Omanis Can Travel Frequently to Europe with New Schengen Visa Rules

Published on April 23, 2024

By: Rana Pratap

Omanis rejoice as new Schengen visa rules offer frequent European travel opportunities, marking a significant milestone in cross-border mobility.

On Monday, the European Union (EU) declared that it has begun issuing a five-year multiple-entry visa to citizens from the Sultanate of Oman and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.

This policy enables citizens from Oman to repeatedly enter the EU for the duration of the visa without needing to reapply. These visa holders will have the same travel privileges as individuals from countries that do not require visas for short stays.

The new visa code brings uniformity to visa procedures across all GCC states that need visas to enter the Schengen Zone.

Effective immediately, GCC nationals are eligible to secure these multiple-entry visas, which remain valid for five years. It’s important to note that their passports must have at least five years of remaining validity to take full advantage of this policy.

Known as the “cascade,” the updated visa regulations now offer long-term multiple-entry visas even to those applying for the first time.

The standardization of visa rules for GCC states represents a significant development in the EU’s strategy to bolster interpersonal connections and facilitate smoother travel. This initiative aligns with the EU’s broader goal of forging a stronger partnership with the Gulf region and may lead to a Schengen visa waiver, highlighting a growing alignment between the EU and GCC.

Additionally, the European Union has rolled out a similar visa arrangement for Indian nationals living in India who seek Schengen visas.

This new provision allows Indian visitors to acquire multiple-entry visas with extended validity periods. This initiative aims to streamline visa access for frequent travelers, contingent on the validity of their passports.

Oman is actively working to establish robust strategic and commercial relationships with both principal source markets and local Omani suppliers. Their goal is to create a cohesive, integrated booking platform that offers an exceptional travel experience in Oman.

Oman’s outbound tourism sector has also seen remarkable growth and diversification in recent years. In 2022, there was an impressive surge in outbound travel, with 5.2 million outbound visitors, representing a 166.2% increase from the previous year. Notably, Omani nationals made up 67.3% of all outbound travelers. The top destinations for these travelers included the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India, and Turkey. This trend towards intraregional travel highlights the evolving preferences and opportunities within the outbound tourism market in Oman, offering insights for destinations aiming to attract Omani tourists and for Oman itself, as it continues to develop as a key source market.