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Travel Advisory July 13, 2023

Oman - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise increased caution due to  terrorism  and  armed conflict . Some areas have increased risk.  Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do not travel to:

• The Yemen border area due to  terrorism  and  armed conflict .

Country Summary : Due to risks to civil aviation operating within the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman region, including Oman, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an advisory Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). For more information U.S. citizens should consult the  Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices .

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Oman.

If you decide to travel to Oman:

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Oman.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.
• U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

Yemen Border Area

Terrorist attacks and violence continue in Yemen. Crossing the border into Yemen can be dangerous, and U.S. citizens who attempt to cross the Oman-Yemen border, from either Oman or Yemen, may be detained by Omani authorities.

Visit our website for  High-Risk Travelers .

Embassy Messages

View Alerts and Messages Archive

Quick Facts

1 page per entry stamp

Yellow fever (when coming from an area with yellow fever outbreaks)

Amounts over 20,000 USD must be declared

Embassies and Consulates

U.S. Embassy Muscat

Jamiat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair Area (Shatti Al-Qurum), Muscat Oman Telephone: +(968) 2464-3400 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(968) 2464-3400 Fax: +(968) 2464-3535 Email:  [email protected]

Destination Description

Learn about the U.S. relationship to countries around the world.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

COVID-19 Requirements: There are no COVID-related entry requirements for U.S. citizens.

Please visit the  Embassy of Oman website  for the most current visa information.

Requirements for Entry:

• Passport valid for at least six months

Tourist Visas: 

• U.S. citizens should apply for tourist visas in advance via the  Royal Oman Police E-Visa website . Tourist visas are also available upon arrival at airports and land crossings.
• Visas are issued at Mazoonah and Sarfait (Oman-Yemen land borders) on a case-by-case basis.
• The current list of visa types and a schedule of fees are available at the  Royal Oman Police website .
• Have proof of adequate funds and an onward/return ticket.

Penalties for expired passports or visas include fines and/or imprisonment.

Avoid Travel to Yemen:  We strongly advise U.S. citizens against travel to Yemen. Crossing the Yemen-Oman border can be dangerous, and U.S. citizens who do so are routinely detained by Omani authorities. The Department of State and U.S. embassies abroad will not facilitate entry of U.S. citizens into Yemen. See Our  Travel Advisory for Yemen  for further information.

Oman does not recognize dual nationality. Omani authorities may confiscate your U.S. passport if you have Oman/U.S. dual nationality. Should this happen, contact the U.S. Embassy. This does not constitute loss of U.S. citizenship.

Children of Omani fathers automatically acquire Omani citizenship at birth and must enter and exit Oman on their Omani passports.

Omani/U.S. dual nationals are subject to all Omani laws, including those placing special obligations on citizens of Oman.

Expect considerable delays if your U.S. passport is lost or stolen. The Royal Oman Police require entry verification upon departure. If your passport containing your entry stamp is lost or stolen, a police report may be required to exit Oman using a replacement passport. For further details, see the  Royal Oman Police website .

Yellow fever vaccinations are required if you are coming from a country with yellow fever outbreaks.

Some HIV/AIDS entry restrictions exist for visitors and foreign residents of Oman. HIV/AIDS testing is required upon arrival for people on work or immigrant visas. Oman does not accept U.S. HIV/AIDS testing. Verify this information with the  Embassy of Oman  before traveling.

Customs Regulations:

• Pornographic materials and firearms are prohibited.
• Muslim travelers are forbidden to bring in alcohol. Oman does not require visitors to identify with a religion.
• Non-Muslim travelers can bring in two bottles of alcohol bought at a duty-free shop.

Find information on  dual nationality ,  prevention of international child abduction  and  customs regulations  on our websites.

Safety and Security

Terrorism:  Terrorist groups and those inspired by such organizations are intent on attacking U.S. citizens abroad.  Terrorists are increasingly using less sophisticated methods of attack – including knives, firearms, and vehicles – to more effectively target crowds.  Frequently, their aim is unprotected or vulnerable targets, such as: 

• High-profile public events (sporting contests, political rallies, demonstrations, holiday events, celebratory gatherings, etc.) 
• Hotels, clubs, and restaurants frequented by tourists 
• Places of worship 
• Schools 
• Parks 
• Shopping malls and markets 
• Public transportation systems (including subways, buses, trains, and scheduled commercial flights)  

For more information, see our Terrorism page. 

MARAD Report:  According to the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD), U.S. flag vessels in the Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and the Bab el Mandeb regions face an elevated risk of attacks by violent extremists.

U.S. flag vessels should report suspicious activity to:

• COMUSNAVCENT battle watch captain at 011-973-1785-3879
• U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 (toll-free), 202-267-2675, or 202-267-4477 (TDD).

Crime : There is minimal street crime in Oman, and violent crime is rare.

See the  Department of State  and the  FBI  pages for information on scams.

Victims of Crime:  U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance. Report crimes to the local police at 9999.  Emergency hotlines are mostly Arabic-speaking.  The U.S. Embassy has received reports from U.S. citizens who were unable to receive assistance due to language barriers.  Contact the U.S. Embassy at +968 2464-3400.  Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes.

See our webpage on  help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

• Help you find appropriate medical care
• Assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• Contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• Provide general information regarding the victim’s role during the local investigation and following its conclusion 
• Provide a list of local attorneys
• Provide information on  victim’s compensation programs in the United States
• Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
• Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• Replace a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence:  U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance.  The law in Oman does not specifically address domestic violence.  However, charges may be brought under other statutes.  Victims of domestic violence may file a complaint with the police, and reports indicate that police respond promptly and professionally.  The government operates a domestic violence hotline and a shelter for victims.

For additional information please see Oman’s Penal Code and our Human Rights Report for Oman .

Dial 1100 to reach the government-operated domestic violence hotline.

Tourism : The tourism industry is generally well-regulated and rules with regard to best practices and safety inspections are regularly enforced. Hazardous areas/activities are identified with appropriate signage, and professional staff is typically on hand in support of organized activities. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is widely available throughout the country. Outside of a major metropolitan center, it may take more time for first responders and medical professionals to stabilize a patient and provide life-saving assistance. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance . 

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties:  You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.  Individuals establishing a business or practicing a profession that requires additional permits or licensing should seek information from the competent local authorities, prior to practicing or operating a business.

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on  crimes against minors abroad  and the  Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification : If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. Omani authorities typically do not permit foreigners accused of crimes to leave the country while cases are open.

See our  webpage  for further information.

Carry your passport at all times, or you could be detained.

It is illegal to photograph certain buildings.

Alcohol and Drugs:  You may be arrested for possession of alcohol or driving under the influence. Drinking is permitted in some international hotels, bars, homes, and some restaurants.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs include lengthy jail sentences and heavy fines.  Some prescription medications, such as narcotics, available in the United States may be illegal in Oman.  Travelers should check the Oman Ministry of Health’s Medications and Travel webpage before importing prescription medications.

Motor Vehicle Violations:  Traffic laws are strictly enforced and carry heavy penalties. Remote traffic cameras are extensively used to monitor speeding and stop light infractions.

Immigration officials, airports and other ports of entry and exit have ready access to information on traffic offenses, and violators cannot depart Oman unless all fines have been paid in full.

Personal Defamation Charges:

• Using vulgar language or hand gestures can lead to personal defamation charges. 
• An accusation alone, regardless of who files it, can initiate a legal process.
• U.S. citizens can usually resolve these cases with a formal apology and payment of damages to the aggrieved party.

Cultural Heritage Items:  To avoid prosecution, check first with Omani authorities before taking “cultural heritage items” such as archaeological artifacts, meteorites, or stones. 

Notary Services:  All foreign public documents (Birth, Marriage, Death, Divorce, academic records, etc.) need to be apostilled for use in Oman. The U.S. Embassy in Oman cannot apostille any documents issued in the U.S. See  our website  for designated authorities in the United States. That can issue an apostille.

Employment in Oman:  Although a common practice, it is illegal for Omani employers to retain your passport. Such retention could grant undue leverage to your employer in case of a dispute. U.S. passports are the property of the U.S. government.

The U.S. Embassy cannot intervene in labor disputes. At the beginning of any employment, obtain a contract that clearly states the terms of employment. Try to resolve disputes privately with your employer. If this fails, consult our  list of lawyers .

Dress Code : Be sensitive to Islamic culture and do not wear sleeveless shirts, halter-tops, or shorts. Only wear athletic clothing in public when engaged in sports activities.

Currency : U.S. bills printed before 2006 are often not accepted. Local currency is easily available from ATMs or currency exchange counters.

Faith-Based Travelers:  See our following webpages for details:

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religious Freedom Report  – see country reports
• Human Rights Report – see country reports
• Hajj Fact Sheet for Travelers
• Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad

LGBTQI+ Travelers:  Consensual same-sex sexual conduct is illegal and subject to a jail term of six months to three years. See our  LGBTQI+ Travel Information page  and section 6 of our  Human Rights report  for further details.

Travelers with Disabilities:  The law in Oman prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, intellectual, or mental disabilities   Expect accessibility to be limited in older buildings (including government buildings and schools), public transportation, and general infrastructure, and more common in newer medical facilities and public buildings in cities. Outside of urban areas, access is greatly reduced.  Handicapped parking spaces are scarce.

