American Citizen Resident Travel to Oman

The embassy is aware of two cases in which American citizens who are residents of Oman were not allowed to board connecting flights to Oman because their passports were set to expire in less than six months. The American citizens had to leave the airport in the transit country and apply for a new passport, causing considerable delay and inconvenience.

All airlines use an electronic manual called the Travel Information Manual or Timatic Entry that gives information to the check-in agents on whether a visa is needed, if a visa can be obtained on arrival, how long a passport has to be valid, etc. For Oman, the rules for entering the country are different for American tourists and American residents. The manual states that American residents can enter Oman with a passport valid on the date of arrival. For American tourists, the passport has to be valid for at least six months upon arrival.

In both cases with the American citizen residents described above, it seems the airline representatives were mistaking residents for tourists and were likely reading the wrong section of the manual. In the manual, Entry #1 of the pertinent section applies to American tourists and Entry #2 applies to American residents.

The embassy recommends taking a copy of Entry #2 of the Travel Information Manual with you in order to show the check-in agent if you are an American resident of Oman travelling with a passport with less than 6 months validity.

For your convenience, you will find attached, Entries #1 and #2 from the Travel Information Manual.

Americans living or traveling in Oman are strongly encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Muscat. Registration with Embassies/Consulates is available at www.travel.state.gov under “International Travel for U.S. Citizens.” Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy in Muscat. The Embassy’s phone number is (968) 2464-3400. This new phone number is also for after-hours emergencies.

American citizens wishing to contact the Consular Section may do so via email at ConsularMuscat@state.gov or fax at (968) 2464-3535. If you wish to speak directly to a consular staff member, please call the embassy phone number between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and follow the prompts. On a walk-in basis, American Citizens Services are available from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The U.S. Embassy is located on Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street in the diplomatic area of Shatti al Qurum in the capital city of Muscat. American Citizens Service hours are: Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Embassy is closed on Omani and American holidays.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found.  

In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or outside the United States and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).