Family Joining Visa in Oman: Salary Requirement & Process

Expatriate employees with a valid residence in Oman can sponsor their spouse and children on a family joining visa, which is issued by the Royal Oman Police (ROP). In 2023 an ROP official announced that the minimum monthly salary for sponsoring family had been lowered to OMR 150, and applications are submitted through the ROP e-visa system, usually with support from your employer's PRO. This guide explains who qualifies, which documents to prepare, and what happens after your family arrives.

Who can sponsor family in Oman?

The sponsor is the expatriate employee (or investor) who already holds a valid Omani residence and resident card. Your family's residence is linked to yours: their visa is issued under your file, and it normally cannot outlast your own residence. If your employment ends and your residence is cancelled, your dependants' residence is affected too.

In practice, sponsors are expected to show:

• A valid employment (or investor) residence and resident card.
• A salary at or above the threshold set by the ROP.
• Proof of the family relationship (marriage and birth certificates).
• Suitable accommodation in Oman, usually shown by a tenancy contract.

The salary requirement explained

The salary rule for family visas has changed several times. Older reports from 2017 mention a threshold of OMR 300 (reduced at that time from OMR 600). In February 2023, Gulf News and other outlets quoted an ROP official saying expatriates now need to earn OMR 150 or more per month to sponsor family. Because some websites still repeat older figures, always confirm the current requirement with the ROP or your employer's PRO before you apply.

Topic	What to know
Reported minimum salary	OMR 150 per month (announced 2023)
How salary is proven	Employment contract or salary certificate, and often recent bank statements
Who decides	Royal Oman Police, Directorate General of Passports and Residence
Link to your residence	Dependants' residence depends on the sponsor's valid residence

Meeting the minimum does not mean living costs will be easy. Before you apply, compare your income with realistic rent, school and transport costs; our guide to the cost of living in Muscat can help, and salaries in Oman gives context for negotiating a family-friendly package.

Which family members can join you?

The family joining visa is designed mainly for the spouse and children of the sponsor. Children are generally sponsored up to the age limit applied by the ROP, which many guides cite as 21 for sons. Other relatives, such as parents, are not part of the standard family joining route; any such request is assessed separately and may require a different visa type, so ask the ROP directly.

Documents you will usually need

Exact requirements can vary by case, but most applications include:

• Passport copies of the sponsor and each family member (with sufficient validity).
• The sponsor's resident card and current visa page.
• Recent passport-size photographs of each applicant.
• Marriage certificate, attested in the country of issue and by the Omani authorities (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
• Birth certificates for children, attested in the same way.
• Salary proof: employment contract or salary certificate, and bank statements if requested.
• Tenancy contract for accommodation in Oman.

Attestation is the step that most often delays files. Start early, because documents usually need stamps in your home country, from the Omani embassy there, and then from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oman.

Step-by-step application process

1. Get your own residence finalised. Your work visa, medical and resident card should be complete before you sponsor dependants.
2. Prepare and attest documents. Collect certificates and translations if needed.
3. Apply online. The application is made through the ROP e-visa services, often by your employer's PRO or a Sanad service centre, and the official fee is paid online.
4. Receive the visa. Once approved, your family can travel to Oman within the visa's validity period.
5. Complete residence formalities after arrival. Adult family members may need a medical fitness examination, followed by fingerprinting and the resident card.

After arrival: medical test and resident cards

Depending on nationality and age, adult dependants may need to complete the medical fitness examination before their residence is completed; your employer's PRO can confirm who in your family needs it.Each family member then receives an Omani resident card. Under rules announced by the ROP in November 2025, resident cards can be issued for up to ten years depending on the category, at a fee of OMR 5 per year of validity, and cards must be renewed within 30 days of expiry. Keep an eye on the expiry date of your own residence too, because renewing family members depends on it.

Can your spouse work on a family visa?

A family joining visa is a residence permit, not a work permit. Under the Labour Law (Royal Decree 53/2023), a non-Omani may not start work in Oman before obtaining a work permit. If your spouse finds a job, the hiring employer must apply for the proper work permit and residence. Working without one can lead to fines, deportation and a re-entry ban for the worker, and penalties for the employer. Many spouses find roles in education, healthcare and administration; you can browse current vacancies and set up a free job alert.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Relying on outdated salary figures from old blog posts instead of checking with the ROP.
• Leaving attestation to the last minute, especially for documents issued abroad.
• Letting your own residence approach expiry while applying for family.
• Assuming a family visa allows work. It does not; a separate work permit is required.
• Paying unofficial agents who promise "guaranteed" visas. Official fees are paid through ROP channels; read our guide on avoiding job scams.

Key takeaways

• Expat employees with valid residence can sponsor a spouse and children through the ROP.
• The ROP announced a lower minimum salary of OMR 150 per month in 2023; confirm the current rule before applying.
• Attested marriage and birth certificates are essential and take time.
• Family members receive resident cards; cards must be renewed within 30 days of expiry.
• A family visa does not permit work; an employer must obtain a work permit for your spouse.
• For official information, check the Royal Oman Police website.