Omanis will generally try to accommodate reasonable requests for assistance.

Students : See our  Students Abroad  page and  FBI travel tips .

Women Travelers:   See our travel tips for  Women Travelers . 

COVID-19 Testing:   For general PCR testing and exiting Oman, various health clinics in Oman offer PCR tests with results within 72 hours as well as 24-hour and 3–6-hour options.  PCR tests are at the expense of the individual/traveler.  Prices vary by clinic and range from 20 – 40 OMR; surcharges often apply for expedited result processing within 24 hours or less.  Drive up testing, walk-in tests, and tests by appointment are all available in Oman.  Test result delivery varies by clinic: e-mail, text, and physical message are commonly used to communicate results.

COVID-19 Vaccines:   The COVID-19 vaccine is available for U.S. citizens to receive in Oman. Please refer to the  Omani Ministry of Health  for additional information on vaccination registration.

Visit the FDA's website to learn more about FDA-approved vaccines in the United States.

For emergency services in Oman, dial 9999.  Emergency hotlines are mostly Arabic-speaking.  The U.S. Embassy has received reports from U.S. citizens who were unable to receive assistance due to language barriers.

Response times for ambulance services vary.  Injured or seriously ill travelers should take a taxi or private vehicle to the nearest major hospital rather than wait for an ambulance.

Modern medical facilities and Western-style pharmacies are available. Local medical treatment varies from average to inadequate, depending on location.

Hospital emergency treatment is available.

We do not pay medical bills.  Be aware that U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas.  Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance.

Medical Insurance:  Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See  our webpage  for more information on insurance overseas.  Visit the  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  for more information on type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas.

We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.

Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. Check with the Government of Oman to ensure the medication is legal in Oman.

Vaccinations : Be up-to-date on all  vaccinations  recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Air Quality:  Visit  AirNow Department of State  for information on air quality at U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

The U.S. Embassy maintains a  list of doctors and hospitals .  We do not endorse or recommend any specific medical provider or clinic.

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions:  Road conditions in cities and along major highways are good. Road conditions in rural areas range from good to poor. During rare instances of rain, roads are prone to flash flooding.

Travel between cities can be dangerous due to poor lighting, wandering livestock, and speeding drivers.

Public Transportation:  Public transportation is generally safe, although vehicles may swerve to pick up passengers without warning.

Traffic Violations:

The following traffic violations may result in jail sentences, fines, and/or deportation:

• driving without a license
• running a red light
• driving under the influence of alcohol
• failure to wear a seat belt
• talking on cell phones while driving (hands-free technology is allowed)
• excessive speeding or overtaking another vehicle
• failure to maintain a clean car

When involved in a traffic violation, cooperate with police officers and do not attempt to negotiate payment.

If you are involved in a traffic accident that involves injuries, death, or material damage to vehicles, do not move your vehicle until the police give you permission. Moving your car may be interpreted as an admission of guilt. For minor traffic accidents with no damage or injuries, you may move your vehicle to the side of the road.

Traffic Guidelines:

• Traffic circles are common. The driver already in the circle always has priority.
• Drivers flashing high beams are signaling that they want to pass.
• Do not turn right on a red traffic signal.

Driving License Requirements:

• Short-term visitors with a U.S. driver’s license may drive rental vehicles, but not privately registered cars.
• Residents must have an Omani driver's license.
• To obtain an Omani license, you must take a vision test and either have a U.S. license (with proof of being licensed for at least two years) or take a driving test.

Car Insurance:

• Insure rental cars against death, injury, and loss or damage.

Residents may insure their vehicles outside the Sultanate; however, third party liability insurance must be purchased locally.  For all traffic-related emergencies, call the Royal Oman Police at 9999. Have an Arabic speaker call when giving directions to a location, since English-speaking operators are not always available.

See our  Road Safety page  or the  Royal Oman Police website  for further information.

Aviation Safety Oversight:  As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Oman, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the Government of Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. See the  FAA’s safety assessment page  for further information.

Maritime Travel:  Mariners planning travel to Oman should also check for  U.S. maritime advisories and alerts . Information may also be posted to the U.S. Coast Guard homeport website  and the  NGA broadcast warnings .

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in Oman . For additional IPCA-related information, please see the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA ) report.

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Do I need a visa to go to Oman?

Mar 8, 2022 • 6 min read

The timeless traditions of the desert live on in Oman. Here's how to get a visa to Oman and experience them yourself © Westend61 / Getty

Home to stunning dive sites, intriguing archeological ruins, historic forts and souqs (markets) and some of the region’s best hiking trails, Oman promises an unforgettable travel experience. Visas to visit this complex, storied land are easy to obtain, but there's some red tape to navigate compared to its Gulf neighbors.

Many people visit Oman after spending a few days in Dubai in the neighboring United Arab Emirates, but you may feel a bit overwhelmed by the visa process for Oman. Whether you plan to relax on the beach, explore history Muscat, or go hiking in the Hajar Mountains, here’s a guide to the latest visa requirements for this fascinating desert sultanate.

Who needs a visa to visit Oman?

Citizens of 103 countries – including the US, Canada, the UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and most EU and EEA nations – can visit Oman without a visa, so long as the stay does not exceed 14 days. See the website of the Foreign Ministry of Oman for a full list of countries approved for visa-free travel.

Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, can travel to Oman completely visa-free. If you're unsure about the rules for your nationality, check the website of the Royal Oman Police – the body responsible for overseeing Oman's immigration system.

All visa-exempt visitors need to present evidence of confirmed hotel bookings for the entire duration of their stay, plus health insurance and a return travel ticket leaving Oman within the visa-free period. Your passport should also be valid for at least six months after the date you arrive in Oman.

Additional requirements for visa-free travel

Citizens of some countries on the approved list, such as Mexico, India and Jordan, can only visit Oman without a visa if they hold a valid Schengen Area visa or a valid visa for the US, Canada, Australia, UK or Japan (or are legally resident in one of these countries). Consult the Royal Oman Police website for more information.

How to stay in Oman longer than 14 days

Apart from visitors from GCC countries, all travelers require a tourist visa to enter Oman if they intend to stay in the country for more than 14 days. Applications for all types of tourist visas must be made online on the official Oman e-visa website before arriving in Oman. 

Visas for tourists who are GCC residents

Visitors who are resident in the GCC but hold different citizenship can apply for a Resident Tourist Visa so long as they are employed in a profession on Oman's approved list (or accompanied by someone in one of those professions). These visas cost OR5 (US$13) and allow stays in Oman of up to 28 days.

Applications must be made via the official Oman e-visa website, and your GCC residence visa must be valid for at least six months after entry into Oman.

Visa for tourists who are not GCC residents

Tourists who are not residents in a GCC country who want to visit Oman for more than 14 days will need to apply online for an Unsponsored Visit Visa. There are various types of Unsponsored Visit Visas, valid for tourism, business travel or transiting through the country, and each has its own rules and conditions.

It's best to check which class of visa you’re eligible to apply for and the visa conditions via the visa eligibility tool on the official Royal Oman Police website. 

Visas for 30-day stays in Oman

Citizens of 72 countries – including the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, and many European countries – can apply for a 26B Tourist Visit Visa, a single-entry visa that allows you to stay in Oman for 30 days. This costs OR20 (US$52), and applications must be made on the official website where a full list of eligible nationalities is available.

The same nationalities can also apply for the 36B Tourist Visit Visa, a long-term, multiple-entry visa that is valid for one year and allows a maximum stay of 30 days in Oman for each visit. It costs OR50 (US$130).

Other classes of Tourist Visit Visas

Citizens from other countries who have a valid Schengen Area visa or a valid visa for the US, UK, Canada, Australia or Japan may be eligible to apply for a single-entry 26M Tourist Visit Visa for OR20 (US$52), or a one-year multiple-entry 36M Tourist Visit Visa for OR50 (US$130). The list of approved countries includes India, Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Maldives, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

How to visit Oman from Dubai

Travelers who fulfill the conditions for visa-exempt entry into Oman and have a valid tourist visa for Dubai can apply for a Type 21 Dubai/Oman Common Visa (also called the Dubai/Oman Joint Visa). This free single-entry visa allows a stay of up to 21 days in Oman and is not extendable. It is only valid if you enter Oman directly from Dubai (and not from any other emirate in the UAE).

You can apply for this visa through the Consulate General of the Sultanate of Oman in Dubai. To qualify for this class of visa, your Dubai tourist visa must have at least 21 days validity remaining on the date you enter Oman.

Other visa options for Oman

Five and 10-year multiple-entry visas are available for US diplomatic passport holders and US citizens who are visiting Oman to attend a training course or as a member of an international organization registered in Oman, such as the World Health Organization. To apply, you’ll need to submit additional documents detailing the purpose of your visit.

Applying for a visa for Oman

When applying for an Omani visa via the official e-visa portal , ensure your passport is valid for at least six months after the date you plan to enter Oman. You will need to submit a photograph, a copy of your passport, a hotel booking, and confirmed flight tickets confirming the dates of your entry and departure from Oman.

Visa processing times can vary depending on the type of visa – expect the process to take anything from 24 hours to a few days. To ensure that your visa is authorized before you check in for your flight, apply online at least four days in advance of your trip.

