Manama : Oman has lifted a ban on travellers arriving from India and 23 other countries that were put on the red list earlier, four months after imposing the ban due to the rise in Covid-19 infections. Passengers who have received two doses of Oman approved Covid vaccine at least 14 days prior to the date of travel will be allowed to enter the country, the Omani Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced on Monday.
The decision will come into force at 12 pm local time on September 1, 2021.
Thousands of expats stuck in various parts of the world can now enter the Sultanate. According to CAA, Omani citizens, resident visa holders and those who are eligible for visa on arrival are permitted to enter the country in line with the pre-COVID guidelines.
All travellers aged 18 years and below are exempted from the requirements of the vaccine and PCR test.
All passengers arriving in the country are required to present a COVID-19 vaccine certificate. The vaccine certificate should have a QR code. Single-dose vaccines also need to be taken two weeks prior to the travel date.
Passengers who hold a negative COVID-19 PCR test result are exempted from mandatory institutional quarantine. The test result can be validated and certified through a QR code. The PCR test should have been taken 96 hours before the scheduled flight time for long-haul flights (8 hours or more). For short haul flights the PCR test should have been taken 72 hours prior to the flight.
Passengers without holding a negative COVID-19 PCR test are subject to a COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival where after the traveler shall be required to enter compulsory quarantine with an electronic tracking bracelet until a negative PCR test results are received.
However, in case of a positive PCR test result, the passengers shall be required to undergo mandatory health isolation for 10 days starting from the test date. All passengers who have recovered from COVID-19 but tested positive on arrival, are exempted from health isolation provided they are able to submit proof that they have completed the prescribed isolation period in the country where they were infected.
All passengers arriving in the Sultanate, including diplomats, are required to complete pre-registration via Tarassud+ platform and to upload the vaccine certificate as well as a COVID-19 PCR certificate, both containing QR codes.
If the passenger prefers to conduct the COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival, he has to pay the prescribed fees by registering via Tarassud+ platform before boarding the aircraft.
Patients with diseases that prevent them from receiving the vaccine according to an approved medical certificate are also exempted from presenting vaccine certificates.
On April 24, Oman banned arrivals from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and other countries, in order to stem the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
