Oman withdraws travel ban on Bangladesh, 17 other countries

Oman has lifted its travel ban on 18 countries, including Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, effective from September 1, four months after imposing the ban against the backdrop of rising Covid-19 infections.

The ban was lifted following an announcement made by the Oman Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Monday in line with the instruction of the Supreme Committee on Corona Prevention comprising of Medical Response, Public Health Sector and the Royal Oman Police made on August 19, according to a report of Oman Daily Observer.

The news of lifting travel by Oman has created a sense of relief among Bangladeshi workers. Oman is the second largest destination for Bangladeshi workers after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia among the Gulf countries. 

Bangladesh exported a total of 21,071 workers in 2020, some 72,654 workers in 2019 and 72,504 workers in 2018 to Oman, according to the statistics of the Bureau, Manpower Employment and Training (BMET).  

Also Read - Air travel to Bangladesh: Everything you need to know

The circular issued on Monday says all passengers arriving at the Sultanate are required to present a Covid-19 vaccine certificate containing a QR Code stating that they have received two doses of a vaccine approved in Oman, or in cases where a single dose is approved by the Health Authorities of the Sultanate, have received one dose of such vaccine.

The last dose is required to have been received not less than 14 days ahead of the estimated arrival time.

The Ministry of Health will publish and update the list of vaccines approved in Oman.

All passengers arriving in the Sultanate that present a pre-travel negative result Covid-19 PCR test are exempted from quarantine, and the test shall be conducted within 96 hours prior to the scheduled time of arrival in the Sultanate for the international flights of more than eight hours duration, including transit, and 72 hours for shorter flights.

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All passengers arriving in the Sultanate without holding a negative PCR test are subject to a PCR test upon arrival where after the traveler shall be required to enter mandatory quarantine with an electronic tracking bracelet until a negative PCR test results are received.

However, in cases of a positive PCR test result, the passenger shall be required to undergo mandatory health isolation for 10 days starting from the test date.

Except that passengers who have recovered from Covid but tested positive on arrival are exempted from health isolation, providing they are able to submit proof that they have completed the prescribed isolation period in the country where they were infected before traveling to the Sultanate.