Travelers from a set list of countries will soon be able to enter Oman for two weeks without paying anything for the privilege, following a rule change the Royal Oman Police announced over the weekend.
The new permit was created through Royal Oman Police Decision No. 109/2026, signed by Inspector General of Police and Customs Lt. Gen. Hassan bin Mohsin Al Shraiqi. It appeared in Official Gazette No. 1659 on Sunday, August 2, 2026, and the rules take effect the day after publication.
Rather than standing as an entirely separate scheme, the measure works by rewriting parts of the Executive Regulations of the Foreigners’ Residence Law. A fresh paragraph was inserted into Article 10 to create the category, while Article 29 was updated so the fee for it is listed at zero Omani rials.
Eligibility is not open to everyone. The visa goes to nationals of countries the competent authorities designate, and it is issued on request rather than automatically. As of the announcement, that roster had not been made public. Authorities indicated the list of qualifying nations would be released on its own at a later point.
For visitors who find two weeks too short, the regulations leave room to stay longer. Before the free visa runs out, holders may switch it to a different tourist visa category, provided they satisfy the relevant requirements and cover the associated fees.
The change slots into a longer-running effort by the Sultanate to loosen the process of getting into the country. Officials framed the amendment as part of Oman’s broader work to make entry procedures easier for international visitors, with the new text overriding any earlier provisions that clash with it.
Oman already extends visa-free short stays to citizens of more than 100 countries, a policy the fee-free permit now builds on. The country draws large numbers of visitors each year to sites ranging from the Hajar Mountains to the seasonal greenery and waterfalls that arrive in Dhofar during the Khareef monsoon, positioning tourism as a pillar it continues to court.
