ESSENTIAL NOTES
- Citizens of Oman are no longer need to obtain a visa in order to enter Singapore; instead, they must merely apply for an entry card in advance.
- Holders of an Omani passport are allowed to enter 48 other countries without a visa, in addition to Singapore.
- In addition, Singapore has relaxed its visa policies for China, and it intends to make it easier for Indians to obtain visas.
According to an announcement made by the Omani Foreign Ministry, Omani nationals can now visit Singapore without a visa for durations of up to 30 days.
The fact that Singaporeans can visit Oman without a visa already suggests that the two nations have a mutual entrance agreement.
Authorities have stated that Omani nationals who intend to go to Singapore must apply for a Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) at least three days in advance of their departure. Such an admission card may be submitted online, and it costs nothing to do so.
“Visitors will be granted a Short-Term Visit Pass (STVP) for up to 30 days upon arrival.”
Foreign Ministry of Oman
Only 49 countries currently allow citizens of Oman to travel without a visa.
Oman passport holders are granted visa-free travel to 48 other countries and territories across the world, in addition to Singapore. In the meanwhile, Omani nationals can obtain visas upon arrival in 32 additional nations.
Omanis must, among other things, make sure they have a valid passport and purchase travel health insurance that is accepted in the country of destination before departing.
As of July 2024, the Omani passport is ranked 111th in the world by the Passport Index. As a result, in order to access 116 different countries, holders of Omani passports must obtain a regular visa.
Singapore plans to simplify Indian visa procedures and has dropped its visa requirements for China.
Apart from the aforementioned resolution, Singapore has eliminated the need for a visa for admission into China and plans to relax criteria for entry for other countries.
With the goal of welcoming 1.5 million Indian tourists this year, Singapore announced in March 2024 that it would be simplifying the visa application process for Indian nationals. Singapore wants to improve hotel accommodations and other hospitality facilities, even with the visa requirements.
Additionally, Singapore and China inked a bilateral agreement in January 2024 to do away with the need for visas between them. The regulation, which went into force in February 2024, permits up to 30-day visits between nationals of China and Singapore.
As officials said at the time, the goal of this agreement is to strengthen ties between the two nations.
“The 30-day mutual visa exemption arrangement between our two countries will also support such progress, which can promote more personnel exchanges and strengthen the cornerstone of bilateral relations.”
Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong
