Embassy
Embassy of South Africa, Muscat
Muscat
Oman visa requirements for South African citizens
South African citizens do not need a visa for Oman. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 14 days.
Passport
ZAF
South Africa
Going to
OMN
Oman
No visa needed
Tourists on the first country list can visit without a visa.
- Visa
- Not required
- Max stay
- 14 days
- Fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it.
Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
Note the maximum stay and count your days in Oman.
Ways into Oman
Some visitors enter visa-free; others need a tourist visa.
Visa not required For your passport14-day visa-free stayTourists on the first country list can visit without a visa.
- Stay
- 14 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check the official country list and entry rules.
- Bring all required travel documents.
- Show your documents at the border.
Documents required
- Passport valid 6 months
- Return ticket
- Confirmed hotel booking
- Health insurance
- Enough money for your stay
- Travel insurance
- Philippine and Taiwanese travellers must check with police because the official lists differ.
- You cannot extend this stay or change it to residence.
Visa not required14-day family visa-free staySpouses and children may qualify through a visitor who gets the 14-day visa-free stay.
- Stay
- 14 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that the main visitor qualifies.
- Ask police to confirm your family's eligibility before travel.
Documents required
- Passport valid 6 months
- Return ticket
- Confirmed hotel booking
- Health insurance
- Enough money for your stay
- Travel insurance
- The guide does not list the family proof needed.
eVisaOnline visa applicationUse the police website to apply for a visa you qualify for.
- Fee
- Depends on the visa
- Processing
- 4 days
How to apply
- Check which visa fits your trip.
- Create an account and sign in.
- Fill in the form and upload your documents.
- Pay the shown fee.
- Print the approved visa for entry.
Documents required
- Passport valid 6 months
- Passport photo-page copy
- 2 digital photos, white background
- Credit or debit card
- Working email address
- Printed approved visa
- The 4-day guide covers tourist eVisas only; approval can take longer.
- Apply at least 4 days before travel.
eVisaTourist visa without sponsorEligible tourists can apply online without a local sponsor.
- Fee
- Check the fee online
How to apply
- Use the official visa checker.
- Create an account and sign in as a tourist.
- Fill in the form and pay the shown fee.
- Download your approved visa.
- Check the stay, fee and use-by date for your exact visa online.
- The visa-free country list does not show who qualifies for this visa.
eVisaTourist visa with sponsorA licensed tourism company, tourism office or hotel can arrange your tourist visa.
- Stay
- 30 days
- Fee
- OMR 20
How to apply
- Find a licensed tourism company, tourism office or hotel.
- Give your sponsor your passport copy and photos.
- Ask your sponsor to send the online application.
Documents required
- Passport valid 6 months
- Passport copy
- 2 photos, 4 × 6 cm
- Signed and stamped sponsor letter
- Sponsor's business registration
- Sponsor's chamber membership
- Proof of sponsor's signing rights
- You can ask to extend your stay by 30 days.
- Check the visa's use-by date before travel.
eVisaGulf resident tourist visaGulf residents with approved jobs and their eligible companions can apply online.
How to apply
- Check your residence and job in the visa checker.
- Apply online for the visa it offers.
- The guide does not list the approved jobs.
Visa on arrivalTourist visa on arrivalSome travellers can get a tourist visa when they arrive at Muscat Airport.
How to apply
- Confirm you qualify with police or your airline before travel.
- Follow the visa steps at Muscat Airport.
Documents required
- Passport valid 6 months
- The guide gives no full country list, fee or stay limit.
- If you do not qualify, arrange a visa before travel.
Other routeLonger-validity tourist visaPeople from countries approved by police may qualify for this tourist visa.
How to apply
- Ask police whether your nationality qualifies.
- Follow the application steps they give you.
- Check the exact visa dates and stay per visit with police.
- The visa's full life is not permission to stay that whole time.
Other routeFree 14-day tourist visaPeople from approved countries can request this free tourist visa.
