Regarding Customs check in Airport on laptop and external drives

Hi. Checking is not a really issue, I travelled many times  vd laptop n cdz Arabian airport is nt like our countries pak Bangal or India.

Arun!
As far as you're not having any sort of illegal stuff in your laptop, you're free to carry as much of TBs along with you. It doesn't matter whether its a movie or any other file. It should not violate the legal rules (If you know what I mean).

schaz wrote:

Arun!
As far as you're not having any sort of illegal stuff in your laptop, you're free to carry as much of TBs along with you. It doesn't matter whether its a movie or any other file. It should not violate the legal rules (If you know what I mean).

Hi Schaz. Thanks for the reply. This answers my question. But do they check the laptop and harddrives of every passenger. Is it true

They don't specifically ask to open the Laptop to check, They have scanner machines which automatically detect the prohibitted stuff.

By the way, it's not really a concern, however as a first timer, i would advice you to be clear on your stuff and data.

parunbala wrote:

Hi,
  I am moving to Muscat on company transfer. I need advice and personal experience regarding Customs check in Airport on laptop and external drives. I watch movies a Lot and i have a TB of Movies of different languages which i Want to carry With me to Muscat. I heard that in Middle east that Customs check each and every folder. Is it true? But that is not a problem. Will they Allow me to take those movies with me. That is going to be the only entertainment for me for the time being till i get used to the country.

Please share the personal experience & rules and regulations on this regards.

I searched the Whole forum Not able to find an appropriate topic on the same.

Thanks bro

schaz wrote:

They don't specifically ask to open the Laptop to check, They have scanner machines which automatically detect the prohibitted stuff.

By the way, it's not really a concern, however as a first timer, i would advice you to be clear on your stuff and data.

Thanks Bro.

You're most welcome!

Checking of laptops is common. It involves some official starting it up and looking through the hard drive for anything incriminating. It may be a short cursory scan or a detailed meticulous search. You can't say. Depends on so many factors. You know what immigration and custom officials are like around the world. They just need an inkling or an intuition in order to go hard on you. They're not just looking for porn but any films, PDFs, documents that may be offensive. So, have a good check on your laptop and flash drives. If in doubt don't take them or delete them.

Q1. Can I carry 2 laptops into Muscat. Will there be any issues with customs and charges.
Q2. I am travelling from US and want to carry 2 laptops. I will be picking up another friend in Muscat. I will stay in Muscat for a day and travel to another country from there, so Muscat is not final destination. Friend will take over the 2nd laptop. Is there any documentation to be done at the airport to avoid customs duty on 2nd laptop?

I know I'm revisiting an inactive thread.
I am moving to Muscat next month and would like to know the regarding Customs checks in Airport on a laptop, external drives, phones.

I have a lot of pirated movies and music on these devices, will they scan and check each and every folder as of today in 2018.
Any recent updates or experiences on the same so that I can prepare.

Thanks

I have a lot of pirated movies and music on these devices, will they scan and check each and every folder as of today in 2018.

Don't worry. You'd be safe. There ain't no much of an internal check of the laptop data at the airport (At least I was never being checked throughout my life). But make sure the PIRATED SITES and such CONTENTS are BLOCKED in Oman and I advise you don't try to access such data on the internet through vpn or similar sources

Every time I have moved countries within GCC, I have carried 6-7 external drives with me which had my data and movies and no check was done.

In addition, in almost a decade of heavy travelling throughout GCC including Oman with (usually) a laptop, tablet, smart phone and external hard disk; I have never had a situation where they went through anything.   And I do almost 3 flights a month.

My personal view is that these kind of detailed checks in customs are determined by (if the scanner doesn't detect any prohibited items) on how you look, how you behave and where you are coming from.  The only time in my life that I have had someone ask me to boot up the laptop was when I landed in the US after a long flight, was half asleep, unshaven and dressed in shorts plus was in my usual sarcastic mood (in addition to falling in the category which is subject to "random" screening i.e. people from this part of the world) - guess they didn't believe I was there for a business meeting

If you are worried, put the data on your hard disks in encrypted file folders or containers using something like TrueCrypt.  That way it will appear like normal files which can't be opened.

Can't help but to think if the real question is "will they find the porn I have in my hard disks?"