Travel advice for Omani citizens and residents

The Foreign Ministry wishes you a safe trip abroad.

Safety

All those travelling abroad from Oman are advised to check carefully on the safety and security of the country or countries they plan to visit.

The Foreign Ministry and Oman’s missions abroad publish travel warnings to the general public when the situation requires it. Travellers are requested to pay attention to such warnings.

Documentation

Before you travel you must make sure that you have the documents and funds you will need for your journey.

These include passport, identity card, ticket, credit cards, cash or travellers' cheques, travel/health insurance and medical certificates.

Passport

• Check that your passport is valid for a period of at least six months during your journey.
• Check the confirmation of your ticket before travel.
• Some countries require entering visitors to show a return or onward ticket.
• You should keep all important documents and important personal items with you, in a safe place.
• It is highly recommended to keep a copy of your passport and identity card in case of loss. (Many travellers keep a soft copy in their smartphone.)
• Many countries have restrictions on the total amount of cash a traveller can carry on entry or departure from their borders and require disclosure to customs if the total amount of cash carried is equal to or exceeds the limit imposed. It is recommended to check before travelling the cash limits and customs procedures of the countries you intend to visit.
• It is important to retain the receipts from banks or money changers for all foreign currencies you exchange at home or abroad during your journey.

Insurance

• Many countries require visitors to have appropriate medical insurance with adequate cover for all the countries you plan to visit and for the whole period of your journey.
• You should also consider taking out travel insurance to cover you against loss of luggage, delays etc. It is often possible to buy combined medical and travel insurance.

Entry visa

For more information on visa requirements and how to apply for a visa for the country or countries you wish to visit, please click here.

Vaccinations and health

Some countries require vaccination records, particularly if you have visited certain countries during a specified time period before entry to their borders. You should check what vaccinations are required for the country you intend to visit. For more information on this, contact the Embassy or Consulate of the country you intend to visit.

You can find a list of foreign missions in Oman here.

• Make sure you have with you the appropriate medical certificates to prove the validity of your vaccinations as required.
• Be sure that you understand the health procedures that will apply to you during your journey, stay, and departure from the country or countries you plan to visit. You should also understand the regulations (e.g. quarantine) that will apply to you on your return to Oman.
• If you take regular medication, make sure you have enough supply to cover the whole period of your journey. You should keep with you the prescription for the medicine and you may be required to present a medical report to customs.

General information

• Before you travel confirm your reservation for hotel or other accommodation. You may be required to show this confirmation on entry to the country you intend to visit.
• Make sure that you carry your travel documents and money and other essential personal items (e.g. medication) with you – do not pack them in your luggage.
• Make sure that you arrive at the airport terminal at least 2 or 3 hours before the scheduled departure, depending on the destination.
• Do not carry or check in any bags that do not belong to you. Never agree to carry any luggage from strangers.
• Make sure you understand and follow all immigration laws and entry regulations for the country you are visiting.
• Be acquainted with the laws, customs and traditions prevailing in the country you intend to visit and follow them.
• You must comply with the conditions of travel, particularly relating to safety and security.
• Make sure you understand what you can and cannot carry in the hand luggage that you carry on board and what you must put in your hold luggage.
• You must not carry any prohibited substances on to the aircraft in your hand luggage (e.g. liquids, fireworks, flammable materials, sharp objects).
• There are also restrictions on what you can put in your hold luggage. You should note that some items containing lithium batteries (e.g. laptops) must not be placed in hold luggage. Your airline can provide information.
• Make sure you understand regulations and restrictions relating to the carrying of jewellery, money, food, live and stuffed animals and birds, antiques, works of art, etc.
• If you are carrying larger or heavier items of luggage, check with your travel agent or airline before you arrive at the airport. Most airlines will not accept any piece of luggage that weighs more than 32 kilogrammes.

Staying safe

The Foreign Ministry wishes you to enjoy a safe journey abroad.

• You should generally exercise caution. Familiarise yourself with any particular risks to your safety and security in the country you are visiting.
• For your safety, the Foreign Ministry advises you generally to avoid visiting suspicious places, and to avoid being out late at night.
• You should deal only with recognised and officially registered tourism enterprises to avoid the risk of theft or deception.
• Omani citizens should register their personal information and the address of their hotel or residence with the Embassy or Consulate of the Sultanate in the country they are visiting. This will make sure that the Omani mission knows you are in the country and will make it easy to contact you in case of any emergency.
• You can find a list of Omani Embassies and Consulates abroad here.
• It is a good idea to make a note of the phone number, email and address of the Omani mission in the country you are visiting.
• In case of loss of any official documents (e.g. passport or ID card), such loss should be reported immediately both to the nearest police station and to the Sultanate’s mission in that country.
• You can find out more about what do if you lose your passport here.

Studying abroad

• Students must contact the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation to check the recognition of the universities at which they wish to study.
• For more information please click here.
• An electronic registration should be completed for each student at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation  to facilitate the approval of  a qualification following his/her graduation.
• For more information please click here.
• Students must apply for a study visa long enough in advance in order to start his/her study on the specified date.
• For more information please click here.

Medical treatment abroad

• Anyone considering medical treatment abroad should first consult a local physician in Oman to establish whether the patient’s medical situation requires travelling abroad for treatment and whether the patient is well enough to travel.
• Be familiar with the treatment system applied in the intended countries and in particular, what the cost will be.
• Contact the medical institution you wish to carry out the treatment programme before you travel.
• Always disclose your condition as fully and accurately as possible, making use of your medical records.
• Avoid taking medicine from several physicians for different conditions at the same time.

Doing business abroad

Omani businessmen and women should exercise caution when doing business abroad and should seek qualified professional advice both in Oman and in the country where they are doing business, as appropriate.

• Before pursuing business opportunities abroad, they should check the credibility of the business projects offered by consulting the official Omani authorities (e.g. Omani Chamber of Commerce, Sultanate’s missions abroad).
• Before signing any contract or agreement, you must be fully familiar with all the terms and that they comply with the laws in force. You must consult a specialist lawyer(s) in this respect.
• Don't trust business propositions from anonymous individuals, particularly by email or through the internet.