Even if you intend to drive to Oman from Dubai and enter through a land border, it's wise to apply online for the right type of visa before you travel. Hard copy application forms allowing you to apply for an Omani visa on arrival may be available at the border, but this system is being phased out, and wait times can be several hours.

Overstays and visa extensions for Oman

If you overstay your visa, a fine of OR10 (US$26) applies for every day beyond the term allowed on your visa, and you may have trouble entering Oman in future. Single-entry tourist visas can be extended for another 30 days, multiple-entry tourist visas cannot be extended – you can apply for a visa extension on the official e-visa portal.

You may also like: Traveling to Oman on a budget: how to get the best out of your trip The best ways to drive, fly and sail around Oman Wadi and soul: the best hikes in Oman

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Oman Travel Restrictions

Traveler's COVID-19 vaccination status

Traveling from the United States to Oman

Open for vaccinated visitors

COVID-19 testing

Not required

Not required for vaccinated visitors

Restaurants

Not required in enclosed environments.

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Can I travel to Oman from the United States?

Most visitors from the United States, regardless of vaccination status, can enter Oman.

Can I travel to Oman if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from the United States can enter Oman without restrictions.

Can I travel to Oman without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from the United States can enter Oman without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter Oman?

Visitors from the United States are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering Oman.

Can I travel to Oman without quarantine?

Travelers from the United States are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in Oman?

Mask usage in Oman is not required in enclosed environments.

Are the restaurants and bars open in Oman?

Restaurants in Oman are open. Bars in Oman are .

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U.S. Citizens Can Now Visit Oman Without a Visa

Tourists from over 100 countries can stay visa-free in the Persian Gulf country for up to 10 days.

Visitors from 103 nations will no longer need to secure a visa before traveling to the Gulf country of Oman, according to reports.

The new rule will allow tourists to stay in Oman visa-free for up to 10 days, Reuters reported , removing one barrier to tourism. The visa-free entry will apply to visitors from the U.S., the UK, many European countries, South Africa, Australia, and more, the Times of Oman noted .

Visitors will also have to arrive with a confirmed hotel reservation, health insurance, and a return ticket, according to the wire service.

Previously, U.S. citizens traveling to Oman were required to obtain a tourist visa, which they could apply for online on the Royal Oman Police E-Visa website . They also have to have a passport valid for at least six months.

The visa had cost $14 for 10 days or $52 for 30 days, according to the Matador Network .

Due to COVID-19, only Americans with valid residency can enter right now without prior approval, according to the U.S. Embassy in Oman . Travelers must arrive with a negative COVID-19 PCR test from within 96 hours, quarantine for seven days, and take a test on the eighth day. Residents are also required to have a valid health insurance policy for the duration of their stay.

However, Reuters reported Oman — a unique oasis with unreal beaches, absent of skyscrapers and full of awe-inspiring architecture -- recently said it would once again resume granting tourist visas to those on trips arranged by hotels and travel companies.

Oman, which is currently under a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory by the U.S. Department of State due to COVID-19, has reported just over 127,000 confirmed cases of the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University .

Oman isn't the only country U.S. citizens can travel to without a visa . In fact, Henley & Partners Passport Index has ranked the U.S. passport one of the most powerful in the world since Americans can travel visa-free to 185 destinations.

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram .

Tips & How to travel to Oman in 2024

By Joan Torres 22 Comments Last updated on April 5, 2024

Alluring Arab fortresses, 3000km of dramatic coastline, massive seas of dunes, thousands of miles of empty roads, and unspoiled landscapes.

Oman is the ultimate destination for raw adventurers, seeking to venture into the most traditional and welcoming Arab country.

This Oman travel guide contains everything you need to know to travel to Oman , including all the practical information, travel tips, top experiences and more.

In this Oman travel guide you will find:

Table of Contents

• COVID-19 travel restrictions
• Best time to visit
• Travel insurance
• Useful books
• Top 5 experiences
• Tours or independent travel?
• 20 Cultural facts
• Money and budgeting
• Transportation
• How to get in
• Accommodation
• More information

eSIM card for browsing when traveling in Oman

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😷 COVID-19 Travel restrictions to Oman

COVID restrictions for traveling to Oman were finally lifted.

Travel Insurance for Oman with COVID-19 coverage

IATI Insurance  is one of the few providers that offers full Coronavirus coverage, not only when it comes to treatment, but also cancellation costs in case you tested positive before departure.

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😍 Reasons to visit Oman, the most welcoming country in the Middle East

I have visited Oman 7 or 8 times. 

The fact is that I lived in Dubai for nearly 3 years, and going to Oman was the classic weekend getaway. 

Two years after leaving Dubai and my corporate job , I came back to the region and decided to travel around Oman for a whole month, this time without a car, right before making my way into Saudi Arabia .  

I love Oman, I absolutely love it, for many reasons, but mainly because, unlike the United Arab Emirates, Qatar or Kuwait, it has managed to keep its own character.

Oman is an oil-rich country, but they don’t need to spend billions building extravagant buildings and nonsensical monuments. No, they don’t need to because people visit Oman to meet the kind-hearted Omanis, to check out the incredible coastline and the most epic mountains in the Arabian Peninsula, which go as high as 3,028m. 

Despite the modernization of the country, Oman has managed to preserve all its traditions and that is why, today, here you can still attend a livestock market and always share a meal with a local in the traditional way. 

Not surprisingly, Oman is getting immensely popular, but the good thing is that the country is big enough, so you can still find loads of off-the-beaten-track places that have remained untouched for centuries. 

Welcome to Oman.

🪪 How to get a visa for Oman

Most nationalities can buy an Oman tourist visa on arrival:

• 14-day visa : for free, no cost
• 30-day visa: 21 rials
• Multiple-entry visa, valid for 1 year: 50 rials

If possible, try to pay in either Omani Rials or with a credit card, because the price in USD is higher than the actual exchange rate. 

You can also buy your Omani visa online through this portal at a discounted price (around 1 rial), which is 2-3USD, for the 30-day visa at least. 

What nationalities are eligible for visa on arrival?

European Union, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, Lebanon , Liechtenstein, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldova , Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela 

If you come from any other country, I suggest you check the e-visa portal . 

Do you have a UAE residence?

If you are not on the lucky countries list, but you are living and working in the United Arab Emirates, you may also be able to get a visa on arrival. However, you should check it with your own embassy.  

⛅ Best time to visit Oman

In Oman, there really isn’t a spring or autumn season but the weather just evolves from crazy hot to pleasant. Note that, depending on the year, May and October could still be really, really hot.

Traveling in Oman in summer – From May to October

• Pleasant weather in the high mountains
• Low-season prices
• Monsoon season in Salalah (South Oman)
• Unbearable heat across the country
• High levels of humidity in the coastal areas

Traveling in Oman in winter – From November to April

• Pleasant weather across the whole country
• Loads of social life, events, etc.
• Omanis are in their best mood
• Higher prices

🚑 Travel insurance for Oman

Hey, Oman is an adventure destination, a country where you may be camping in the wild, go trekking and do epic road trips, plus their health care system is private.

For this reason, I recommend IATI Insurance because:

• It has full COVID-19 coverage (requirement for traveling to Oman)
• Covers all types of adventure activities
• Up to 5 million € of medical coverage
• Covers senior citizens too
• Readers of this blog can get a 5% exclusive discount

📚 Books for planning your trip to Oman

Oman travel guide by bradt.

The guide to Oman by Bradt is, definitely, the best guidebook about Oman that exists.

Arabian Peninsula travel guide by Lonely Planet

They also mention UAE and other Gulf countries but if you like collecting the LP or want to combine a few countries, this is also a good option. 

🛖 5 Top experiences in Oman

Some travelers may not agree with the below list, basically because they might not be part of the tourist trail, but having visited Oman extensively, getting quite off the beaten track, these are the must-try experiences worth to be featured in this Oman travel blog.

Traveling to Dubai? Read my complete 1-week itinerary to UAE for the independent traveler

1 – Experience the khareef season in Salalah

In Oman, there is a place full of green meadows, where it rains, and the locals sell locally-grown coconuts, pineapples, and papayas. This place is called Salalah, in southern Oman, a city that experiences a monsoon season called khareef , which takes place from July to September.

During this season, Salalah becomes beautiful and lush green, attracting visitors from all over the country, as well as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Check my ultimate guide to visit Salalah and the rest of Dhofar region

2 – Driving the coastal road from Salalah to the Yemeni border

Very few travelers visit this remote part of the country, which is a real shame, because the coast of Dhofar province is home to the most dramatic coastline in Oman, composed of lush green mountains which, at the same time, serve as vertiginous cliffs that directly drop to turquoise-blue waters.

A type of landscape you would never think of in the Arabian Peninsula. 

It looks like Hawai, right?

3 – Experiencing the Omani traditional life

What I like about Oman is that, unlike its neighbors from UAE, Qatar, Bahrain or Kuwait, it is a country with a complex, ancient history that managed to keep its traditions.

From livestock markets to artisan shops, actual Bedouins and historical mountain villages, the cultural experience in Oman is just as great as its epic landscapes. 

4 – Camping at one of the many wadis in Oman

Oman is about outdoors and since the country is not known for its nightlife, not even Muscat , both locals and expats tend to spend their weekends outdoors, especially camping in a wadi (valley) over a night barbecue.

