Filipino travelers entering Oman under the country’s 14-day visa-free entry program are no longer required to present a negative HIV medical certificate, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced Monday.
The development came more than two months after the Philippine government formally requested Omani authorities to reconsider the requirement.
In April, the DFA said it had made “strong representations” with the Omani Embassy in Manila to remove the policy, expressing confidence that the issue would be resolved because of the strong bilateral relations between the Philippines and Oman.
The Omani Embassy had clarified that the HIV test requirement applied only to Filipinos availing themselves of visa-free entry and did not cover overseas Filipino workers or travelers holding work visas. It also informed Philippine authorities that the policy was under review.
The issue surfaced after the Philippine Embassy in Oman reported receiving accounts from Filipinos who were asked to present HIV test results before being allowed entry into the Gulf state.
With the latest policy change, the DFA expressed its appreciation to the Omani government, saying the waiver reflects the excellent relations between the Philippines and the Sultanate of Oman.
The department advised Filipino travelers to continue complying with all other entry requirements imposed by Omani authorities.
