eVisa programs are now becoming very popular around the world because of how efficient it makes traveling to foreign countries faster. They are also more secure than old visas since more information is within them. The latest country to introduce this system is Oman.

Oman’s eVisa Program

On Sunday, the Royal Oman Police announced that visitors traveling to Oman must now get their eVisas prior to their arrival in the Sultanate. Previously, travelers can avail the visa on arrival to get in Oman.

In their social media post, the police said that the visa on arrival option will only be granted in certain situations. The eVisa should be “used wherever possible.”

It is very easy to apply for the eVisa. Tourists can simply apply online and upload their passport, a passport-style photo of themselves and pay the fee of OMR5.

Processing takes around 4 days and once it is available, they can stay in Oman up to 10 days.

Currently, the eVisa program is open to 71 countries, including the European Union, the United States and Australia. The other countries not included in the list will need to apply for their visas normally through their respective Omani embassy in their home country. Requirements vary which is why it is important to inquire first before applying.

Those from the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait do not need a visa to enter Oman.

This latest announcement regarding Oman’s visa policy comes after the recent announcement of visa-free travel for Omani nationals to Saint Petersburg, Russia. In the announcement, Oman is one of the 53 countries qualified for the visa-free program. They are ok to visit Saint Petersburg with the new visa, but not visit other areas like Moscow since the visa does not cover it.

For those interested to apply for Oman’s eVisa and to see if you qualify, you can visit https://evisa.rop.gov.om/.

Oman Travel Tips

The Sultanate of Oman is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the Middle East. Tourism has contribute greatly to Oman’s GDP and many tourists entering the country are from nearby countries.

Oman offers a very diverse range of travel destinations for tourists. Many tourists come to try out Oman’s cultural tours, which showcase the country’s World Heritage Sites. Aside from these cultural tours, there are also nature based activities available. Sporting and cultural events are also in the country’s calendar for visitors to enjoy.

To find out more about Oman, check out the official website of Oman Tourism.

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With the increasing number of tourists worldwide, airline companies are looking for ways to expand their network. Most of them are purchasing other airlines to get their network and reach more clients. The latest company to make this purchase is IAG with Air Europa.

IAG Purchase

On Monday morning, IAG announced that they have reached a deal to purchase Air Europa. The deal purchase will enable the company to increase its presence in Madrid and transform its airport, Madrid Barajas International Airport, as its next European hub.

According to the press release published, IAG’s subsidiary Iberia acquired Air Europa and put the airline in IAG’s banner. The whole deal is worth 1 billion euros and was agreed between the company and Globalia Corp. They also listed down that the deal will enable the company to boost its Latin America and Caribbean routes for its European clients.

“Acquiring Air Europa would add a new competitive, cost effective airline to IAG, consolidating Madrid as a leading European hub and resulting in IAG achieving South Atlantic leadership,” CEO Willie Walsh said in a statement after the deal was revealed.

The deal may be complete by the second half of 2020 after it gets all the government approvals it needs.

Currently, IAG is having problems boosting its growth plans in London Heathrow because of the airport’s schedules and other fees attached to the hub. However, with Spain and Air Europa, the company can utilize its Latin American and the Caribbean routes to expand further.

Last year, Air Europa recorded 2.1 billion euro in revenue and 100 million euro of operating profit. It also brought around 11.8 million passengers on its fleet in its routes for the year. They also have a good fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A330s for its long-haul flights.

Walsh also said that they will continue expanding its operations in Europe. The Air Europa deal is just the first step to this target.

Who is IAG

IAG (International Consolidated Airlines Group) is the sixth largest airline company in the world. It started its operations in 2011 with British Airways its largest shareholder. In 2018, it produced 24 billion euros in revenue and it currently has bases in Madrid and London.

Once the Air Europa deal is complete, the company will own six commercial airlines that has flights around Europe: Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL, Vueling and Air Europa.

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The tech sector is one of the fastest growing industries worldwide. Many companies are rallying to find the best tech workers and bring them to their hubs abroad. Australia’s tech industry is also cashing in on this boom and the government is working on ways to get workers in the country. The new tech visa aims to make things easier for the sector to grow.

Global Talent- Independent Program

On Tuesday, the Global Talent – Independent Program is officially launched to help Australian companies get highly skilled workers in the country. The program became known early this year by the Coalition as part of its major immigration strategy. Under the program, highly skilled workers can get their permanent residency faster than before.

With the opening of the program, 5,000 visas are on offer for brilliant tech workers to get for this financial year. Several government officials are now in Berlin, Singapore, Dubai, Shanghai and Washington DC to assist with the program. A new office will also be open in New Delhi this week for the program.