If you want to join an Omani group, check the weekly events on Couchsurfing.

If you decide to go alone and go on a weekend, expect kind Omanis to tell you to join them.

5 – The historical heritage, from ruined cities to epic forts and abandoned villages

Despite being a mostly desert country, Oman has a fair amount of historical places to visit, ranging from well-restored, impressive forts, like the one in Rustaq, Nizwa or Bahla; to absolutely ruined historical cities like the barely visited one in Manah. 

Moreover, the mountains of Oman are also filled with abandoned villages that had been inhabited for centuries, but due to their inaccessibility, the Omani Government gave the villagers incentives to move to more accessible towns.

👨 Independent travel in Oman. Do you need to join a tour?

Oman is a difficult country to move around, basically, because you hardly find public transportation. 

Therefore, to travel in Oman, you need to either rent a car or go on a tour .

There is a third, more challenging way: hitchhiking – but we will get into that later. 

Below you can find a few examples but here I have put a compelling list: Best excursions, activities and day tours in Oman

Best Muscat City Tour

Muscat is full of amazing sites, but it is not very walking-friendly precisely. Joining a tour will definitely prove cheaper than hiring a taxi driver.

Best adventurous tour: Jebel Shams

The Grand Canyon of Oman is one of the most epic, natural places in the country, and it is easily visited from Muscat on a day trip.

Best cultural tour: Nizwa

One of the most historically important cities in Oman has a great souq and a beautiful fortress.

You may also like: the 10 best desert safaris in Dubai

⚠️ Is it safe to travel to Oman?

Travel insurance for Oman Get IATI Insurance : outdoor activities coverage + COVID-19 Buy it here to get a 5% discount

Oman is safe and, perhaps, the safest country in the Middle East , no kidding. 

Even the utterly negatively-exaggerated FCDO advice says that Oman is trouble-free. 

The fact is that Oman is one of those countries where crime is a rare thing to see.

Actually, a good friend of mine from southern Oman told me that since he was born 40 years ago, there is only been one murder in his province (Dhofar), and it was between foreign workers. 

How many people have been murdered in your province or city?

There are no pickpockets and nobody will mug you. Oman is very safe and terrorism is unheard of, especially because it has always kept away of all Middle Eastern conflicts. 

For a more comprehensive analysis, read: Is Oman safe?

20 Facts about Omanis and the country of Oman

1 – oman is an arab country and omanis are arabs.

It is one of the 22 countries that comprise the Arab League . 

2 – Many Omanis are ethnically from Zanzibar

From the 17th to the 19th century, the Sultanate of Oman was a major maritime force that controlled a large part of East Africa, Zanzibar being one of the most important territories.

When you travel in Oman, you will see a lot of very dark Omanis with strong East African features. Most likely, their ancestors come from Zanzibar but, culturally, they are 100% Omani. 

Read my city guide to Muscat!

3 – And then you have the Baluchis

Balochistan is a region spread across Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan and, for many years, the Baluch city of Gwadar (in today’s Pakistan) was under Omani rule. Baluchis were known for being fierce warriors and that is why, over the centuries, the Sultanate used them as loyal mercenaries to consolidate Oman’s power.

Today, a large population of Baluchis still remain in Oman (about half a million) and while they are considered 100% Omanis, many of them speak a distinct language which is close to Hindi or Urdu, and they have similarities with their South Asian neighbors. 

4 – But there are more groups

From the several Dhofari tribes in southern Oman (which are culturally closer to Yemen) to the Bedouins, Oman is ethnically rich. 

5 – South Asians make up around 45-55% of the total population

By South Asians, I mean people from Pakistan , India, and Bangladesh, especially Bangladesh, most of them being workers with low-qualified jobs. 

6 – Arabic is the official language

Omani Arabic is very similar to the one spoken in UAE, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf countries, with its own similarities, of course. They claim that the Arabic from the Gulf is the closest to Classical Arabic, the Arabic the Quran is written in.

7 – Other languages, however, are also spoken

I personally spent several days in Dhofar province, staying with a guy named Mussab in a small village north of Salalah . Mussab spoke Jabali (Shehri) , a language that sounded completely different from Arabic. He said that some old people from remoter villages in his region can’t speak Arabic, only Jabali. 

8 – Many educated Omanis speak English

Especially in Muscat but, in smaller cities and rural areas, communicating in English can be a problem sometimes. 

9 – Most Omanis are Sunni Muslims

There are small concentrations of Shias in Muscat and along the northern coast, but Sunni Islam is the prevalent religion. 

10 – And they are a very conservative society

Islam is the basic pillar for pretty much any Omani, including the young generation. I hung out with Omanis from all ages and social classes and I barely met anyone who didn’t pray 5 times a day. They are strong believers and most of their rules, habits, and laws are based on Islam. 

11 – Conservative, but tolerant with foreigners

In Oman, there aren’t specific rules dictating how you need to dress, and alcohol is widely available for foreigners. Women don’t need to cover up and, if you want to wear shorts, you just wear them. Omanis understand the cultural differences between themselves and Europeans, so you don’t need to explain anything to them. 

A piece of advice for women – When I was traveling in the touristic areas of Oman, I saw quite a few Western women dressing like they would do in a beach destination back home, and that was with very tight and small clothes. There isn’t really a law against that, and Omanis are the kindest people on Earth, so most likely, whatever you wear, they won’t say you anything to you because you are their guest. However, I certainly know that many Omanis get bothered when they see a woman dressing like that, especially in villages. Look, I know that I shouldn’t tell a woman what to do, but just bear in mind that you are in their country and, in order to enjoy their kindness and hospitality , showing your respect for their culture is a great start. You don’t need to cover your head or anything like that, but just try to dress more conservatively, and you will see that Omanis will receive you in open arms. For more information, read: Solo female travel in Oman

12 – Some of the most hospitable people ever

You may think this as a cliché statement, but it’s not. Omanis are in the top 3 of the most hospitable people I have ever met, along with Iranians and Pakistanis.

Over my backpacking journey, I lost count of all the house invitations I got, plus the kindness of the many locals I hitched a ride with, always willing to meet and help you, expecting nothing in return. 

13 – You will visit many guest rooms, but nothing beyond that

Omanis are very private. Families don’t really like people entering their houses, especially because it is the only place where their women can roam around freely.

For this reason, all houses tend to have a guest room, which is a living room attached to the main entrance of the house. If you are a man, you won’t be allowed to cross that room but, in that room, you will be treated like a royal guest. 

14 – About local women

Yes, Oman is a conservative Muslim society and as such, women have fewer rights than men but still, they are much further ahead than Saudi Arabia , especially when it comes to high education and public jobs, and you will hardly see any women wearing the niqab .

However, you won’t really see women socializing alone in the street and, as a man, you will hardly talk to any of them. 

Read: 9 Misconceptions about traveling as a female in Saudi

15 – Expect to see many pictures from Saddam Hussein

I traveled around Oman always hitchhiking and, during my journey, I got lifts from many people who had Saddam Hussein’s photo hanging from the rear mirror. 

Read: Iraqi Kurdistan travel guide

16 – Get used to shopping from the car

Omanis have a strange custom which is that they don’t like to get out of their car when they go to the grocery store or want to take away food. Instead, they stop at the entrance and beep like crazy until a poor Bengali comes out asking for their order.

A strange custom which I never managed to get used to. 

17 – They even have drive-thru ATMs

When I was at the gas station of Salalah, for the first time in my life, I saw a drive-thru ATM, which was also located right next to a few normal ATMs.

The shocking fact was that there were 3-4 cars standing on the line, yet, the normal ATMs were empty, which meant that they preferred waiting to getting out of the car – and it wasn’t due to the heat because it was during winter. 

18 – The strangest signboards for shops

”Fish Marketing”, ”Food Stuff”, or ”Café that offers meals mainly”, among the most classic ones.  

19 – Sultan Qaboos is the most beloved leader in the world

There isn’t a single Omani who doesn’t love their leader and the reason is that he has made their country great, not only when it comes to giving free stuff to its citizens – like houses – but he introduced a bunch of liberal laws (like freedom of religion) which his dictatorial predecessor didn’t allow.

Sultan Qaboos passed away in January 2020 at the age of 79. May him rest in peace

20 – What you need to know about camels

In Oman there are a lot of camels, but most of them are concentrated in the south, in Dhofar province (the north is more about goats). Dhofar is perhaps, the place with the largest concentration of camels in the world, no kidding.

They are absolutely everywhere, like sleeping in the middle of the road and stuff like that. Unfortunately, most of them will end up their days in a butchery.

Tales of Omani hospitality I wish I had space here to tell you all the stories of hospitality and kindness I had with the tens of Omanis I hung out with. As I told you before, I traveled in Oman completely by hitchhiking, camped in the middle of towns and cities, and did a lot of Couchsurfing. When you are backpacking this way, the local interactions are non-stop and in most cases, Omanis just tried to be overwhelmingly helpful. I got invited to have coffee to countless houses, they took me out for lunch and dinner every other day and, on many occasions, the people I hitched a ride with, always insisted on driving me to my exact location, even if that required them to make a huge detour. For this reason, I strongly recommend you travel in Oman independently , not on a tour.

🍲 Food and coffee in Oman

Honestly, food isn’t the highlight of any Oman trip, but there are some surprises and interesting facts. 

