Oman Adds Negative HIV Test Requirement for Tourists from the Philippines

Oman has added a new entry requirement for visitors from the Philippines: a negative HIV test. While this is standard for foreign workers in the Gulf region, it is now being applied to tourists as well. The requirement is confirmed on Emirates’ visa and passport page when selecting Filipino nationality and Oman as the destination. There have been mixed reports of passengers being denied boarding for lack of the test, even though the Philippine Embassy in Muscat stated it had not yet received official confirmation from Omani authorities. This policy shift coincides with Oman recently introducing visa-free entry for Filipinos, which is notable given the Philippines' rapidly growing HIV cases (up 550% since 2010). Travelers from the Philippines should verify their status and test results before booking flights to Oman