Entering Oman by land (from the UAE) as a UAE Resident is said to be as easy as 1,2,3. Bring your passport, make sure your residence visa is valid, and make sure the car insurance covers Oman (or else purchase one at the Oman border).
These requirements remain the same as a visa upon-arrival program for UAE Residents. However, the eligibility for the visa upon arrival or online system programs depends on a deciding factor: the "profession title" stated in your UAE Residence Visa. And this was my case back then, so how do we go about it? Keep reading!
DISCLAIMER: This post is based on my application for the Oman Tourist Visa as a Dubai Residence visa holder back in November 2017. Do take note that residents from other Emirates may have different policies and there may be new policies in place, so check accordingly.
Check your VISA ELIGIBILITY through the Royal Oman Police.
Low Profession Title? What's that?
If your profession/work title stated in your UAE Residence Visa is not on the list, then you fall into the same category as mine, with what they call a low profession title. This category includes titles such as sales, receptionist, clerk, cashier, security guard, and many more. Unfortunately, this restriction exists due to the government's concern that tourists with low professional titles might seek employment in Oman.
While I can understand their perspective, it poses challenges for responsible tourists. So, let me share the options I've tried and experienced firsthand.
What processing options are there?
Since my case falls on the low profession title, we went through hoops, to say the least.
- Oman Embassy - Upon checking with the Embassy directly (November 2017), I was told that I couldn't get a visa on arrival or from the embassy itself. Instead, they advised me to apply for a visa online.
- Online E-Visa system โ I checked this option right away. Unfortunately, it was only applicable to certain professions, and mine wasn't listed. In the end, I decided not to proceed with it.
- Tasheel near Oman Embassy โ A friend recommended Tasheel (with multiple locations around Dubai now) to apply for the visa on my behalf. With fees of AED 50.00 for the Oman Visa and another AED 50.00 for the service charge, I decided to give it a shot. Both my friend (a receptionist) and I (in sales) applied. While my friend's visa got approved, mine was rejected without explanation. The agent couldn't provide any insights into why mine was rejected. And oof, the application fee was non-refundable.
- Oman Embassy โ Back at square one, my friend helped me and brought my rejected visa application to the embassy. Armed with documents like an NOC and a Salary Certificate in hand, the embassy was still of no help.
- Travel Agency (based in Oman) โ Almost ready to give up due to visa issues, my manager (back in the travel agency) suggested to call our local partner in Oman. Hesitant, I called our partner and he told me they could provide a tourist visa! Some agencies require a 'guarantor' in Oman to vouch for you. However, our partner didn't require one (only a passport copy and UAE residence visa) since we are working together. After a week of anticipation, the visa finally arrived!
Take note that the visa is this small paper and will not be stamped on the passport. Keep this with you at the border.
Visa Cost & Travel Agency in Oman:
The most important question now is how much did it cost me. I paid a whopping AED 400 to our local partner in Oman for the visa application including the courier fee. Yes, it's freaking expensive and almost the same cost as applying for a Schengen Visa.
The local partner who helped me apply for my Oman Tourist Visa is Mezoon Travel. Upon scanning the (travel) industry and online, there are lots of travel agencies in Dubai who is now offering Oman Tourist Visa as well.
Overall Experience:
This is my first rodeo on painful visa processes (hello to my rejected Schengen Visa Application). And I don't want you to go through it. The wasted time, effort, and money are not worth the anxiety and stress. Yes, the visa cost is expensive. But it is more efficient to just go straight to a travel agency than DIY the process.
That's all folks and we are finally off to HIKING (W4 TRAIL) IN JEBEL SHAMS!
