Oman has created a new tourist visa that costs nothing and lasts 14 days, and, unlike the country's existing visa-free entry, it can be swapped for a longer tourist visa without leaving the country. The change comes through Royal Oman Police Decision No. 109/2026, issued by Lt Gen Hassan bin Mohsin Al Shraiqi, Inspector General of Police and Customs, which amends the Executive Regulations of the Foreigners' Residence Law. The decision was published in the Official Gazette on Sunday 2 August 2026 and took effect the following day. One important piece is still missing: the list of nationalities eligible for the new visa has not yet been published, so for now nobody can actually apply for it.
Background
Oman already lets citizens of more than 100 countries and territories enter without any visa for stays of up to 14 days, provided they carry a passport valid for at least six months, a confirmed return or onward ticket, a hotel reservation, valid health insurance and sufficient funds. That exemption has a hard limit, though: a visa-free stay cannot be extended and cannot be converted into any other status, so a visitor who decides they want more time has to leave and re-enter under a different arrangement. Longer tourist visas exist, but they are paid products applied for through the Royal Oman Police. The new decision slots a third option between those two: a formal visa, issued at no cost, that behaves like the paid ones when it comes to switching categories.
What exactly changed
Decision No. 109/2026 adds the new category to Article 10 of the executive regulations and lists it in the fee schedule under Article 29 with the fee set at zero Omani rials. The competent authority may grant the 14-day tourist visa free of charge to nationals of countries it designates, subject to conditions it determines. The provision that matters most for travellers is the conversion clause: before the visa expires, the holder may replace it with any other tourist visa category provided for in the regulations, following the prescribed procedures and paying the applicable fees for the new category. In practical terms, someone who enters on the free visa and wants to stay beyond two weeks can move to a longer tourist visa from inside Oman rather than flying out to reset their status.
Before vs after
- Old: visa-free entry for eligible nationalities, up to 14 days — no extension, no conversion; longer stays required leaving Oman or applying for a paid tourist visa in advance.
- New: a free 14-day tourist visa (fee listed at zero rials) for nationalities the authority designates, convertible in-country to any other tourist visa category before expiry.
- Condition: conversion follows the normal procedures and fees of the target visa category; the eligible-nationality list for the free visa is not yet published.
Who it affects
The most obvious beneficiaries are visitors who arrive planning a short trip and then want more time, whether that is a tourist extending a holiday or someone using a first visit to scout housing, schools and neighbourhoods ahead of a possible move. Under the visa-exemption regime that kind of change of plan meant an exit; under the new visa it becomes an administrative step. It also matters for people visiting family members who live in Oman, where two weeks often proves short. Who exactly can use it depends entirely on the designation list the authorities have yet to publish, so travellers from any given country cannot yet assume they qualify.
What this means in practice
If you are planning a trip to Oman in the coming weeks, nothing changes at the border today: the existing visa-exemption and paid tourist visa rules continue to operate, and the standard entry documents — a passport with six months' validity, return ticket, hotel booking, health insurance and proof of funds — still apply. What is worth watching is the Royal Oman Police's publication of the eligible-nationality list and the application procedure for the free visa, which will show whether it is issued on arrival, online or through the existing eVisa channels. If a longer stay is part of your plan, compare the conversion route against applying directly for a paid tourist visa before travel. Our Oman country guide at /country-guides/oman covers the entry routes, residence options and cost of living for a longer move.
When it takes effect
Royal Oman Police Decision No. 109/2026 was published in the Official Gazette on 2 August 2026 and entered into force the following day, 3 August 2026. The list of eligible nationalities had not been published as of 4 August 2026.
What is not yet confirmed
The authorities have not yet published which nationalities qualify for the free visa, how and where it will be issued, or the conditions the competent authority will attach to it. The Official Gazette text is not directly accessible online; the details above are drawn from consistent reporting by the Oman Observer and Gulf News citing the decision. Check with the Royal Oman Police or an Omani embassy before relying on the new visa for travel plans.
Key Takeaway
Oman now has a free 14-day tourist visa, in force since 3 August 2026, whose real value is the ability to switch to a longer tourist visa without leaving the country — but the list of who can get it is still unpublished.