Oman (OM)

A valid passport with at least six months of remaining validity beyond your intended stay is mandatory for entry and for all official transactions in Oman. Multiple certified copies of the data page are required for visa applications, residence procedures, rental agreements, bank account opening, health insurance registration, and school enrolment. Keep at least five certified copies on hand at all times. Your passport will also be held by immigration authorities during the processing of your residency visa. Ensure your passport has sufficient blank pages for stamps.

Most nationalities require a visa to enter Oman. Citizens of GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar) enter visa-free. Citizens of many Western and Asian countries can obtain a visa on arrival or an eVisa online through the Royal Oman Police (ROP) e-services portal. The standard tourist/visit visa is valid for 10 days extendable to 30 days. Employment visas (block visas) are arranged by the sponsoring employer before or upon arrival. Always check the latest visa regulations with the ROP or your nearest Omani embassy before travel, as requirements change.

All expatriate workers must hold a valid work permit (employment visa), which is arranged by the sponsoring Omani employer through the Ministry of Labour. The employer must obtain prior approval from the Ministry, which then issues a work permit number enabling the employee to enter Oman on an employment visa. Switching employers requires a new work permit and, in most cases, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the previous employer if you have been in Oman for less than two years. Self-employment and freelance work require a separate investor or freelance permit.

All expatriates residing in Oman must obtain a Residence Card (Civil ID) from the Royal Oman Police (ROP) within one month of arriving on a work or family visa. The card serves as the official proof of legal residence and is required for virtually all government and private transactions, including opening a bank account, renting a property, registering a vehicle, and accessing healthcare. The Residence Card is tied to your sponsoring employer or family sponsor (kafeel). It must be renewed annually or biannually. Failure to obtain or renew the card results in fines.

In addition to the Residence Card, employees in Oman must hold a Labour Card issued by the Ministry of Labour. This card confirms that the worker is registered with the ministry and is working in a legal capacity. The Labour Card is linked to your employer and your specific occupation category. It must be renewed in line with your employment visa. Some professions (such as engineering, medicine, and law) require additional registration with the relevant professional body before the Labour Card is issued.

A signed employment contract is the legal foundation of your residency in Oman. The contract must be in Arabic or include a certified Arabic translation for submission to the Ministry of Labour and the ROP. Ensure the contract clearly specifies your salary (including any allowances), job title, notice period, end-of-service benefits (gratuity), working hours, and annual leave entitlement — all of which are governed by Oman Labour Law. Keep the original and multiple certified copies. The contract must be attested by the employer and, for overseas hires, the Omani embassy in the employee's home country.

All academic certificates (degrees, diplomas, vocational qualifications) and professional licences must be officially attested for use in Oman. Oman is NOT a Hague Apostille Convention member — apostille alone is not accepted. The full attestation chain is required: (1) notarisation by a local notary in your home country; (2) attestation by your home country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA); (3) attestation by the Omani embassy or consulate in your home country; (4) attestation by the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) upon arrival. Some regulated professions (medicine, engineering, accounting) require additional registration with the relevant Omani professional authority.

Health insurance is mandatory for all expatriates living and working in Oman. Employers are legally required to provide health insurance for their employees under the Oman Health Insurance Law. If your employer does not provide insurance, you must arrange it independently before your residence visa can be issued or renewed. The insurance must meet minimum coverage requirements set by the Capital Market Authority (CMA). Major health insurers operating in Oman include Oman Insurance Company, AXA Gulf, Mednet, and Dhofar Insurance. Keep your insurance card with you at all times.

A medical fitness certificate is required for all expatriates as part of the residence visa and work permit process. The examination must be conducted at an approved medical centre designated by the Royal Oman Police or the Ministry of Manpower. Tests typically include a chest X-ray (for tuberculosis screening), blood tests (for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other communicable diseases), and a general physical examination. Tests positive for certain conditions may result in deportation under current Omani law. The medical certificate must be renewed with each residence visa renewal.

If you are transferring from one employer to another within Oman, or if you are leaving Oman within two years of joining your current employer, you typically need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your current/previous sponsor. Without an NOC, the Ministry of Labour may impose a two-year employment ban, preventing you from working in Oman for any other employer during that period. The requirement for an NOC was partly eased under 2021 labour reforms, but restrictions still apply in many sectors and circumstances. Always clarify the NOC situation in your employment contract before signing.

To drive legally in Oman, expatriates must hold either an Omani driving licence or a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) accompanied by their original home country driving licence. Citizens of GCC countries and several other specified nationalities (including the UK, USA, most EU countries, and Australia) can exchange their home country licence for an Omani licence without a driving test. Other nationalities must pass a theory and practical driving test at a Royal Oman Police (ROP) driving centre. An IDP alone is generally valid for the first three months; after that, obtaining an Omani licence is advisable for long-term residents. Car insurance is mandatory.

A marriage certificate is required to sponsor a spouse for a family residence visa (dependent visa) in Oman. Oman is NOT a Hague Apostille Convention member — full consular legalisation is required: (1) notarisation in the issuing country; (2) attestation by your home country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; (3) attestation by the Omani embassy or consulate in your home country; (4) attestation by the Omani MoFA on arrival. Certified Arabic translation required. Omani authorities may also require the marriage to be registered with the home country embassy in Oman. Same-sex marriages are not recognised under Omani law.

Birth certificates for dependent children are required to add children to a family residence visa in Oman. Oman is NOT a Hague Apostille Convention member — full consular legalisation is required (same four-step attestation chain as the marriage certificate: notary → home MoFA → Omani embassy → Omani MoFA). Certified Arabic translation required. The sponsoring parent must hold a valid residence permit and meet minimum salary requirements set by the Ministry of Manpower for family sponsorship (typically OMR 300–400 per month, though this varies by category). Children's residence visas must be renewed in line with the sponsor's visa. School enrolment in Oman also requires the original birth certificate.