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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Oman drops HIV test requirement for Filipinos availing of visa-free entry

Oman drops HIV test requirement for Filipinos availing of visa-free entry

Published Jun 29, 2026 03:11 pm

At A Glance

  • Filipino travelers entering Oman under the country's 14-day visa-free entry program will no longer be required to present a negative HIV medical certificate.
  • The DFA welcomed the move and described it as a testament to the strong relations between Manila and Muscat.
  • The Philippine government had earlier appealed to Oman to remove the requirement following concerns raised by Filipino travelers.
Canva photos
Canva photos

Filipino travelers visiting Oman under the country's 14-day visa-free entry program will no longer be required to present a negative HIV medical certificate, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Monday, June 29.

In a statement, the DFA said the Omani government had waived the requirement for all Filipinos availing of the visa-free entry privilege.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs informs the public that all Filipino travellers to Oman availing of the visa-free entry privilege for 14 days stay are no longer required to present a negative HIV medical certificate," it said.

The DFA welcomed the development and thanked the Omani government for its decision.

"The DFA expresses its appreciation to the Omani government in light of this positive development, which is a testament to the excellent relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the Sultanate of Oman," it added.

The development came more than two months after the Philippine government formally asked Oman to reconsider the requirement.

In April, the DFA said it had made "strong representations" with the Omani Embassy in Manila for the removal of the negative HIV medical certificate requirement imposed on Filipino tourists traveling to Oman.

At the time, the department expressed optimism that the issue would be resolved positively because of the strong bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Omani Embassy in Manila earlier clarified that the HIV test requirement applied only to Filipinos availing of visa-free entry to Oman and did not cover overseas Filipino workers or travelers holding work visas.

The embassy also informed Philippine authorities in April that the policy was under serious review by the Omani government.

The issue came to public attention after the Philippine Embassy in Oman disclosed on April 13 that it had received reports that some Filipinos traveling to the Gulf state were being required to present HIV test results before being allowed entry.

While awaiting official confirmation from Omani authorities at the time, the embassy advised Filipino travelers to coordinate directly with their airlines for the latest travel requirements and guidance.

Related Tags

HIV Oman DFA Oman Travel Policy PH-Oman
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