07.09.2026
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Do Russians need a visa for Oman in 2026? Since 18 July 2025, Russian citizens do not need a visa for Oman for tourist purposes for stays of up to 30 days per trip, totalling up to 90 days within a calendar year; the same agreement also covers transit. A visa is required only for longer stays, study, work, or permanent residence; it can be obtained through the eVisa service. For details on what documents are checked at the border and when a visa is needed, see the entry rules section below.
What changed about Oman's entry rules from 2025? Prior to 17 July 2025, Russians could stay in Oman without a visa for no more than 14 days; from 18 July 2025, this period was extended to 30 days per visit, with the annual limit of 90 days retained. A full timeline of the changes to the entry rules is provided in the first section of this article.
Oman is an Arab state in the south-eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Russians do not need a visa for a tourist trip if the stay does not exceed one month per visit and 90 days in total within a year.
Image source: Eduard Galitsky / unsplash.com
This entry arrangement has been in effect since the summer of 2025 and applies to all tourists, regardless of whether they are travelling independently or through a travel agency. These entry conditions are among the most lenient in the Persian Gulf region and apply throughout the Sultanate, not only in Muscat.
Below are the main conditions for lawful visa-free entry into Oman:
If any of these conditions is breached, a visa becomes mandatory, and being in the country without one is considered unlawful.
The old and new entry rules are set out in the table below:
| Period | Visa-free stay |
|---|---|
| Up to 17 July 2025 | up to 14 days |
| From 18 July 2025 | up to 30 days, no more than 90 days per year |
A visa is mandatory in the following cases:
Transit through Oman for Russians also falls within the visa-free arrangement — see the relevant section below for more detail. Where a visa is required, documents should be submitted in advance, as processing takes 3–10 working days.
The following standard set of documents is usually checked at the border:
Border officers are entitled to ask you to show the sufficient amount as proof of financial means. It is typically assessed on a per-person, per-day basis.
It is possible to enter the country not only by air but also overland, via the land border with the UAE. The entry conditions in this case are the same as when entering through Muscat International Airport: the same visa-free period, the same set of documents.
There are no strict restrictions on the choice of border crossing point, but it is advisable to exit through the same post where you entered. An entry stamp is placed in the passport at the border crossing, and an electronic visa is printed in advance and presented together with the passport.
The entry rules for Oman for Russians in 2026 require a standard set of documents regardless of whether a visa is needed or not: a passport, tickets, a hotel booking, and funds for expenses. These entry conditions apply equally at Muscat Airport and at the land border with the UAE, as well as for tourists travelling as part of a package tour.
Required documents:
These requirements are suitable for most trips, but in some cases an airline or hotel may request additional paperwork.
The Oman electronic visa is officially called an entry permit and effectively replaces the familiar passport stamp — a printed PDF file must be kept with you alongside the other documents. If you are travelling with a pet, it will be required to undergo quarantine upon arrival.
Mir cards, as well as Russian Visa and Mastercard, are not accepted in Oman due to sanctions, meaning it is not possible to pay with them in hotels or shops.
Payment is made in cash in Omani rials or by UnionPay card, though not all establishments accept the latter: it is most commonly accepted in large hotels and shopping centres rather than in every café, shop, or restaurant. According to reports, UnionPay cards sometimes work at National Bank of Oman terminals.
Cards issued by banks in Turkey, Belarus, or Kazakhstan may also be worth trying. US dollar banknotes issued before 2013 are not accepted by banks or exchange offices in Oman; the current list of unaccepted denominations is best checked with your bank before exchanging money.
Exchange rates at currency exchange offices may differ from bank rates, so it is advisable not to bring a large sum of cash; rials can be purchased directly at the airport.
It is also worth bearing in mind that most 4–5-star hotels may require a security deposit upon check-in for additional expenses, which should be confirmed with the hotel in advance.
What can and cannot be brought into Oman is set out in the table below:
| Permitted | Prohibited |
|---|---|
| up to 2 litres of strong alcoholic beverages, 300 cigarettes | weapons of any kind — firearms, bladed weapons, gas-powered, or sporting |
| personal prescription medication | narcotics and psychotropic substances |
| — | imported printed and video materials containing pornography or content that undermines public order |
The dress code in public places in Oman requires shoulders and knees to be fully covered: men should wear full-length trousers and sleeved shirts, while women should wear loose, modest clothing that covers their legs and arms. These requirements apply not only to indoor spaces but also to the street; it is important to show respect for local residents and their traditions.
