this visa via their travel agents for an additional fee.

This is on the back of the 30-day e-visa that Oman started to issue to Indians without a sponsor requirement. This is not a real-time approval of Visa, but it doesn’t take very long as well. The 30-day Visa costs 20 OMR, and this is just 5 OMR, so makes sense for short trips.

Bottomline

This is another great news for Indian travellers. Oman is a great country, and while I’ve only visited once, and had to get a sponsor for my business trip then, I’m sure this time around I don’t need to have a sponsor to plan a tourism trip to Oman anytime soon.

Do you think the Oman 10-day Visa puts it on your list of places to go?