Experts say that applicants in the program may earn more than $148,700 yearly in the country. They will also have a choice between seven industries: AgTech, MedTech, cybersecurity, space and advance manufacturing, FinTech, energy and mining and quantum information. They can also work in advanced data science, digital science and ICT if they joined the program.

According to StartupAus CEO Alex McCauley, the program will usher a new era for Australia in the field of skilled migration. It will open opportunities for Australian tech companies to grow globally now that they have access to the global market.

“It’s not a tech visa. It’s a talent visa targeted at tech because there’s a growing recognition within government and industry that Australia needs to become a world leader in technology if we want to keep up with the rest of the world as the industry moves on,”

He further adds, “If we can attract some of the kind of people that this visa is seeking to target. We’ll rapidly improve our ability to build new technology in Australia.”

It is important to say that the program is not similar to the Global Talent Employer Sponsored Initiative. The program is permanent and the visa open for employers to apply  for. Meanwhile, the new program targets the best global talent directly.

Australia Tips for Migrants

Interested migrants who wish to find work in Australia can also check our short guide here. We also have a guide on where you can stay in Sydney and Melbourne here in the site.

For other visa information and inquiries, check out the official webpage of the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

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For many travelers, especially those going to Europe, Turkey is where they get their connecting flights. Aside from being a transport hub, Turkey is also known for its rich history and culture, with Istanbul being its capital. Although other Middle Eastern countries are now vying to become the new global hub in the region, the Turkish city’s charm is still a favorite for many tourists.

Istanbul’s Tourism on the Rise

On Saturday, Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya said that the city welcomed 11.3 million foreign tourists for the first 9 months of the year. In his Twitter page, he said that the city has already reached its 2023 targets and broke the record several times over.

According to the statistics later posted, the number of foreign tourists from January to September grew by 12% as compared to last year’s record. Most of these tourists came from Germany with 858,000 visitors. It increased by 5% from last year’s record. Iranian tourists came next in the list with 687,000 visitors, Iraqis with 545,000 and Russians with 512,000 respectively.

The number of Chinese and Kuwaiti tourists also grew in numbers for this year. For the first 9 months of the year, it grew up to 11% and 30.7% respectively. Arab tourists flying to Istanbul also grew by 12% this year. Around 25.8% of all the tourists that visited the city are Arabs or 2.9 million tourists.

Aside from the tourist numbers in the city, hotel occupancy in the city also increased. It increased by 4% to 74.5% compared to last year’s record. The daily room price also grew by 10.8% to 91.1 euros or $102. The income per room also grew to 67.9 euros or $76, which indicate higher spending for tourists staying in the city.

Visit Turkey

Want to travel to Turkey? You can check out the website of Go Turkey Tourism to find out more about the country’s great offerings. You may also check out the official website of Turkey’s Electronic Visa Application System to find out more about their visa details. As far as where you can stay, we have a guide on the best places to stay in the city.

As for other Turkish destinations, you can check out the website of Visit Antalya for those traveling to Antalya. We also included a guide here in the blog about the best places to stay in Izmir if you are heading that way.

The post Istanbul Posts an Increase in Visitors on Tourism Boom appeared first on Check in Price.

The Balkan region is a very exotic location for many travelers heading on to Europe. The region has a very rich history and culture, as well as destinations you can’t find anywhere else. Flights to the region are growing and one of Europe’s top airlines, Ryanair, is also working on its mark in the region.

Ryanair in the Balkan Region

On Tuesday, the low-cost airline announced that they will be expanding their operations in the region in the coming months. They will be working with their subsidiaries, as well as establishing a route for the airline itself.

One of their latest routes is a service from Vienna to Banja Luka that will start next year. They will handle it on behalf of its subsidiary Lauda and there might be more than one route for this partnership.

According to Milan Racic, head of operations for the the Republic of Srpska, “The service from Vienna won’t be seasonal but it won’t operate on a year-round basis either. Within the next seven to ten days, we expect for an additional new route to be announced.”

Ryanair added that they will be boosting their operations at Banja Luka and looking forward to help with passenger growth Aside from Banja Luka, Ryanair is under negotiations with Mostar Airport.

Meanwhile, their flights in Croatia through Zadar Airport are also growing and they aim to extend it further. Ryanair will also be continuing seven new routes they announced last summer out of Zadar airport next year. They will also be holding one weekly flight from Hahn to Rijeka starting April 4.

Montenegro also gained a lot of support from Ryanair. The airline is now the third largest airline offering flights in and out of the country. It even overtook Turkish Airlines and it plans to increase its routes further.