The first thing you need to know is that Omani cuisine is very limited, as it mainly consists of meat or fish with rice , served in ridiculously massive portions. 

Camel meat is eaten all across the country but nowhere like in Dhofar province, the place with perhaps, the largest concentration of camels in the world. In Salalah and around , camel meat is eaten very regularly in most restaurants, usually grilled, but you also find camel shawarmas , burgers and stuff like that. 

Besides rice with its respective portion of protein, you may also find shurbah , a local soup made of oatmeal, tomatoes, and other vegetables. 

That’s it pretty much when it comes to Omani food but, one day when I was Sadeh, a coastal village 2 hours north of Salalah, my host wanted me to eat a very special dish from his region. 

And what are we gonna eat?  – I asked

He didn’t know the name in English, so he Googled it and said: It’s called oysters. My friend catches them. 

I thought we would be eating oysters in the same way we eat them back home but instead, he brought a massive dish of oysters without shells, cooked in a spicy sauce, but they still preserved the strong sea taste oysters usually have.

That dish was, definitely, one of the best dishes I ever had traveling, if not the best .

On the other hand, due to the big Indian influence, you also find loads and loads of restaurants – even in the smallest villages – serving all kinds of Indian food , ranging from daal to fish curries, and even calamari masala, always very cheap. Daal was usually my everyday breakfast. 

Here are some facts about eating when you travel in Oman:

• Typically, you will eat on the floor, with a plastic tablecloth
• Usually, everything will be served on one single plate, even if you are several people, and you will eat from the same plate.
• You eat with your hands, and no plates or forks are provided. 
• Guests are not supposed to leave any food – That was hard because of the XXL portions
• In rural areas, you should eat with your right hand and doing otherwise is considered rude – This rule applies in all Muslim countries but Oman is particularly conservative and, along with Saudi Arabia, it is the only country where, on several occasions, the locals told me I was doing it wrong  (I am left-handed).

What you need to know about kahwa

Kahwa is the local coffee from the Arabian Peninsula, consisting of regular coffee with cardamom, served in a traditional pot. 

The problem with kahwa is that if you travel in Oman independently and have a lot of local interactions, you will be offered this coffee several times a day, meaning that you will have a shit load of cups, therefore, your heart rate is likely to increase.

When I was hitchhiking in Central Oman, where tourists are rare, one day I had to have more than 25 cups of kahwa – no kidding – as you are supposed to have at least a few when you are offered. 

If you are in a house, kahwa will be typically served with dates and if you are lucky, with tajin as well, a kind of sauce in which you dip your dates.

In fancier occasions, they will serve it with halwa , a traditional sticky, jelly-like dessert made of wheat starch, eggs, saffron, cardamom, nuts, and A LOT of sugar. It’s a bomb. 

What to do with all the dates

Of course, dates are immensely popular in Oman, especially in the north, and they claim that dates from Nizwa are the very best. Every time I stayed with an Omani from the north, they gifted me with a crazy bag loaded with dates, and they were so heavy.

Since I couldn’t finish them all, they were piling up, so every time I hitched a ride with a foreigner, I also gave them dates.

💻 Internet and connectivity in Oman

Wi-Fi – Wi-Fi usually works great but, unfortunately, it is difficult to find a Wi-Fi network, as the internet is expensive in Oman, so only hotels and Western-style cafés can afford it. So, when you are traveling in rural Oman, getting connected may prove challenging.

Moreover, Wi-Fi networks tend to require a local Omani number in order to connect, so you will have to buy a SIM Card anyways. 

SIM Card – SIM Cards in Oman are expensive as well. Omantel is the most popular one. They offer an entry plan which may be enough for short-term stays but then, if you are planning to travel to Oman for several weeks, the price per GB is pricey, like 8-9USD for 1GB worth of data. 

eSIM for browsing, calling and traveling in Oman

Basically, an eSIM is a regular SIM card with a digital format that works like a normal physical SIM card, with the added benefit that you can buy it from home before the beginning of your trip, hence avoiding the hassle of buying it at your destination. 

With Holafly , you can get a SIM Card for a wide range of destinations, including Oman . 

Moreover, you can benefit from a 5% discount with the following code:  AGAINSTTHECOMPASS

Get a VPN for traveling in Oman

You should always use a VPN when you travel, especially when you connect to public Wi-Fi networks.

Your connection will be much safer. 

Moreover, you will be able to access content which is typically censored in Oman. 

I recommend ExpressVPN – Extremely easy to use, fast and cheap. 

If you want to learn more about VPN, check: Why you need a VPN for traveling .

💰 Money & budgeting when you travel in Oman

In Oman, they use the Omani Rial (OR) and approximately:

1 USD = 0.39 OMR

Yes, it is worth more than 2USD. 

Omani Rials are split into baisas (bzs) and 1OMR = 1,000bzs

The Omani Rial is a stable currency. 

Exchanging money in Oman

Given the fact that half of the population are foreigners, money exchange offices abound. 

Plenty of ATMs everywhere

Credit cards

In local eateries, taxis, small shops, budget hotels etc. you must pay in cash, so always bring plenty of it. 

How much does traveling to Oman cost?

All right, Oman is an expensive destination (yeah, really), for two reasons:

• There is no public transportation
• There aren’t budget hotels

How much you will spend when traveling in Oman is hard to say, as it will depend on several factors.

For example, I have never spent much because, during my first 6 or 7 visits, I always came with my own car and used to camp in the wadis or the beach and, on my last occasion, I was purely hitchhiking and Couchsurfing, so I barely spent 20USD a day. 

Local food is actually cheap but, if you rent a car and stay in hotels, costs will add up significantly. 

Here are the typical prices of the most basic stuff:

• One-month visa –  20OMR
• Welcome package SIM + Data –  3OMR but then you pay 3OMR for 1GB
• The most budget hotel –  10-12OMR
• A plate of daal – 500bzs
• A biryani –  1.5OMR
• A big bottle of water – 200bzs
• A beer – 4OMR
• Short taxi rides within Muscat –  2.50OMR
• Bus from Muscat to Salalah –  7OMR

How to travel in Oman on a super budget:

• Do hitchhike (it is fairly easy)
• Do Couchsurfing
• Only eat in Indian-run restaurants
• Go to the mountains and camp outdoors
• Sign up for Couchsurfing events and join weekend trips

If you want to know more, read my guide on how to go backpacking in Oman on a super budget

🛺 Transportation tips – How to move around Oman

• Regular taxi – If you don’t have a car, taxis are the way to go in Muscat. They don’t have taximeters, however, and taxi drivers from Muscat are really annoying because they always try to rip off tourists. I recommend using Careem or Uber.
• Bus – There are a few bus lines in Muscat that go all the way to Ruwi from the airport. They cost 500bzs. For more information, read my Muscat City Guide . 

Renting a car in Oman

To be very honest, Oman is a country that is best explored by car, as the vast majority of its places are completely inaccessible.

A car will make your life much easier, plus you will be able to find epic camping spots and just have a lot of freedom.

I recommend you find your car via Rental Cars, a search engine that helps you find the best deals, no matter where you are.

Do you need a 4×4 for your trip to Oman?

Before making this decision, you need to think: where are you going to go?

The roads in Oman are generally good and the only 2 places I went where a 4×4 was needed were Jebel Akhdar and the road from Al Hamra to Rustaq via Bald Sayt. 

Then, you have the Empty Quarter but, even if you had the best 4×4, it is not recommended to go without an experienced driver – The dunes in the Empty Quarter are a few hundred meters high, and they are shifting sands. 

Unless you really want to drive off-road , bear in mind that renting a 4×4 is much more expensive than a regular car, so you really need to assess whether it is worth to pay the extra money for being able to go to Jebel Akhdar and Bald Sayt. 

Traveling around Oman by bus

Traveling in Oman by bus sucks, for 3 reasons:

• They just go to the main cities and towns
• There are only a few a day
• Cities in Oman are not walking-friendly, so when you get to a city by bus, you are screwed again.

Going by bus isn’t a good option for traveling in Oman. 

Hitchhiking in Oman

The best option for budget backpackers. 

Hitchhiking in Oman is super easy. I hitchhiked more than 1400km, from Salalah to Muscat and everything in between, and never had to wait much.

For more information, read my budget backpacking guide in Oman .

🛫 How to get to Oman

Traveling to oman by air.

Today, there are many international connections coming from different European and Asian cities to Muscat . However, flying to Dubai will always be cheaper, so I recommend you check both and then you decide.

The southern city of Salalah also has an international airport, with connections from other Arab countries, India, Pakistan , etc.

Traveling to Oman by land

Oman shares a border with UAE, Yemen , and Saudi Arabia.

• UAE – Traveling from Dubai to Muscat is a 400km drive. You can come by car but there are also buses from Bur Dubai. Check here for more info . 
• Saudi –  Apparently, the border was recently opened, but there are no buses and it is actually faster going through UAE, which would be a 1,300km drive from  Riyadh  to Muscat. Read my  travel guide to Saudi Arabia . 
• Yemen – The border is open but it is a very long drive. For more information on visiting Yemen, read this post . 

🏨 Accommodation tips – Which kind of accommodation do you have?

Check my comprehensive guide on how to find the right accommodation in Muscat

The first thing you need to know is that in Oman there aren’t hostels or guest houses, only hotels.