- Stay
- 14 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Ask police whether this visa covers your trip.
- Request it through the route police gives you.
- This visa is separate from the 14-day visa-free stay.
- Before expiry, you may switch to another tourist visa by meeting its rules.
Sources (34)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Foreign Ministry — Entry visas
- Royal Oman Police — Visa exemption country lists
- Royal Oman Police — Work visa
- Royal Oman Police — Official eVisa portal
- Royal Oman Police — Visa class selector
- Royal Oman Police — eVisa questions and answers
- Oman Embassy in Washington — Consular services and visa link
- Oman Embassy in London — Consular services and visa link
- Oman Embassy in New Delhi — Electronic visa applications
- Foreign Ministry — Free 14-day tourist visa announcement, 3 August 2026
- Government of Oman — Visa service directory
- Royal Oman Police service — Airport transit visa
- Royal Oman Police service — Land transit visa
- Royal Oman Police service — One-year tourist visit visa
- Royal Oman Police service — Gulf Cooperation Council resident visa
- Royal Oman Police service — Express visa
- Royal Oman Police service — Student visa
- Royal Oman Police service — Work visa
- Royal Oman Police service — Temporary work visa
- Royal Oman Police service — Joining relatives visa
- Royal Oman Police service — Emergency visa
- Royal Oman Police service — Qatar–Oman joint tourist visa
- Royal Oman Police service — Cruise passengers and crew visa
- Foreign Ministry service — Diplomatic visas and residence
- Royal Oman Police — Tourist visit visa, Arabic
- Royal Oman Police — Airport transit visa, Arabic
- Royal Oman Police — Express visa, Arabic
- Royal Oman Police — Student visa, Arabic
- Royal Oman Police — Relatives and friends visit visa, Arabic
- Royal Oman Police — Qatar joint visa, Arabic
- Royal Oman Police — Dubai joint visa, Arabic
- Muscat Airport — Immigration and visa
- Visit Oman — Official tourism visa information
- Civil Aviation Authority — Aviation information publication, GEN 1.3
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Trips to Oman
Day-by-day itineraries by snuck, shaped around you.
Coming from South Africa
- Plugs GAdapter needed
- MoneyOMR ر.ع.
- Time+2h
- DrivingOn the rightLook left first
- LanguageArabic
- Emergency9999 police
Planning your Oman trip
- Jalali and Mirani fortsThese early 16th-century forts stand at the entrance to Muscat Bay.
- Bahla FortThis World Heritage Site sits below the Djebel Akhdar highlands. It was built in the 13th and 14th centuries and has seven miles of walls.
- Wahiba SandsHuge desert dunes stretch as far as the eye can see.
- Oman's mountains and wadisRugged mountains and remote valleys offer striking scenery. Some routes are unpaved and need a suitable vehicle.
Scams to watch for in Oman
About Oman
Oman is a sultanate on the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, on the Arabian Sea.
- Capital
- Muscat
- Money
- Omani rial (ر.ع.)
- Languages
- Arabic
- Time zone
- UTC+04:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +968
Other Africa passports
Going to Oman
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Oman with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do south african citizens need a visa for Oman?
South African citizens do not need a visa for Oman. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 14 days.
How long can south african citizens stay in Oman?
Up to 14 days each visit with the no visa needed rule. Staying longer can mean a fine or a ban from coming back.
Do omani citizens need a visa for South Africa?
Omani citizens need an eVisa for South Africa. Apply on the official website.
Do other Africa passports get easier entry to Oman?
None of the 10 other Africa passports we compared enter without applying first.
Which countries near Oman are easier for south african citizens?
Georgia, Palestine, Qatar, Armenia Bahrain, and 3 more let south african citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Oman?
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it. Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
What money is used in Oman?
Omani rial (ر.ع.). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Oman?
Arabic.
How strong is the South Africa passport?
It ranks #51 and reaches 91 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck