Visas for Oman
Expats will be relieved to know that the process of securing a visa for Oman is relatively hassle-free. Tourist visas for Oman are especially easy to come by; and although the process of securing employment visas for expats in Oman requires a lot of paperwork, most of this is undertaken by the expat's Omani employer.
Tourist Visas (Visitor's Visas) for Oman
Visitors of the following nationalities are able to obtain single-entry tourist visas or multiple-entry business visas on arrival in Oman:
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, VaticanIf you possess a passport issued by one of the countries listed above, all you have to do to get a single- or multiple-entry tourist visa to Oman is present your passport, and fill in an application form at the airport.
Single-Entry visitor visas for Oman
- These visas are ideal for tourists to Oman.
- They are valid for month, and cost OMR 20 (about USD 50 or GBP 30).
- Travellers need to present a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry into Oman, and to fill out an application form at the airport.
- A one-month extension of the visa is possible (costing another OMR 20).
- If you overstay your visa, you will be fined at a rate of OMR 10 per day.
- It is highly recommended that you are also in possession of return or onward tickets, to show your intention to leave Oman within a reasonable time-frame (less than two months).
Multiple-entry visitor visas for Oman
- These visas are ideal for those needing to make short business trips to Oman, or to make frequent trips to Oman to visit family members, etc.
- These visas are valid for one year, and cost OMR 50 (about USD 130 or GBP 80).
- Even though these visas are valid for one year, you are only allowed to spend a maximum of three weeks (21 days) in Oman in any given stretch. Furthermore, at least three weeks (21 days) must elapse before you re-enter Oman for the next 21 day period.
- Travellers need to present a passport that is valid for at least one year beyond the date of entry into Oman, and to fill out an application form at the airport.
- Extensions are not possible.
- If you overstay your visa, you will be fined at a rate of OMR 10 per day.
- It is highly recommended that you are also in possession of return or onward tickets, to show your intention to leave Oman within a reasonable time-frame (less than three weeks or 21 days).
Employment visas for Oman
Expats looking to live and work in Oman will require an employment visa, a document that can only be obtained in partnership with a sponsoring Omani employer. Thus, it’s necessary to have a job before applying for this visa.
Although the application process for this visa demands a significant amount of paperwork, the good news for expats is that the administrative burden of application falls largely on the shoulders of their Omani employers.
Note further that – because your prospective employer invests so much in helping you obtain your employment visa – it is very difficult to change jobs while you're in Oman. In order to do this, you'll need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your employer (very rarely given); or else you'll need to leave the country for a period of at least six months and start your employment visa application all over again.
Procedure for acquiring an employment visa for Oman
- Obtain a firm job offer for work in Oman from a reputable company.
- The hiring company will appoint a local sponsor to assist you with your employment visa application.
- Note that applicants must be at least 21 years of age, and no older than 60.
- A letter of invitation from the hiring company, and a signed work permit issued by the Omani Directorate General of Labour Affairs will be submitted by your sponsor on your behalf.
- Ensure that you provide accurate details – age, gender, date of birth, nationality, employment position you've been offered, etc. – to your hiring company, as they must exactly match those contained in the work permit document.
- Fill in the designated online application form, again ensuring that the details you record are accurate.
- Your application will be forwarded to your local sponsor, to be endorsed and stamped, and to be typed in Arabic for Arab nationals and in English for non-Arab nationals.
- In addition to the completed form, you are required to provide your sponsor with a certified copy of your passport (valid for the period in which you wish to work in Oman).
- You are also required to provide your sponsor with two 4cm X 6cm photographs.
- If your degree, diploma or other qualification is directly relevant to your employment position in Oman, you must submit a certified copy of it.
- The visa fee is OMR 20 (about USD 50 or GBP 30).
- Note that nationals of the following countries are also required to submit a medical clearance certificate: Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sudan. These certificates must be endorsed by the Omani Ministry of Health.
- The aforementioned documents, and proof of payment of the visa fee, will be submitted by your sponsor to the Omani Directorate General of Passports and Residence, who will process your application.
Note that these visas are valid for two years, and allow for multiple entries.
Omani authorities are becoming increasingly strict about the employment of foreign nationals, and that you require significant skills and employment experience to be assured of being granted an employment visa. In some cases, the authorities will need to be convinced that your position could not adequately be filled by an Omani citizen. If your visa application is denied, you are not entitled to an explanation from the consular authorities.
Family Joining and Family Residence Visas for Oman
These visas are granted to the spouses of holders of Omani employment visas, as well as to their children (provided they are younger than 21 years of age). They cost OMR 20, are valid for two years, and allow for multiple entries.
Family Joining Visas are applied for when families are travelling to Oman to meet up with (or 'join') their spouse who is already working there; while Family Residence Visas may be applied for while both parties are still in their home country.
The process is much the same: you will require a sponsor to act on your behalf, and you will need to supply certified copies of marriage certificates to prove your status as a 'family unit'. The Family Joining Visas are generally easier to procure, as the spouse who is already in Oman (on an employment visa, and possessing a resident card) can easily prove their legal right to reside in the country.