Budget Hotels

Only available in big cities and on roads. You pay 25-30USD for a single room but on the bright side, the few I stayed in tended to be clean and have some minimum standards. 

Hotel-apartments

In big cities, you can also find hotel apartments, which are very good value-for-money if you are more than 2 people.

Mid-range hotels

In rural touristic places such as Jebel Shams, Jebel Akhdar, villages like Bald Sayt, etc. there aren’t budget hotels and rates may easily start at 100USD per night. 

5-star hotels

The offer of luxury hotels in Oman is very large. 

Couchsurfing

Plenty of profiles but I recommend you send the requests in advance because Omanis tend to take a while to reply.

❗ More information to add up to this Oman travel guide

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

All guides and articles for traveling in Oman destination

• Travel Guide to Musandam
• Muscat Travel Guide
• Where to Stay in Muscat
• Best Activities, Tours and Excursion in Oman
• A City Guide to Salalah Dhofar
• Oman Budget Guide
• Solo Female Travel Guide to Oman
• Is Oman Safe?

Travel guides to other countries in the Middle East

• Iran Travel Guide
• Palestine Travel Guide
• Syria Travel Guide
• Travel Guide to Lebanon
• Iraq Travel Guide
• Travel Guide to Saudi Arabia
• Yemen Travel Guide

You will also be interested in: Where in the Middle East is safe? and The most beautiful places in the Middle East .

This Oman travel guide contained everything you needed to know for your trip. If you have any additional information or questions, kindly post them in the comments section

22 comments

Great article – very useful and informative. Thanks!

Thank you very much, the article is very helpful und interesting!

Just wanted to comment on correcting one fact Oman is the only country that the majority of muslims are Ibadi, not Sunni.

thanks, Ali!

Hey Joan, great source of info, really well written and love all the cultural information. We want to rent a car for traveling around Oman. Is it easy to find camping gear in Muscat? Any shop you can recommend?

Hey there, thx for all the information, do you know if it is possible for EU citizens to get a 10-day visa on the border when coming by bus from Dubai?

If coming by land, I recommend you buy it online beforehand.

Hi, have you got any direct contact details (phone, email) for Fort Guesthouse in Muscat? Thanks, love your stuff, Terry

Thanks so much for all this info! I recently returned from a trip to Oman and used this (along with a lot of your others posts) for help and information 🙂

thank you 🙂

Hi, Can someone advise me on the best currency to use when holidaying in Oman please? Rials or USdollars? TIA

In Oman, they use Omani Rials

Love your work, I have been reading it extensively. We have accidently booked our 4 days in Oman next year during Eid al-Adha. Do you know how this may negatively affect our time there? Ie. can we still rent a car and travel easily?

Hi Richard, it’s really not a problem, other than it will be busy, since many expats in UAE decide to travel to Oman during these dates.

About visa, most of nationalities doesn’t need visa for 14 days or less if they arrive by airplane. Visa for 14 days on land border crossings is not valid/avaliable anymore, nor it is possible to buy it through official government website.

I can send you screenshot from government official email on my request about that matter as proof if you need. 🙂

Thank you for the information, Peter.

Great Article , can u recommend any good hassel free car hire company .

none in particular, I always check on Rental Cars

Such a nice summary!! We originally planned to go with a travel agency but at the end we might rather go on our own with more freedom to travel where we want. Thank you so much for these tips! I learned all I needed to know! Love from Lucy form Prague

Have a fun and safe trip!

Greetings, Joan! Inspired by you (and a few others), I’m visiting Oman for 24 days. Can you suggest a site where I might find a travel partner to split a vehicle? Many thanks–I’m a big fan1

Maybe in Facebook group Overlanding in the Middle East

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Is Oman Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

• Oman : Safety by City

Located in the Middle East, Oman rests on the southeastern end of the Arabian Peninsula.

Its neighbors are the United Arab Emirates in the northwest, Saudi Arabia in the west, and Yemen in the southwest.

Apart from that, within Oman are two exclaves, separated from it by the United Arab Emirates, the Musandam Peninsula, and Madha.

It is the oldest independent state in the Arab world.

Oman is regarded as one of the more traditional countries in the Gulf region and as such, tourists are expected to respect their beautiful and unique culture, and in turn, Omani people treat them very kindly.

Omanis are warm and friendly people, some even say they are the friendliest people in the world and tourists are always welcome in their country.

Consequently, since this is a religious and traditional state, a crime of any kind is strictly punishable, which makes Oman a very safe country for any tourist.

• Warnings & Dangers in Oman

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Overall, Oman is a very safe country. It is highly friendly and warm toward tourists, and the crime rate is fairly low, so apart from petty crime on the streets, there isn't too much to worry about.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Public transportation is available but not very reliable in Oman. Some buses can go from A to B and from B to C, but not from C to A which makes it easy to get lost or stranded somewhere without a way back. However, the buses are comfortable, cheap and very safe. You can easily get ripped off when taking a taxi, since they're not metered, so be careful and negotiate your ride in advance.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

Even though pickpockets are not the primary cause for concern in the Middle East, pickpocketing does happen, and this applies to Oman, too. Be careful in crowded places and markets, and leave your jewelry and passports at home. Some passport thefts have been reported as well as wallets. Never keep all your money in the same place.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Tropical storms are fairly common in Oman and while its climate is generally dry, heavy rains do fall, usually during winter. Flash floods are also known to happen and they can even cause injuries and deaths. Cyclones coming from the Indian Ocean occasionally make landfall in Oman during summer.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

The crime rate in Oman is low, and consequently, cases of mugging and kidnapping are rarely, if ever, reported.

TERRORISM RISK: HIGH

The threat of a terrorist attack is a serious issue in Oman. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advised travelers "to exercise a high degree of caution in Oman because of the high threat of terrorist attack". The United States Department of State expressed concern over the possibility of terrorist attacks against citizens of the United States. Attacks could be indiscriminate, and happen in places visited by foreigners and tourists so be aware of your surroundings at all times.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

There are a couple of scams that can happen in Oman. Sometimes the expiration dates on food and drinks in supermarkets get "prolonged" by the merchants so the people would buy them even though they are no longer consumable. Vendors may either try and charge more or give the wrong change, and taxi drivers might try to rip you off. However, these scams are not that common and should be easy to detect.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Traveling as a woman in Oman is easy and safe. As long as you respect their culture, dress appropriately and are friendly, you will have no problem. Apart from standard safety rules, you should apply (not walking alone at night, not finding yourself alone with strange men, not taking taxis in isolated areas at night) there isn't much to worry about.

• So... How Safe Is Oman Really?

Given that this country is known for its friendly and kind people and strict laws, it is no wonder that the crime rate in Oman is low.

Occurrences of serious crime are fairly rare in this state and the Royal Oman Police is known to be highly efficient and not prone to bribery.

However, petty crime including theft of property does happen and you should be vigilant when handling your valuables.

Another safety issue in Oman is driving.

Driving in this country requires the highest level of attention and you should really use all your senses and expect the unexpected: Oman has the second-highest death rate from traffic accidents in the world.

When outside of the cities, Omanis are notorious for driving very fast.

Driving at night is especially dangerous as many drivers don’t even turn their headlights on.

Another thing that happens is that camels often walk straight out on the road even when they see cars approaching, and these encounters often end fatally for both camels and drivers.

The current political situation in the Middle East is such that, at the moment, Oman has a higher degree of political tension in the state.

Be wary of large gatherings and demonstrations.

Even thought they are usually peaceful, those that occur near the United Arab Emirates border can turn violent and even have fatal consequences.

Apart from these precaution measures, follow your common sense and your trip will go smoothly because unlike some of its neighbors, Oman is open towards visitors.

• How Does Oman Compare?
• Useful Information

Most visitors to Oman must obtain a visa before traveling to Oman. As a tourist, you can get a visa upon arrival at any land, sea or air entry port in the country. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Oman. if you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

Omani rial is the currency in Oman. You can withdraw your money from ATMs across the state and exchanging your money at the National Bank of Oman is recommended.

The climate in Oman is very hot, with very big differences between maximum and minimum daily temperatures. Oman has very low annual rainfall, happening mostly between December and April. Temperatures can reach as high as 49 °C, which is why the best time to visit is between December and March when the temperatures are mild and pleasant. Winters, typically, are mild in Oman.

Muscat International Airport, formerly known as Seeb International Airport, is the main and busiest international airport in Oman and is situated 32 km from the old city. Salalah International Airport is Oman's secondary international airport.

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Oman, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Oman Weather Averages (Temperatures)

• Average High/Low Temperature

Oman - Safety by City

• Where to Next?

26 Reviews on Oman

Oman is definitely one of the safest countries in the Middle East. In fact it’s so safe, that there’s zero terrorism risk; this article really exaggerates that threat. It needs to be edited to reflect the reality.

I am shocked when I sow that article about terrorism is high !!

I am also shocked when I sow that article about terrorism is high

I see …. I saw (past tense) we got to learn And speak better English

To be « shocked » is an exaggerated word seeing how most strict muslims’s countries REALLY are !!!!! This is my opinion when I SAW your comment 🤪

Agree. I found Oman one of the best countries in the world. This article has bias issues. Love from Uk.

