Oman Work Visa- Procedure, Fees, and Requirements in 2024

Being a high-income economy and one of the most peaceful countries, the Sultanate of Oman is a paradise for individuals seeking employment. Obtaining an Oman work visa has become a dream for people living in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. If you are also one of those aspirants who wish to live and work in Oman, remember that obtaining an Oman eVisa is nowadays easy from the comfort of your home. You can apply for numerous employment opportunities in Oman’s manufacturing, retail, educational, and hospitality industries and avail a chance to live and work in this beautiful Gulf State.

What is Oman Work Visa?

An Oman employment visa is an official document or permit that allows foreign citizens to work in Oman. Remember that it is different from other visa types, such as Oman tourist visas or family visit visas, because these do not permit you to work in the Sultanate. Therefore, it is mandatory to ensure that you have the right type of Visa that suits your requirements.

It is pertinent to mention that if you have a GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) residency permit, you can also apply for an Oman e-visa. Remember that the setup of the electronic (e-visa) system has simplified the process of obtaining an Oman e-visa in Pakistan, India, and other South Asians.

Why Work Visa Oman?

Having a work visa in Oman is mandatory for your extended stay and employment in the Sultanate. The following points can explain the importance of this type of Visa:

• An employment visa in Oman is mandatory if an individual wants to live and be employed in Oman. Remember that the employers in Oman are responsible for applying for work visas to bring foreign labor into the country. However, if any public sector department hires an individual, there will be no need for a sponsor.
•  If a foreign employee has to stay in Oman for an extended period, he will need an Oman work visa. It always demands a lot of paperwork that the employer carries out as a sponsor.
• Employers must always be aware of the regulations about Oman work visas and should obtain a labor license before recruiting foreign employees. They should apply for an employment visa for the recruited employees to help them stay in the Sultanate freely.
• Remember that an individual visa would be required for each employee. Therefore, the employer should apply for a separate visa for each employee to the Immigration Department of the Royal Oman Police. Nowadays, the Oman work visa online application facility is also available.

Here, it is pertinent to mention that an employee arriving in Oman will have to attain a residence card from the Civil Status Department of the Royal Oman Police. It should be done within 30 days of the arrival. The validity of the resident card is also two years.

Similarly, the complications of the employment visa process and attainment of a resident card make it difficult for employees to switch jobs time and again. However, it is possible through obtaining an NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the earlier employer.

Types of Oman Work Visa

Depending on the kind of sponsorship, there are three main types of Oman work visas:

Work Visa STDCOR: This type of work visa offers you an Oman residence with a commercial sponsor.

Work Visa STDINV: Oman work visa applied by an individual sponsor falls under this category.

Work Visa STDINVOMN: It provides the applicant with an Oman residence with an Omani individual sponsor.

Eligibility for Obtaining an Oman Work Visa

All foreign citizens between the ages of 21 years and 60 years are eligible to apply for a work visa in Oman. Individuals below 21 years of age and above 60 years of age cannot apply for a work visa in the Sultanate of Oman.

Oman Work Visa Requirements

There are some specific requirements for obtaining an Oman work visa for all. Fulfilling these requirements is mandatory both for the employee and the employer. Some of the requirements are:

• Your sponsor must be a local Omani citizen with full legal competence to hire foreigners. It is his responsibility to validate his information with the Immigration Department of the Royal Oman Police before the recruitment of foreign employees.
• To apply for an Oman work visa, the applicant must be older than 21 years.
•  Your occupation in the visa application must match your occupation in the labor permit.

Apart from these general requirements, there are some country-specific requirements to apply for an Oman work visa online.

Requirements of Oman Work Visa for Indians

As an Indian, you need certain documents to complete your Oman employment visa application. These are:

• Two passport-sized photographs with a white background. Ideally, these photographs should measure 6X4 cm.
• A Valid passport with an expiry beyond six months or more.
• Labor permit obtained from the Ministry of ManPower.
• An original copy of your medical certificate approved by the Health Ministry.
• A copy of approval of the relevant organization for some specific occupations, like teaching, religious, medical, and media.
• Suppose you are already working in Oman and have not completed two years since your last departure. In that case, an NOC from the previous employer with approval from the Directorate General of Passports and Residence is also required.

