Oman on-arrival visa announcement as per available info: FM
"Therefore, those traveling to Oman are requested to obtain a visa immediately if they do not meet the above requirements," the Foreign Ministry said.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
The Maldivian government announced visa-free travel to Oman last March in accordance with official information provided by the country's government agencies, but it later learned of conditions to be met, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
The Foreign Ministry announced in a statement on March 30 that it had added Oman to the list of countries where Maldivians can travel without taking prior visa. However, the ministry's statement on Tuesday included an additional condition that was not included before.
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Have an unexpired visa from the United Kingdom, United States, Schengen countries, Canada, Australia or Japan or be a citizen of one of these countries
A local family who went to Oman without obtaining prior visas were detained at the airport for 12 hours on Monday. The family, who had booked and paid for the hotel, expressed concern that they had to return to Maldives without any way to get the money back.
Quoting the Foreign Ministry's March statement on the availability of on-arrival visas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday that the press release gave the official information provided by the relevant authorities of the Omani government at the time.
"However, the Ministry has subsequently received information that Maldivians traveling to Oman are issued a 14-day on-arrival visa only if the following conditions are met," the ministry said in a statement.
The conditions are as follows:
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1-
Have an unexpired visa or citizenship of the UK, USA, Schengen countries, Canada, Australia or Japan
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2-
Hotel booking, round trip ticket and health insurance
"Therefore, those traveling to Oman are requested to obtain a visa immediately if they do not meet the above requirements," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry's previous statement included the following conditions:
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A valid passport (more than six months in validity)
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Have a confirmed hotel booking
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Health insurance
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A return ticket
Hussain Shahudhaan, who posted on X, told Atoll Times that he and his family had fulfilled all the requirements before the trip.
He added that he was told he would have to fill out a form to enter Oman when he contacted the Maldivian Foreign Ministry. When the government announced that we can travel to Oman without a visa, they did not mention filling out a form.
The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said it is in discussions with the authorities of Oman to arrange for unconditional on-arrival visas for Maldivians traveling to Oman.
