Oman Work Visa 2024: How to Obtain Your Oman Employment Visa?

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Updated September 2024

Key takeaways:

• An Oman work visa is for foreign employees aged 21-60 with a job offer from an Omani company.

• The employer must obtain a labor license and secure a work visa for the employee.

• The Oman work visa is valid for two years, allowing multiple entries, and costs OMR 20.

Oman work visa latest news

The Omani government has taken a significant step to prioritize employment opportunities for its citizens. The Ministry of Labour recently issued Ministerial Decision No. 501/2024, expanding the list of professions exclusive to Omani nationals.

This new decision amends Ministerial Resolution No. 235/2022, which already regulated certain occupations. Under Article 1 of the decision, several additional roles have been added to the prohibited list for expatriate workers. The new restrictions will primarily go into effect on 2 September 2024.

The recently restricted professions encompass a wide range of positions, spanning from transportation and hospitality to technical and administrative roles. The list is as follows:

• Driver of a refrigerated tractor-trailer for transporting foodstuffs and medical supplies
• Driver of a tractor-trailer for transporting water
• Hotel Reception Manager
• Lifeguard
• Travel Agent
• Travel Consultant
• Housekeeping Supervisor
• Quality Control Manager
• Quality Officer
• Drilling Fluid Engineer
• Drilling Supervisor
• Electrician/General Maintenance
• Mechanic/General Maintenance
• Drilling Measurements Engineer
• Quality Controller
• Aircraft Loading Supervisor
• Marketing Specialist
• Ship Mooring Worker
• Labour Supervisor
• Cargo Loading and Unloading Supervisor
• Commercial Promoter (Sales Representative)
• Commercial Broker
• Goods Coordinator
• Flatbed Crane Operator
• Forklift Operator
• New Vehicle Salesperson
• Used Vehicle Salesperson
• New Spare Parts Salesperson
• Used Spare Parts Salesperson
• General Systems Analyst
• Information Systems Network Specialist
• Marine Controller
• Ship Movement Controller
• Computer Maintenance Technician
• Computer Programmer
• Computer Engineer
• Computer Operator
• Website Designer
• Operations Analyst

However, the implementation for some professions will be phased. Below are the jobs and their effective dates:

• General Systems Analysts, Information Systems Network Specialists, Marine Controllers, Ship Movement Controllers, and Computer Maintenance Technicians will be restricted starting from 1 January 2025.
• Computer Programmers, Computer Engineers, and Computer Operators will face restrictions from 1 January 2026.
• Website Designers and Operations Analysts will be regulated from 1 January 2027.

The decision is part of efforts to regulate the labor market and increase employment opportunities for Omani nationals. However, the ministry will still allow requests to renew or transfer services for non-Omani workers already in the country.

How to apply for Oman work visa?

Oman work visa is a work permit for foreign employees between the ages of 21 and 60 who have received a job offer from an Omani company. The employer becomes the visa sponsor and usually obtains the necessary visas and permits from the Ministry of Manpower. If the employer is a government organization, a permit from the Ministry of Manpower is not required.

To obtain an Oman work visa, the employer has to be based in Oman and have complete legal competence to hire foreign employees. If these requirements are met, these are the steps for obtaining the visa:

• The employer obtains a labor license from the Ministry of Manpower
• The employer submits the application for an expatriate 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

General requirements

As mentioned, employees who wish to apply for an Oman employment visa must be between the ages of 21 and 60. Employers must secure visas for foreign workers who want to work and reside in Oman by securing official clearance from the Directorate General of Labor Affairs.

Employment rules

Previously, if employees changed jobs, terminated or expired employment, their employer must agree and sign a release letter approved by the Ministry of Manpower. Offenses, including delay fines, must be settled. However, per the latest update, employees can change jobs once their contract is completed without needing an NOC.

Travel regulations

Individuals with an Oman work visa cannot leave Oman for more than half a year. The only exception is if they are family members of a visa holder.

Required documents

After the employer has secured the official clearance, an electronic application, available on the Royal Oman Police website, should be filled and attested with the following documents 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
• Original and copy of the medical certificate for nationals of certain countries: India, Pakistan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Syria and Nepal. The certificate is to be attested by the Ministry of Health.
• A copy of the relevant organization’s approval is required for certain occupations, such as teaching, religious, media, and medical.
• Letter from the Ministry of Manpower for certain occupations, like engineers
• 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

Oman work visa validity and price

The Oman work visa is valid for two years and allows multiple entries. According to the Royal Oman Police website, the fee for issuing an Oman work visa is OMR 20.