Stricter requirements apply when visiting a mosque: women must cover their head and neck. Violations of public decency are punishable under Article 294 of the Sultanate's Penal Code by a fine of between 100 and 300 Omani rials or imprisonment.
During the month of Ramadan, restaurants in the city close during the day, and eating, drinking, and smoking in public places is not recommended. These entry and behavioural rules apply equally to tourists with a visa and those entering without one.
A child of any age requires their own international passport. If a child is travelling to Oman with only one parent rather than both, a notarially certified consent from the other parent for the child to travel abroad is required.
An electronic visa for Oman for Russians is obtained on the official eVisa website within 3–4 working days and costs from 10 to 130 US dollars depending on the type and validity period. The application procedure is the same for all categories of applicants — for tourists and for those planning to work or study; a tourist or guest visa does not confer the right to work or study at Omani educational institutions.
As a reminder: the majority of tourists will not need a visa — visa-free entry applies for up to one month per visit and 90 days per year. A visa is required only for those who exceed these limits or are travelling for a different purpose:
| Visa type | When required and for how long | Sponsor | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist | for stays longer than one month (with an in-country extension) or when the annual 90-day limit has been reached; 10–30 days or one year (multi-entry) | not required | 10–50 OMR |
| Work | for employment; from 2 months to 2 years | employer | depends on the contract |
| Student | for study at a university; from 1 year | university | depends on the programme |
| Express visa | required not because of the length of stay (which is shorter than the visa-free period) but because a business partner formally requires a visa for the visit; 21 days | business partner | per eVisa tariff |
| Transit | for citizens of countries without a visa-free agreement with Oman; up to 72 hours | not required | per eVisa tariff |
Of this list, the tourist visa is the one most commonly required by Russians who are not eligible for the visa-free arrangement — a detailed breakdown of its types, costs, and extension rules is provided in the next section.
The visa application procedure consists of several straightforward steps:
The price depends on the type: the cheapest option is a single-entry tourist visa for 10 days (the cost starts at 10 OMR), while the most expensive is an annual multi-entry visa that costs approximately 130 US dollars (around 120 EUR). Exact tariffs for each type are provided in the relevant sections below, separately for the tourist visa and the work visa. The visa fee paid is non-refundable in the event of a refusal.
It is possible to apply for a tourist visa in person at the Embassy of Oman in Moscow (14 Staromonetniy Pereulok) — this is an alternative option for those who do not wish to complete the eVisa application themselves. The document submission office operates by appointment, and the exact address and opening hours should be confirmed on the embassy's website before visiting.
An important point to note: in the event of a refusal, there is no right of appeal, so it is advisable to include a letter of invitation from a tourism company with your document package; a travel agency can provide such a letter if you do not have acquaintances who are Omani citizens.
A tourist visa for Oman (Unsponsored Visa) is required for Russians only if the trip lasts more than 30 days or cumulatively exceeds 90 days per year; it is obtained through eVisa within 3–4 working days and costs between 10 and 50 Omani rials depending on the type. Citizens of Kazakhstan may also apply for this type of visa — the rules for them are identical.
Since 30 days are already covered by visa-free entry, a paid tourist visa is only worthwhile in two situations: a stay of more than one month per visit, or re-entry after the annual 90-day limit has already been used up. In both cases, the choice of a specific visa type depends on how many times a year you plan to visit Oman.
| Tourist visa type | Validity | Entries | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry, 10 days | 10 days (extendable by a further 10) | 1 | 10 OMR |
| Single-entry, 30 days | 30 days (extendable by a further 30, i.e. up to 60 consecutive days) | 1 | 20 OMR |
| Multi-entry | 6–12 months | unlimited, up to 30 days per visit | approx. 50 OMR |
The 10-day visa is only appropriate for a short return visit after the annual limit has been exhausted — on its own it is shorter than the free 30-day period and offers no advantages for a longer stay.
For a continuous trip of more than a month, the 30-day visa with a subsequent extension is the right choice, while for frequent trips throughout the year, the multi-entry visa is the most popular option among those who visit Oman regularly. This way, there is no need to apply for a new visa before each visit.
The procedure closely follows the general electronic visa application algorithm described above, with one difference at the outset:
Completing the application form usually takes approximately 10–15 minutes, and the visa must be presented at boarding together with your tickets.