Exceptions to Ryanair’s Expansion

However, there are areas which are still far from Ryanair’s control. In Slovenia, for example, the airline no longer has a flight there after they criticized the Slovenian government for selling Ljubljana Airport. Fraport from Germany currently runs the airport, which the airline says is wrong since they see it as a way for the company to create a monopoly in Europe.

Serbia also blocked Ryanair’s intended operations to Nis Constantine that was due to launch on January 13, 2020. The Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate ruled against the low-cost airline’s route in favor of Air Serbia.

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France is one of Europe’s most popular tourists destinations. It is known as the City of Love and Lights, and it has one of the world’s richest cultures and history. The government sees tourism as an important factor for its economy and have several programs to support it. However, their forecast for next year is not very good because of two major factors.

Brexit and “Yellow Vests” are to Blame

On Tuesday, October 22, the French government said that they are ditching its target of welcoming 100 million tourists next year. According to the French Finance Ministry in a budget memo online, the country will still aim to get 100 million tourists in the country. However, they are pushing their targets back to 2022. This is not the first time France made a shift in their targets. They first announced this goal in 2014.

The reason for this decision is in light to the growing anti-government protests happening in the city and Britain’s incoming exit from the European Union.

Several “yellow vest” protests started last November against President Emmanuel Macron’s policies. Tourists started to have second thoughts because of these protests. They happen every week and they happen in major tourists destinations. There are also clashes between the protesters and the police, which can get violent.

Recently, the authorities announced a lockdown in central Paris because of the protests.

Meanwhile, Britain’s incoming exit to the EU and the weakening its currency is also felt in France. According to Insee’s statistics reports, the number of overnight stays in France became low. It fell by 2.5% and in Ile-de-France, it went down by 4.8%. Experts say there is a big drop of tourists from the UK, which is their largest source of tourists.

British tourists can drive to France using the Channel Tunnel or take the Eurostar.

France Travel Tips

Hoping to visit France? Check out the official website of tourism in France to find out more about the country. You can also check out our guides on where to stay in Lyon, Nice, Grenoble and Toulouse. We also have a guide on the airports in Southern France.

For those who wish to work in the capital, we have a guide on the average salary and the cost of living.

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It can be very difficult to get a residence permit in some European countries. Foreigners have to appear personally in their local embassy and submit all sorts of requirements. However, with visa applications now automated, countries like Lithuania are now using these technologies to make their residence permit applications easier.

How Can You Get a Lithuanian Residence Permit Now?

On Monday, October 28, the Lithuanian government said that they are now streamlining their immigration program to help the economy’s growth. They will no longer do its very strict qualification process and made it easier to apply for a residence visa.

The new system now allows foreigners to submit their preliminary applications online and schedule their biometrics at their local Lithuanian embassy. Once their online applications have been received, applicants will receive an appointment confirmation. They will also be able to apply for their Schengen visa with the confirmation given to them.

Visa-exempt nationals and Schengen visa holders are now able to travel to the country, where they can file their biometrics and application with the Lithuanian migration authorities.

Meanwhile, since biometrics and photographs are submitted early, residence cards will be made immediately. Once the temporary residence permit application is ok, applicants will easily get their residence cards without having to apply for it separately.

The new system reduces the waiting time for applicants to get their permits. Previously, they must stay in Lithuania and file their application. They also have to wait in the country until their work permits are active. Supporting documents must be available early with the new system. This can speed up the process in getting their permits ready and waiting for a decision. However, it can be tricky to get a proof of residence early while you are abroad.

This is not the first time online applications became available for the government to streamline applications. As of October 14, all temporary residence permits are now online.

Lithuania Travel Tips

Hoping to visit Lithuania? Check out Tourism Lithuania to find out more about the country. We also have a guide on where you can stay in Vilnius and use the train system.

For those who wish to work in the country, we have a guide on how you can find a job and what you have to know about it. A guide on the cost of living and salary in Vilnius is also available for review.

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Many foreigners wish to get residency to any of the European Union countries because of the benefits it offers. Having a residence permit in the EU allows a person to travel without needing a visa and get access to the country’s services for the people. These benefits clearly made its impact in the latest tally of Eurostat about the number of people who applied for residence permits in the EU.

Eurostat on EU Residence Permit

On Friday, the Eurostat released its latest assessment about the number of people who applied for a residence permit in the region. In their assessment, Cyprus issued a total of 20,999 first residence permits to non-EU citizens last year. It places them as the second highest issuer of the permit in the EU.

Out of these numbers, 3784 are Indians, 3,402 are Russians and 2,087 are Syrians. Most of the applicants, or 9,771 of them, applied for professional reasons, while others are for family, education and others.

