Belarus Council Approves Visa-free Travel Deal With Oman

On 21 January 2026, the Council of the Republic, the upper house of the National Assembly of Belarus, approved a bill ratifying an agreement with the Sultanate of Oman on mutual visa exemption for ordinary passport holders. This vote completes the parliamentary phase of Belarus’s ratification process and moves the Belarus–Oman visa-free regime a step closer to taking effect.

What the Belarus–Oman visa-free agreement provides

The “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Sultanate of Oman on Mutual Visa Exemption” establishes short‑stay visa-free travel for nationals of both states. According to the text of the agreement and official reporting:

• It applies to citizens of Belarus and Oman holding valid ordinary (national) passports.
• Passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.
• Visa-free entry, exit and transit are allowed for stays of up to 30 consecutive days per visit.
• The total time spent in the other country may not exceed 90 days within a single calendar year.
• The agreement covers short trips such as tourism, family visits and business meetings.
• Long-term stays, work, or study will continue to be regulated by each country’s domestic immigration laws and may still require a visa or residence permit.

Ratification timeline on both sides

From Minsk signing to Belarusian parliamentary approval

The visa-free agreement was signed in Minsk on 6 October 2025 during the state visit of Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to Belarus. The signing ceremony was attended by Sultan Haitham and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and the document was signed by Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov and Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.

• 1 October 2025: President Lukashenko approved the draft visa exemption agreement with Oman by presidential decree, authorising its submission for ratification.
• 13 January 2026: The House of Representatives adopted the draft law in a single reading.
• 21 January 2026: The Council of the Republic approved the same ratification bill.

Following approval by both chambers, the law now awaits the signature of President Lukashenko and official publication. Only after that can Belarus notify Oman that its internal procedures for the treaty’s entry into force have been completed.

Oman’s ratification already completed

On the Omani side, internal ratification has already taken place. On 12 November 2025, Sultan Haitham issued Royal Decree No. 98/2025, ratifying the agreement on mutual waiving of visas between Oman and Belarus. The decree states that it takes effect from the date of its issue and orders its publication in the Official Gazette.

With Oman’s procedures complete, the final step is for both countries to exchange diplomatic notifications confirming that all internal legal requirements have been met. The agreement itself is expected to specify that it will enter into force a set number of days after receipt of the last such notification.

When will visa-free travel actually start?

Although parliamentary approval in Belarus is a major milestone, visa-free travel between Belarus and Oman will not begin immediately.

As of 22 January 2026:

• The Belarusian ratification law still requires the president’s signature and publication.
• The two governments must then formally notify each other, through diplomatic channels, that their internal procedures are complete.
• The agreement will enter into force on the date specified in its provisions, which typically falls several weeks after the final notification.

Until an official entry-into-force date is announced by the Belarusian and Omani authorities, travellers should continue to follow the existing visa rules.

Current entry rules until the new regime is in force

Belarusian citizens travelling to Oman

Belarusian travellers have already benefited from a unilateral easing of entry rules by Oman:

• In December 2024, a joint communique issued during President Lukashenko’s visit to Oman recorded that Belarus welcomed a decision to exempt its citizens from Omani entry visas for stays of up to 14 days.
• Since February 2025, Belarusian airline Belavia has been operating direct charter flights between Minsk and Salalah, highlighting growing tourist flows from Belarus to Oman.

The upcoming mutual visa exemption will extend the maximum visa-free stay for Belarusians in Oman to 30 days per visit, up to 90 days in a calendar year, and will place the arrangement on a reciprocal treaty basis.

Omani citizens travelling to Belarus

For Omani citizens, the new agreement will, once in force, provide visa-free access to Belarus on the same terms: ordinary passport holders with at least six months’ validity will be able to enter without a visa for up to 30 days per visit, within a 90‑day annual limit.

Until that date is officially confirmed:

• Omani nationals must continue to comply with Belarus’s current entry rules, which may include visa requirements or other conditions depending on the route and purpose of travel.
• Travellers should verify the latest requirements with the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belarusian embassies or consulates, or reliable airline advisories before booking tickets.

Practical implications for travellers and airlines

For tourists and business visitors

Once implemented, the Belarus–Oman visa-free regime is expected to:

• Simplify short-term travel for tourism, family visits and business meetings.
• Reduce the time and cost associated with obtaining visas.
• Support tour operators offering package holidays between Belarus and Oman’s key destinations, including Salalah and Muscat.

The 90‑day annual cap means frequent travellers should track their total days in the partner country across the calendar year to avoid overstaying.

For airlines and connectivity

The agreement comes amid efforts to build direct air links:

• Belavia charter and seasonal flights between Minsk and Salalah have already been launched, with weekly services tied to the Dhofar winter tourism season.
• Omani and Belarusian officials have repeatedly highlighted aviation and tourism as priority sectors for cooperation.

A stable visa-free framework is likely to encourage airlines and tour operators to expand capacity, extend seasonal services and develop new itineraries.

What travellers should do next

Until detailed implementation guidance is published, prospective visitors from both countries should:

• Monitor official announcements from the Belarusian and Omani foreign ministries, interior ministries and embassies for the formal entry-into-force date and any specific conditions.
• Ensure their passports are valid for at least six months beyond the intended date of entry, in line with the agreement’s requirements.
• Keep proof of onward or return travel and accommodation bookings, as border officers may still request evidence of the purpose and duration of stay.
• Remember that the visa exemption does not automatically grant the right to work or reside long term; separate permits are usually required for employment or study.

Once the agreement is fully in force, Belarusian and Omani citizens will be able to plan short trips more flexibly, with fewer administrative steps, helping to deepen tourism, trade and people‑to‑people links between the two countries.

Sources

1. 1Royal Decree No. 98/2025 ratifying the agreement with Belarus on mutual waiving of visasOman Ministry of Foreign Affairs · fm.gov.om
2. 2“HM The Sultan, President of Belarus Grace Signing of Agreements, MoUs”Oman News Agency · omannews.gov.om
3. 3“Belarus, Oman sign mutual visa exemption agreement”People’s Daily Online · en.people.cn
4. 4“Совет Республики одобрил соглашение об отмене виз между Беларусью и Оманом”Pozirk · pozirk.online
5. 5“Oman, Belarus issue joint communique”Muscat Daily · muscatdaily.com