Oman issues new protocols for entry into country

Our Correspondent

Oman’s Supreme Committee has mandated that all travellers arriving in the Sultanate through all ports must undergo a PCR test not more than 96 hours before their arrival in the country, in addition to taking the test again upon arrival.

The Committee issued a statement that passengers arriving in Oman are mandated to undergo a PCR test before travel and also one immediately upon arrival. More counters for the PCR testing have been set up at Muscat International Airport, which can be accessed by the passengers, after immigration and before baggage claim.

The results of the test made available within 24 hours can be accessed through the Tarassud+ app that every arriving passenger is expected have downloaded in their phones. The wristband paired with the smart phone, monitors that movement of the person, with offenders penalised, including deportation.

The compulsory home quarantine of 14 days has now been reduced to seven days, with a PCR test that has to be repeated on the eighth day.

Transit fee of RO 3
Meanwhile, Oman’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology issued amendments to the Civil Aviation Regulations; a fee of RO 3 ($7.8) will be collected from each transit passenger. The new fees will be applied on transit passengers from January 1, 2021, according to the decision published in the Sultanate’s Official Gazette.

The decision was an amendment to the regulation of the law issued in 2007, which stipulated levying a departure fee of RO 5 ($13) on international flights, and exempted transit passengers, domestic passengers and passengers under the age of two from these fees.

Oman’s Muscat International Airport (MIA) and Salalah Airport have resumed normal commercial operations since October 1. User-friendly measures have been put in place including a drive-through PCR testing facility at the parking facility of MIA and Salalah airport. The PCR testing mandatory for arriving international passengers is available inside MIA.