The eVisa tariffs for the tourist visa were set out above (10–50 OMR depending on the type); the cost will be higher if applying through a travel agency or the embassy, as a service fee is added to the visa fee:
| Application method | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Self-application on eVisa | 10–50 OMR |
| Through a travel agency | higher by the amount of the service fee |
| Through the embassy in Moscow | cash payment; the fee is not tied to the visa type |
Please note: payment of the visa fee does not guarantee that the tourist visa will be approved. In the event of a refusal, the amount is not refunded regardless of the application method.
The tourist visa can be extended for the same number of days for which it was issued, either through the personal account on the eVisa website or through the relevant government authorities in Oman. A visa-free stay (without a visa) cannot be extended — only a visa and the entry permit issued alongside it can be extended.
An example: a person submitted documents for a tourist visa at the embassy without a letter of invitation and received a refusal with no right of appeal. After reapplying with a letter from a travel agency that set out the itinerary in detail, the visa was issued within a week; a letter of invitation significantly reduces the risk of refusal.
A work visa for Oman for Russians is issued solely on the basis of an invitation from a sponsoring company and requires verification by the Omani immigration authority. Unlike the tourist visa, work and student visas are always tied to a specific sponsor — an employer or a university.
The main conditions for an applicant:
The following additional documents are required:
It is advisable to keep documents in both paper and electronic form (scans are convenient to have on your phone).
An express visa is issued for 21 days for business trips, conferences, and negotiations upon invitation from a business partner rather than an employer. Since 21 days is shorter than the visa-free period, this visa is only relevant when a partner or event organiser formally requires a processed visa rather than simply entry on a passport.
Unlike a work visa, the express visa is single-entry and cannot be extended, and the entry permit issued with it is valid for one visit to Oman only.
For the relocation of a spouse and children on a work visa, the sponsoring company must assume responsibility for all family members. International passports for each person, certified copies of marriage and birth certificates, and medical certificates are required. Pets relocating with the family will also need to undergo quarantine and obtain a veterinary certificate.
A student visa is issued for the duration of the course of study — from one year and longer. The sponsor is the university, which must hold a licence and institutional accreditation from the Oman Authority for Quality Assurance of Education under the The Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation. It is this body that is responsible for the recognition of universities, including for the purposes of educating international students.
If the programme is not taught in Russian, an English language certificate (IELTS or TOEFL) will be required. The student receives the entry permit together with the student visa before departing from Russia.
Transit through Oman does not require a separate visa for Russians: the agreement of 18 July 2025 explicitly grants citizens of both countries the right to "enter, transit, and exit" without visas — on the same terms as ordinary tourist entry (up to one month per visit, up to 90 days per year).
If you do not leave the international transit zone of Muscat Airport and do not pass through passport control, no visa is required regardless of the length of the stopover, and no additional documents need to be arranged — this is the general rule for any nationality.
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If passing through passport control is required for a layover (for example, to collect baggage or spend the night in the city), this is treated as ordinary entry for Russians under the same visa-free 30-day arrangement.
A separate transit visa through eVisa may be required for citizens of countries that do not have a visa-free agreement with Oman. It is obtained in advance on the eVisa website or at a desk available at Muscat Airport upon presentation of onward tickets. Such a visa is valid for up to 72 hours and permits the holder to enter the city.
For Russians, a short walk around Muscat during a long layover requires only the standard visa-free entry; it is advisable to have the emergency contact number for the Russian consulate to hand just in case.
A separate port rule applies to cruise ship passengers: no visa is required for a port call lasting less than 24 hours. For a longer call, citizens of countries without a visa-free agreement with Oman are issued a transit visa on board the vessel; Russians, as with ordinary entry, also do not require a visa for a short stay ashore.
No, the visa-free month cannot be extended. You must either leave and re-enter within the annual 90-day limit, or apply for a visa in advance, which can be then extended in-country. See the article for further details.
A fine of approximately 10 Omani rials is imposed for each day of overstay, and other sanctions are also possible. Check your departure dates in advance.
No, Russians do not need a transit visa: the 2025 agreement extends the visa-free arrangement to transit as well. If passing through passport control is required for a layover, this is treated as ordinary entry under the visa-free 30-day arrangement.
Mir cards do not work in Oman, and Russian Visa and Mastercard are also blocked due to sanctions. Bring cash in Omani rials or a UnionPay card.
Yes, but only a tourist visa and only with cash payment; an electronic visa obtained in advance is more reliable and less expensive.
A child requires a visa on the same basis as adults, as well as their own international passport and a certified consent from the other parent.
We strongly recommend verifying the information on eVisa very carefully before travelling, as the rules may change.
Article header image source: Adil Riyami / unsplash.com