Oman is near the Yemen. Yemen launch rocket to Israel yesterday. Is very easy for Yemen terrorist to cross border to Oman or to attack the beach resorts from sea.

Oman: A safe haven worthy of acclaim

Having lived here for the better part of 15 years, I can vouch for Oman as a place of safety and security. Terrorism threats are virtually non-existent, with the odd (peaceful) demonstration to curb unemployment taking place outside ministry buildings. Even so, these have never turned violent, and much of the citizens resort to Twitter to make statements. Aside from that, Omanis are peaceful and welcoming, and are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet in the Middle-East. It’s hard to fault the living standards of Oman when compared with other parts of the GCC; some of which are, frankly, ostentatious, expensive, and a touch over-the-top, for the median salaries earned by expats and locals.

Misguiding Post- Oman is actually safer than Germany.

First off the US Travel advisory explicitly says there has been no threats to US citizen in Oman TO DATE. Which means there has never been any terrorist activity in Oman throughout the country’s history, which is also a documented fact. I suggest readers of this blog to not take my word and check the US travel advisory yourself.

The US Travel Advisory says :exercise normal caution in Oman. Meanwhile Germany has a higher caution alert by the Travel advisory. Unfortunately, your stats do not reflect this in Germany vs Oman which makes me question the criteria you base your numbers on.

Second, the Taxis have been metered since 2019. This is not reflected on your stats which affects the overall rating.

I don’t know who’s writing this but this seems to have been written with bias without real factual data about Oman. Kindly review and update your information to avoid misleading Prospective travelers to Oman.

For readers of this blog it is worth noting that this website is registered for MediaVine ads. Meaning this is a personal blog that runs for profit and is not monitored by any authority. Kindly fact check the information of this post up until the authors edit this.

Thank you , I’m a Filipino and I decided to work in Oman this year I search about Oman and I felt afraid when I read the terrorist attack is high in there, I thought it’s true 😭 . . Thank you You enlighten me .

Thank you so much for this info.

Yes, thank you

OMAN TERRORISM RISK : HIGH !!??

Oman is the safest country in the world

update your article above regarding.TERRORISM RISK : HIGH

Single mom – never felt as safe in my life as right now, living in Oman. Hope to live here many, many, many years!

atleast give any reference or the article is not valid

Oman is safer than most of the U.K., most of Europe and most of the U.S too. People there are certainly nicer than the majority of people here in the U.K. in General. I lived in Oman for quite sometime and I don’t understand the high terrorism risk they are talking about, can’t recall any terror attack there during my time. It is safe to say that Oman is one of the safest places I’ve ever been to, if not the safest.

OMAN TERRORISM RISK IS NOT HIGH

I don’t understand why they wrote OMAN TERRORISM RISK : HIGH !!? like people I am from Oman and my grandparents lived here and so did my grand grandparents and none of them or anyone I know (trust me I know lots of people like a lot a lot) has ever said anything about terrorism attacks or anything so I can ashore you that Oman is extremely safe because all the people I know that have sadly perished have died because of old age and sometimes because of sicknesses but never because of terrorism so I can tell you that this app is not telling the truth and maybe the creator of the app can do a little more research about Oman and maybe should come visit it to then he will know.

I’m not going to be polite, The United States Department of State is lying and spreading hate. we lived in Oman our whole lives and never even heard of a “terrorist attack” once!! How has it been classified as “High”? weird Huh?

Oman is Great Country

I am staying in Oman since decade. Its quite peaceful. I have never been any kind of bitter experience. Highly respect for Omani people and their hospitality. I feel better than my home country. “Humanity is first” cultural in Oman.

Do women and men have equal RIGHTS

Can women wear a bathing suit and go to the beach And swim in Oman !!!!????

of course women can go for swimming as man !

Oman is a phenomenal, fantastic, fabulous country and the Leadership is to be congratulated for the welcome given to tourists. Great place for a vacation…super hotels and great eating places. I was a visitor from Toronto Canada

Dont go oman

Never ever go to Oman as a tourist.Chances of ending up in Jail for minimum 1 day is high if you take picture of a street or building etc. Also if you previously travelled to any arab countries and some offense happened,then you will be in jail again in oman until they complete enquiry about those events.

This is real fact.

And moreover nothing to see in oman for a tourist.

its totally not true, you mix-up between Oman and North korea

OMAN IS GOOD FOR TRAVEL

I worked in Oman for 4 years. It’s a very safe and peaceful country. People are super friendly.

Oman its super safe its one of safest countries in the world and this website has really wrong information as Oman they have zero TERRORISM.

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Article Contents

• Overall Risk
• Transport & Taxis Risk
• Pickpockets Risk
• Natural Disasters Risk
• Mugging Risk
• Terrorism Risk
• Women Travelers Risk
• Weather Averages (Temperatures)
• User Reviews
• Share Your Experience

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad
• Foreign travel advice

Entry requirements

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel. 

The authorities in Oman set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Omani Embassy in the UK .   

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Oman.  

Passport validity requirements

To enter Oman, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual nationals

Oman does not recognise dual nationality. If you hold both British and Omani passports, the Omani authorities may confiscate one of your passports.

Visa requirements

You can visit Oman for up to 14 days without a visa.

If you overstay or do not extend your visa or residency, the Omani authorities may fine and detain you. Fines can be up to 10 Omani rials a day, with a total maximum fine of 500 rials.

Applying for a visa

To stay longer than 14 days or for work, study or other reasons, you must have a visa. To avoid the risk of refusal, it’s better to apply for a visa online before you travel – you can select the ‘unsponsored visit visa’ option if you’re a tourist.

You can also get a visit visa on arrival at an airport in Oman.

Checks at border control

At Omani border control, you must be able to show:

• a ticket for return or onward travel
• proof of your accommodation – for example, a hotel booking
• proof of your travel health insurance

Vaccine requirements

You must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from Rwanda, Tanzania or a country listed as a transmission risk .

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Oman guide .

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Oman . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking medicines into Oman

Some UK prescription and over-the-counter medicines are illegal in Oman. Carry a copy of your prescription if you’re bringing medicine. Check with Oman’s Ministry of Health well before you travel.

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Discovering an Omani Paradise

Muscat, the capital, offers opulent culture, but it is the mountains and the sea that bedazzle.

By David Belcher

Reporting from Muscat, Oman

High in the mountains of Oman and along its pounding shoreline, I stumbled onto an unexpected slice of heaven thanks to a friend’s recommendation. I even sprang for a few extra amenities for a mash-up of pauper meets paradise.

I first visited Oman in 2018 after regularly making one- or -two-day stopovers in Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Qatar to break up long flights between Europe and Asia. And although it is about a one-hour flight from those bustling and scorching cities, Oman can feel almost removed from time, whether you are in the Hajar Mountains that cut a swath across the country’s northern edge or dipping into the roiling waves of the Arabian Sea farther south.

I had read about the country’s wild and often empty coastline that stretches nearly 2,000 miles, but mountain hiking in the Gulf region was a new experience for me. What I discovered was a cinematic, “Dune”-like landscape of deserts, mountains and rugged canyons punctuated by centuries-old terrace farming. The scenery then plunged into the vast wasteland of the Rub’ al-Khali desert (“the empty quarter” in Arabic) and rivaled anything I’d ever seen.

Bordered by Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, this country of nearly 4.7 million was transformed over the decades by Sultan Qaboos bin Said , who died in 2020. He had ousted his father in a bloodless coup, backed by the British, to embrace modernism — and scads of oil and natural gas deposits — in 1970.

The country has a fascinating maritime history — the Omani empire once stretched as far south as Zanzibar in the late 17th century — and a relaxed and accepting vibe rooted in Ibadism , which is often seen as a more moderate branch of Islam.

It has seemingly maintained political neutrality for decades , despite being situated in an at-times-volatile region. The northeastern tip of Oman is about 1,500 miles from Sana, the capital of Yemen. Salalah, nearer to Yemen in the south, is about 900 miles from the mouth of the Red Sea, a body of water in which attacks on cargo ships have been reported. (The U.S. State Department currently advises “increased caution” for travelers and Britain says “ travel advice for Oman could change at short notice .”)

And old-world charm lingers across Oman, especially high on Jabal Akhdar (loosely translated as “green mountain” in Arabic), one of the highest peaks in the Hajar range, 70 miles southwest of the capital, Muscat. Although these mostly limestone mountains are typically barren and beige, lush green farms inspired the name. (Imagine the rice terraces of Bali on the sides of bone-dry rocky canyons.) Snowfall in winter and the mist from clouds captured in the high peaks create precipitation, and the country’s intricate “aflaj” irrigation systems, thought to date to antiquity , maximize the impact of water in this forbidding landscape.

Local growers sell their garden bounty to residents as well as to resorts, including the Alila Jabal Akhdar , which says most of the food on its menu is grown on the property or purchased from terrace farmers.

At the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar , perched atop a plateau at 6,500 feet above sea level, hikes or bike rides in the mountains and valleys are offered on organized tours. At an overlook called Diana’s Point, where Diana, Princess of Wales, once stood to stargaze, you can hear the Muslim call to prayer echoing from two villages several times a day.

Both resorts, with rooms starting around $500 to $600, offer guided walks to 400-year-old abandoned villages with breathtaking views across the emptiness of the rolling canyons.

