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Royal Decree

Royal Decree 33/2022 Ratifying the Agreement between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the Mutual Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic, Special, Service, and Official Passports

2022/33 33/2022

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We, Haitham bin Tarik, the Sultan of Oman

after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State,

and the Agreement between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the Mutual Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic, Special, Service, and Official Passports signed in the city of Hanoi on 28 April 2022,

and in pursuance of public interest,

have decreed as follows

Article I

The aforementioned agreement is hereby ratified in the form attached.

Article II

This decree shall be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force on the date of its issuance.

Issued on: 6 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1443
Corresponding to: 6 June 2022

Haitham bin Tarik
Sultan of Oman

Published in Official Gazette 1445 issued on 12 June 2022.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SULTANATE OF OMAN AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM ON MUTUAL VISA EXEMPTION FOR HOLDERS OF DIPLOMATIC, SPECIAL, SERVICE, AND OFFICIAL PASSPORTS

The Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, (hereinafter referred to individually as ‘Party’ and collectively as the ‘Parties’),

Desiring to strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries,

Wishing to facilitate the travel of their nationals, holders of valid diplomatic, special, service, and official passports into the territory of the other Party,

Recognizing that cooperation within this Agreement is based on the principles of equality and reciprocity,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The provisions of this Agreement apply to the holders of any of the following passports:

(a) Valid diplomatic, special, and service passports of the Sultanate of Oman.

(b) Valid diplomatic and official passports of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

Article 2

1. Either Party shall allow nationals of the other Party, holders of any of the passports referred to in Article 1, to enter into, stay in, transit through, and exit from the territory of the other Party without a visa for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of each entry.

2. Nationals of either Party, referred to in the preceding paragraph, who wish to extend their stay for a period longer than ninety (90) days in the territory of the other Party, shall go through the necessary procedures for a visa request from the competent authorities of the other Party prior to the expiration of the ninety (90) days period.

Article 3

The passports referred to in Article 1, belonging to nationals of either Party, shall be valid for a period of at least six (6) months on entry into the territory of the other Party.

Article 4

1. Nationals of either Party, holders of any of the passports referred to in Article 1, shall not undertake any paid-activity that requires a work permit during their stay in the territory of the other Party.

2. Nationals of either Party, holders of any of the passports referred to in Article 1, who seek employment, gainful activities, study, or any other paid activities, shall obtain an appropriate visa prior to their arrival to the territory of the other Party in accordance with the laws and regulations of the receiving Party.

Article 5

Nationals of either Party, holders of any of the passports mentioned in Article 1, shall enter into, transit through, and exit from the territory of the other Party through the border-crossing points open to international traffic without any restriction, except for entry restrictions relating to security, customs, immigration, public health and public order, or any other provisions legally applicable to the holders of these passports.

Article 6

1. Each Party shall exempt nationals of either Party, holders of any of the passports referred to in Article 1, being members of the diplomatic or consular mission or international organization located in the territory of the other Party, from visa requirements for the entry into, stay in, transit through and exit from the territory of the other Party during the period of their assignment provided that they have fulfilled the necessary procedures for the assignment.

2. The exemption granted to the persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article also applies to members of their families provided that they are holders of any of the passports referred to in Article 1.

Article 7

1. This Agreement does not affect the right of the competent authorities of either Party to refuse entry of the nationals of the other Party, holders of any of the passports mentioned in Article 1, into their respective territories, reduce their period of stay, or terminate it, where the nationals in question are considered persona non grata, where they may present a risk to national security, public order, or public health, or where their presence within the respective territory is found to be illegal.

2. Where a national of the other Party has been affected by the provisions of this Article, the Party responsible for the aforementioned action shall notify the other Party in writing through diplomatic channels without delay.

Article 8

1. This Agreement does not exempt nationals of either Party from the obligation to respect the laws and regulations of the other Party when entering into its territory, including but not limited to the laws and regulations concerning the entry, stay, transit, and exit of foreigners.

2. The Parties shall implement this Agreement in accordance with the laws and regulations in force in both countries.

3. This Agreement does not prejudice any obligations of the Parties arising under international agreements or any bilateral agreements concluded between the two countries.

Article 9

1. Either Party may temporarily suspend the application of this Agreement, completely or partially, for reasons relating to national security, public order, or public health, or in case of violation of the provisions of this Agreement.

2. The Party who wishes to suspend the application of this Agreement, shall notify the other Party of the suspension and specify the reasons thereof in writing, through diplomatic channels, at least seven (7) days before the entry of this suspension into force, and shall also inform the other Party of the end of this suspension in writing through diplomatic channels, at least seven (7) days before the end of the suspension period.

3. The suspension of the application of this Agreement shall not affect the legal status of the nationals of either Party, holders of any of the passports referred to in Article 1, who have already entered into the territory of the other Party.

Article 10

1. In case of loss, theft, damage, or invalidity of any of the passports referred to in Article 1 by a national of either Party in the territory of the other Party, the diplomatic or consular mission to which the holder of the passport in question belongs, shall provide them with the documents that enable them to return to the territory of the Party to which they are nationals of.

2. The aforementioned diplomatic or consular mission shall promptly notify the competent authorities of the other Party of such incidents through diplomatic channels.

Article 11

1. The Parties shall exchange specimens of the passports referred to in Article 1, through diplomatic channels, within thirty (30) days from the date of signature of this Agreement.

2. In case of introduction of any changes in the passports referred to in Article 1 of this Agreement, the Party, whose passports have been changed, shall provide specimens of the changed passports to the other Party, through diplomatic channels, thirty (30) days prior to the entry of these changes into force.

Article 12

The Parties shall settle any difference or dispute arising out of the implementation or interpretation of the provisions of this Agreement by consultations through diplomatic channels.

Article 13

The Parties may amend and revise the provisions of this Agreement by mutual consent in writing through diplomatic channels. Any revision or amendment shall come into effect according to Article 14 of this Agreement and accordingly form an integral part of this Agreement.

Article 14

This Agreement shall enter into force thirty (30) days after the date of receipt of the last written notification through diplomatic channels, on the fulfilment of their respective internal procedures required for that purpose. The Agreement shall remain valid for an indefinite period of time, unless one of the Parties notifies the other Party in writing, through diplomatic channels, of its decision to terminate it. In such case, this Agreement will be terminated after ninety (90) days from the date of receipt of such notification by the other Party.

This Agreement is signed in Hanoi on 28 of April 2022 in two originals in the Arabic, Vietnamese, and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In the case of discrepancy of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SULTANATE OF OMAN
SALEH MOHAMED AHMED ALSAQRI

Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
PHAM QUANG HIEU

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam