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Updated January 2023
Numerous career opportunities are available in Oman’s oil and gas, retail, educational, manufacturing, and hospitality industries. With so many options, non-Omanis have a wide range of employment options to pick from.
People wishing to live and work in Oman must first understand how to secure an Oman work visa and residency permit. We’ve compiled all of the necessary information for obtaining your Oman work visa below.
Oman work visa
Oman work visa is a work permit for foreign employees who are between the ages of 21 and 60 and who have received a job offer from an Omani company. The employer becomes the visa sponsor and will usually obtain the necessary visas and permits from the Ministry of Manpower.
Oman work visa eligibility
As mentioned, employees who wish to avail of the Oman employment visa must be between the ages of 21 and 60 years old. Employers must secure employment visas for foreign workers who want to work and reside in Oman by securing official clearance from the Directorate General of Labor Affairs.
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Oman work visa required documents
After the employer has secured the official clearance, the following documents will be required to obtain a work visa for the employee:
- copies of foreign employee passports, with a minimum of 6 months’ validity
- two recent passport photographs
- a copy of the labour license issued by The Ministry of Manpower for each application form
- the original and composition of the medical certificate from an approved clinic based on the employee’s home country
- employee’s relevant certificates and qualifications
- attestation letter from the Oman Embassy in the applicant’s home country and the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- application fees
Oman work visa fee
Oman work visa fee is dependent on the occupation and salary range. The highest fee for an Oman work visa is OMR 2,000, which will allow employers to obtain and renew a work visa for non-Omani employees employed at high-level professions and certain specified professions. This also applies to non-Omani employees with a monthly salary of OMR 4,000 and above irrespective of occupation.
The lowest fee is OMR 140, which is for obtaining and renewing work visas for domestic workers and similar professions.
Oman work visa application process
In order to obtain an Oman work visa, the employer has to follow these steps:
- the employer obtains a labour license from the Ministry of Manpower
- the employer is legally allowed to hire foreign employees once Labor Clearance status has been obtained
- the employer sends a letter of invitation to all qualified and eligible employees
- the employer obtains individual employment visas for each expat
- the employer submits the application to the immigration department of the Royal Oman Police
- after the employer has secured the work visa, the employee must obtain a residence card to legally reside in Oman
- employees can obtain a residence card from the Civil Status Department of the Royal Oman Police within 30 days of entry
Oman work visa validity
The Oman work visa is valid for two years and allows for multiple entries. Please note that employment visa holders are not allowed to leave Oman for more than half a year at a time. The only exception is if they are family members of a visa holder.
Oman work visa changing jobs policy
In the event of employees changing jobs, termination or expiration of employment, employees need their employer to agree and sign a no objection certificate (NOC).
The NOC will contain a declaration that both the local government and the sponsoring employer have permitted the applicant to be employed in the nation. Without a NOC, the employee must leave Oman for at least 2 years.
Oman work visa leaving the country policy
Individuals who are holders of an Oman work visa are not allowed to leave Oman for more than half a year at a time. The only exception is if they are family members of a visa holder.
