Ahead of the World Cup to be held in Qatar this winter, the Oman government has decided to relax entry requirements for World Cup spectators. A World Cup entry ticket will count as an Oman entry visa, in order to boost the countryʼs tourism sector.
World Cup ticket valid as Oman entry visa
The preparations for the World Cup in Qatar are in full swing, and the tournament, which starts on 30 November, is fast approaching. In preparation for this tournament, the surrounding countries have also taken the necessary measures to be able to accommodate the large number of spectators attending the World Cup. According to FIFA, more than 23.5 million tickets were sold in the last ticket sales round to attend a World Cup match. Most tickets have been sold in countries such as Great Britain, France, Brazil, Argentina, and the United States.
Oman Airports, an umbrella company that manages all civilian airports in Oman, has agreed that any international football fan who has a ticket to a World Cup match in Qatar can use the same ticket as an entry visa into Oman. Flights will also be offered at reduced prices between Muscat, the capital of Oman and Doha, the capital of Qatar.
Tourism boost in Oman due to World Cup in Qatar
The company has also announced that it has drawn up a plan to boost the travel and tourism industry in Oman to benefit from the World Cup in Qatar. Together with OMRAN (Oman Tourism Development Company), Oman Airports and the official authorities, Oman Air has indicated that it wants to facilitate the large number of football fans coming to the World Cup. They will offer hotel accommodation and charter flights to the match venues in Qatar. With visa-free travel for residents from countries around the world, Oman is proving to be an ideal destination to spend the winter.
Apply for an Oman visa
If you have not been able to get a ticket for the World cup in Qatar and would still like to spend the winter in Oman, you will have to apply for an Oman visa. You can only apply for this visa online, as the visa on arrival has been rendered obsolete as of 2018. Depending on the duration and purpose of your trip, you can choose between different types of visas.
- Single-entry tourist visa (10 days). This visa allows you to travel to Oman for a single stay of up to 10 days. This e-visa costs € 49,95.
- Single-entry tourist visa (30 days). This visa is also good for one trip to Oman, but for a maximum of 30 days. This e-visa costs € 89,95.
- Multiple-entry tourist visa. This visa is valid for one year and can be used for an unlimited number of trips within that year. Each stay in Oman may not exceed 30 days. This visa is therefore slightly more expensive than the single-entry visa and costs € 159,95.
Take note: this news article about the visa for Oman is more than one year old. It might contain outdated information and advice, and no rights can therefore be derived from this article. Are you going on a trip soon and do you wish to do know what rules currently apply? Read all about the up-to-date information about the visa for Oman.