Although I flew on a commercial airline to Oman, visitors on a bigger budget than mine have the option of paragliding in. The Six Senses Zighy Bay offers the option of a birdlike arrival from a nearby mountaintop on the last leg of a two-hour drive from Dubai International Airport.

Nestled among the canyons flanked by the turquoise waters that define Oman’s narrow, northernmost tip off the Strait of Hormuz, this resort has come to define Omani isolation in the most exclusive way, with rooms starting at about $1,500. (It’s known as a celebrity honeymoon getaway spot, including for Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra in 2018, and Lindsay Lohan spent part of her pregnancy there last year.)

Farther south, the virtually undeveloped Arabian Sea coastline attracts a big European crowd in winter, and in the summer Gulf residents flee the searing heat for the monsoons that drape this coastline in mist. The climate allows for miles of coconut palm trees and banana trees that serve as a sort of tropical backdrop to the never-crowded beaches.

Salalah, the main city on the southeastern tip of Oman, is home to several resorts, but its crown jewel is the Anantara Al Baleed with its sprawling beach and private villas with plunge pools, which will set you back about $650 a night. Regular rooms start at about $350 to $375. (About an hour’s drive east of Salalah, the Alila hotel group, a Hyatt luxury brand, has opened its second property in Oman , on the isolated Hinu Bay).

A visit to the Anantara Al Baleed in December offered a study in tourism meets local color. Four camels frolicked in the surf one day to the delight of a few of us splashing about in the water. Two days later, dozens of fishermen casting handmade nets caught thousands of sardines, hauling them on their backs from the unforgiving waves and onto trucks. The resort is adjacent to the Museum of the Frankincense Land, which offers a fascinating peek into the history of this coveted aromatic resin that was once as prized as gold.

Most trips to Oman, including mine, start in Muscat, which has its charms despite Dubai-like traffic and urban sprawl. My two-day stop included attending a performance at the Royal Opera House Muscat, which was a complete revelation to this lifelong opera fan. Tours of the venue are also available for about $7.50. Built in 2011, its layers of white stone and marble arabesque arches evoke a grand Middle Eastern citadel. In my black jeans, blazer and tie, I felt a bit frumpy rubbing elbows with perfectly coiffed men in traditional dishdashas (the white gownlike formal attire) and massars (the colorful embroidered cloth headdresses).

Even more opulent is the city’s lavish Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque with its 8.5-ton crystal chandelier and expansive carpet said to have taken four years to weave by hand. The mosque opened to all in 2001 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the sultan’s reign.

But I wanted to get out of the city and into the nature I had heard so much about. I booked a car and driver (for about $120) to take me three hours into the wild landscape the next day. It was like being transported to mountains on the moon, but in a luxurious four-wheel-drive vehicle on smoothly paved roads. My driver, Saud, navigated the meandering coastal highway past azure shorelines with massive rock formations jutting like islands out of the sea, eventually turning right for the steep road into the rugged Jabal Akhdar.

Saud told me that in his youth, he and his grandfather had traveled on camelback from their terrace gardens to Muscat twice a year to sell fruit, vegetables, garlic and roses. Theirs was a two-day journey, and along the way they snacked on pomegranate seeds. Now, some 50 years later, Saud drives tourists who want to hike across the empty canyons of his youth and enjoy the foods from these gardens in the sky.

That evening at dinner, my salad was sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. In the warmth of the cozy dining room of the Alila Jabal Akhdar, I thought of Saud and our drive to a slice of paradise. I’ll probably never paraglide into Oman, but I did feel like I had arrived on the wings of something fine.

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2044 solar eclipse path: See where in US totality hits in next eclipse

Compared to this year's eclipse, with a path of totality that will cross over 13 states, the 2044 total solar eclipse won't have as quite as broad of a reach. here's what to know:.

Millions of Americans are by now eagerly awaiting the next total solar eclipse , which is only hours away from passing over a large swath of the continent .

But when the celestial event comes and goes, the awe-inspiring impression it leaves on skygazers may leave them with one question: "When can we see that again?"

Unfortunately, we'll have to wait awhile – this sort of spectacular astral phenomenon doesn't happen very often . Here's what we know about the next total solar eclipse that will cross over the contiguous U.S.

Solar eclipse glasses: What to know about glasses, safe viewing before the solar eclipse

When will the next total solar eclipse happen in the U.S?

Only seven years have passed since Americans had the opportunity to view a total solar eclipse, a relatively rare celestial event in which the moon appears to us here on Earth to completely block the sun.

The resulting fleeting moments of darkness can last for minutes or just mere seconds and is known as " totality ," whereby the sun's outermost layer known as the corona makes a rare appearance.

Today's total solar eclipse , the first in North America since 2017, will travel over portions of northern Mexico, thousands of miles of the U.S. and the maritime provinces of Canada, according to NASA . According to astronomers, this eclipse will be brighter, will last longer and will be visible to more people than the last one in North America.

It's also the last one for 20 years in the United States.

After Monday, the next total solar eclipse viewable from the lower 48 states will be on Aug. 23, 2044.

2044 total solar eclipse path of totality

Compared to this year's eclipse, with a path of totality that will cross over 13 states, the 2044 total solar eclipse won't have as quite as broad of a reach .

The Planetary Society, a nonprofit involved in research, public outreach and political space advocacy, says that during the 2044 eclipse, the path of totality will only touch three states.

The eclipse will begin in Greenland, sweep through Canada and end around sunset in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

It's not too early to start thinking about where you want to witness it. According to whenisthenexteclipse.com , Americans may want to make sure their passports up to date.

The place to be will likely be Banff National Park in Alberta and Jasper National Park , with Calgary and Edmonton also within the path of totality.

What to know about the 2033 eclipse in Alaska

Outside of the "lower 48," Alaska is set to experience a total solar eclipse much sooner.

On March 30, 2033, a total solar eclipse will occur in Russia and cross over Alaska, according to nationaleclipse.com . The maximum duration of totality for this eclipse will be 2 minutes and 37 seconds.

Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Gabe Hauari

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]

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US tells staff in Israel not to travel outside cities amid Iran threat

The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. Photo taken on March 12, 2019. REUTERS/Ammar Awad/File Phot

The United States said on Thursday it had restricted its employees in Israel and their family members from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Be'er Sheva areas amid Iran's threats to retaliate against its regional adversary.

Iran has vowed revenge for the April 1 airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus, ratcheting up tension in a region already strained by the Gaza war.

"Out of an abundance of caution, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Be'er Sheva areas until further notice," the U.S. embassy said in a  security alert   on its website on Thursday. "U.S. government personnel are authorized to transit between these three areas for personal travel."

Washington has a policy of informing all American citizens via such warnings when it updates security measures for its personnel in a country.

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday Iran was threatening to launch a "significant attack in Israel," and that the U.S. remained committed to its ally's security.

Asked about the security alert, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller noted that Iran had been making public threats toward Israel.

"We conduct ongoing assessments all the time about the situation on the ground," Miller said at a press briefing. "I'm not going to speak to the specific assessments that led to us to restrict our employees' and family members' personal travel, but clearly we are monitoring the threat environment in the Middle East and specifically in Israel."

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It's about to get more difficult for Americans to visit Brazil - here are crazy the new requirements

• Brazil is postponing the requirement of a visa for citizens Australia, Canada and the United States until April 10, 2025
• The permit was scheduled to go into effect Wednesday, hours before the government announced it would be delaying it
• People interested in obtaining a visa will have to show proof that they have at least $2,000 in their bank account 

Brazil  is postponing its visa requirement for United States citizens - ones that require people to show bank accounts in addition to requests for visa. 

 The government previously announced that travelers from the United States as well as Australia and Canada  were going to be required not only to obtain visa but show they have at least $2,000 in the bank. However,  hours before it was supposed to go into effect Wednesday,the administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva decided to delay it. 

This time the delay will stretch until 2025. The Lula administration had previously postponed it to January 10.

Now, beginning April 10, 2025, citizens from those three countries will have to present the visa, which will cost $80.90 and is available only online.

The visa will be valid for ten years and travelers will be limited to staying 90 days per year.

The mandatory requirements ask of all prospective visitors to submit a letter of intent detailing why they are traveling to Brazil, how long their trip will last, their lodging location and phone number.

Visitors will also have to show proof of travel tickets, residence and income, including their last three bank account statements or six most recent pay stubs.

In addition, the Brazilian government requires that each visitor has a minimum of $2,000 in their account.

Anyone not meeting the requirement will need a sponsor to complete a notarized affidavit of support and provide their last three bank statements.

The tourism industry largely opposes the visa requirement, claiming that imposing the travel document would significantly dissuade citizens from the Australia, Canada and the United States from visiting, according to Brazilian outlet G1.

The visa requirement was removed in 2019 by the administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

But under Lula, the government proceeded to reinstate the travel document as a form of retribution because the United States, Canada and Australia required Brazilian citizens to present the travel permit at their ports of entry.

Congressional members objected to Lula’s travel decree and threatened to hold a vote before the lower house and the Secretariat of Institutional Relations reached an agreement to put off the visa.

According the Brazilian Tourist Board, at least 4.78 international travelers visited the South American country across the first 10 months of 2023. 

At least 483,000 citizens from the United States vacationed in Brazil between January and September of last year.

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