Apart from these documents, you may also need some other supporting papers depending on the type of work visa you want to apply.

Oman Work Visa Requirements for Pakistani Citizens

Like other foreigners, an Oman work visa for Pakistani citizens also requires specific documents. These are:

• A valid passport copy with six months or greater expiry date.
• Two recent passport-sized photographs.
• A valid copy of the labor license issued by the Ministry of Manpower.
• The original Medical certificate, along with a copy attested from an authorized clinic in Pakistan.
• Educational degrees and certificates relevant to the Visa you are applying for.
• An attestation letter from the Oman Embassy in Pakistan located at House No.10, Street No. 67, Sector F-7/3 Islamabad, Pakistan. PO Box No. 1194
• Receipt for payment of application fee.

Oman e-Visa Requirements for Different Nationals

Recently, the Royal Oman Police has launched an online portal for grant of e-visa to foreign nationals. Foreign nationals can now apply for online visas with consideration of the safety procedures and conditions imposed by Oman Airports. Some of the requirements to apply for Oman e-visa are:

• A Valid passport with an expiry beyond six months.
• A recent digital photo not greater than the size of 512 KB.
• A valid email address for correspondence and receiving your Oman e-visa.
• A payment form after you pay the Oman work visa fee through a debit/credit card.

Oman Work Visa Application Process

After you check your eligibility and fulfill all the requirements for an Oman work visa, you should initiate the application process. Here is the step-by-step detail of the process to make it easy for you:

Employer Obtains a Labor License

The first step in the visa application process is procurement of the employer for obtaining a labor license from the Ministry of Manpower. He has no legal authority to recruit foreign employees unless he obtains a labor license. A successful procurement application for obtaining a labor license must fulfill the criteria below:

• Must be compliant with Omanization rules, and the quota for recruitment of maximum foreign workers has not been reached.
• The request for hiring the total number of foreign workers is appropriate.
• All the employees being recruited have relevant certifications.

After providing documentary proof of the above requirements, the Ministry will approve the application, and the employer will be allowed to hire foreign workers.

Sending Job Offers

Now, the individual employer or the company will send job offers to the foreign nationals and ask them to send requisite documents like passports, ID cards, Photographs, etc., to begin the work visa process.

Issue Employment Visas

The employer will now apply for an Oman work visa for individuals to the Immigration Department of the Royal Oman Police at https://www.rop.gov.om/english/dg_pr_visas_employment.html. He can visit the one-stop shop for the submission of documents. The employees must also meet certain requirements for a valid visa application.

• He must have attained the age of 21 years and not passed 60 years.
• The applicant may be of the same sex, as stated in the labor permit.
• His occupation and job position must be the same as mentioned in the permit.
• Medical certificates for foreign nationals of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philipines, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nepal, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Syria.
• Foreign nationals of some specific countries may also require special permits.

Residence Card Issuance

After clearance of the Oman work visa, the same is sent to the employee. The employee must reach within a stipulated time and initiate the process for obtaining a residence card. For this, the employee must visit the Civil Status Department of the Royal Oman Police to obtain a residence card within 30 days after his arrival. The documents required to obtain are:

• Two recent passport-sized photographs
• Original Passport
• Copy of the Passport

After the employee receives a residence card and employment visa, he may start work.

Oman Work Visa Price

Oman work visa price is 20 OMR, which is non-refundable. However, you may have to pay a fine of OMR 50 per month if you do not renew your work visa timely.

Validity of Oman Work Visa

The validity of an Oman work visa is two years from the date of its approval. It allows you for multiple visa entries.

Job Changing Policy for Oman Work Visa

If any employee changes his job, he must obtain an NOC letter from the previous employer approved by the Ministry of Manpower. The previous employer will sign a release letter to enable the employee to obtain a new job. If the previous employer does not agree, the employee will have to leave the Sultanate for at least two years.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)