The Eurostat also said that last year, the region gave 3.2 million residence permits to non-EU citizens. The numbers increased by 0.4%, which is in line with the growing trend in the past three years. Almost 28% of the region’s numbers are for family applications, followed by employment, education and asylum. In comparison to 2017, education was the top reason why residence permits were given to non-EU citizens.

Malta has the highest rate of first permits issued to non-EU citizens in 2018. They gave 36 permits per thousands of population. Cyprus (24), Poland (17), Slovenia (14) and Luxembourg (13) were next in the list. Overall, the EU gave 6 permits per thousand population for 2018.

Meanwhile, Poland became the EU country with permits issued for employment for last year. Around 328,000 permits are available to non-EU citizens aiming to work in the country. For education, the UK gave out 190,000 permits. Germany has the highest number of permits issued for other reasons with 219,000 permits given to refugees and those seeking humanitarian protection.

Cyprus Travel Tips

Cyprus has a lot of great destinations for tourists to check out when they have a chance to check it out. They can check the official tourism portal of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism for information. Visa details can be checked in the visa page of Cyprus in this link.

For those who wish to work in the country, we have an article on the average and minimum salary in Nicosia.

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Cuba is one of the most interesting countries in South America that some travelers wish to visit. It has a very rich culture and history despite the political tensions it has with the United States. Flights to the country are available, but a new announcement may change all that.

Flights Banned from the US

On Friday, the US Department of Transportation announced that all US flights to Cuba except those to Havana are banned. This is in line to the latest crackdowns on the country after the Cuban government’s support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The US, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, also discovered that there are cases where Cubans were repressed by its government. This prompted the flight bans to the country.

The ban will go into effect on December 10.

Currently, American Airlines and JetBlue have flights to various cities in Cuba aside from Havana. With the ban, both airlines will close their flights to these cities aside from their Havana routes.

JetBlue said in their official statement on Friday that they will be adhering to the new policy and make the necessary arrangements for their clients. American Airlines have also released a statement and said they are reviewing the announcement. American Airlines has 11 daily flights to Cuba and six of them are in Havana.

This is not the first time the Trump administration gave restrictions to Cuba. In June, the Department of Treasury and the State Department said educational and cultural trips to Cuba are no longer ok. They say that these trips will only fund the Cuban military and continue its oppression on the people.

Last year, the State Department also added 26 tourist attractions which is not available to American travelers visiting the country. They also banned several hotels, shops and marinas in the list.

While there are US sanctions on Cuba, it is still ok to visit the country. However, the sanctions and restrictions have affected the number of American tourists who wish to see the country.

Cuba Travel Tips

If you wish to visit Cuba, you can check out Cuba Travel’s Tourism Portal for information about the country’s tourist attractions. You may also check with your local Cuban Embassy to see what you need for visa documents and other travel information.

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Turkey has a lot of great tourist destinations that many foreigners often flock to for their holidays in the country. One of them is the beautiful city of Antalya, known for their great beaches and natural wonders. Thanks to its charm, it has recorded a new record for tourist arrivals in the city according to a latest government report. Istanbul also records a new statistic for its hotel occupation.

Antalya’s Tourist Record

On Sunday, October 20, Antalya’s Directorate of Culture and Tourism revealed that the city has welcomed over 14 million foreign tourists from January to October 15. Last year, it was only around 13.6 million and during the same period, only 12 million visited.

These visitors come from 193 countries and often fly to the city for holidays. The city aims to bring the number of tourists to 16 million visitors by the end of the year.

According to the report, 5.2 million tourists come from Russia and there is a 15% increase in a yearly basis. They are followed by Germans nationals with 2.5 million and Ukrainians with 776,000. German tourists increased by 15 percent since last year, as well as British tourists with 656,000 tourists.

Data also showed that 516,000 Polish and 397,000 Dutch tourists stay in Antalya for the holidays or casual trips to the country.

Aside from Antalya’s record, the Istanbul’s Chamber of Commerce is expecting that the number of tourists visiting the city will be more than the city’s population. During a press meeting in Cannes, France on October 18, ITO’s president Şekib Avdagiç said they are expecting 15.5 million tourists to Istanbul by the end of 2019. He attended the prestigious film, content, TV and production industry exhibition, MIPCOM 2019, where he revealed Istanbul’s hotel occupancy.

He also mentioned that hotel occupancy in the city has increased up to 87%. The effect of this demand brought hotel prices up to 27% on foreign currency.

Visit Turkey

Want to travel to Turkey? You can check out the website of Go Turkey Tourism to find out more about the country’s great offerings. You may also check out the official website of Turkey’s Electronic Visa Application System to find out more about their visa details.

If you want to check out Antalya, you can check out the website of Visit Antalya or Go Turkey Tourism. We also included a guide here in the blog about the best places to stay in Izmir.

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