Oman Resident Card: How to Get, Renew and Replace It

The Oman resident card is the official ID card issued by the Royal Oman Police (ROP) to every expatriate who holds a residence visa. Under rules announced in November 2025 (Ministerial Decision 157/2025), resident cards can be issued for up to ten years depending on the residence category, at a fee of OMR 5 per year of validity, with OMR 20 for replacing a lost or damaged card, and holders must renew within 30 days of expiry. Here is how the card works for employees and how to handle issue, renewal and replacement.

What the resident card is and why it matters

Your resident card proves that you live in Oman legally. It carries your civil number, photo and biometric data, and it is linked to your residence visa and your employer's file. In daily life you will need it to:

• Open a bank account and receive your salary.
• Register a mobile SIM card and utility accounts.
• Rent accommodation and sign tenancy contracts.
• Apply for an Omani driving licence.
• Access many government e-services and Sanad centre transactions.
• Sponsor your family (see our guide on the Oman work visa for the bigger picture).

Getting your first resident card as a new employee

For a new employee, the card is the final step of the work-visa process. The typical order is:

1. Your employer obtains the work permit from the Ministry of Labour and the employment visa from the ROP.
2. You enter Oman on the employment visa.
3. You complete the medical fitness examination required for residence.
4. You visit an ROP passports and residence office (or a centre designated by your employer's PRO) for fingerprints and photo.
5. The residence is stamped or recorded electronically and the resident card is issued.

Most employers handle this through their PRO, and the cost is normally borne by the employer as part of recruitment. Check your offer letter and our guide to Oman labour law basics if anything is unclear.

Validity and fees after the 2025 changes

In 2025 the ROP amended the executive regulations of the Civil Status Law twice. An August 2025 decision introduced one-, two- and three-year options; in November 2025 Ministerial Decision 157/2025 replaced it, allowing validity of up to ten years according to categories and controls set by the Director General.

Item	Rule announced Nov 2025
Maximum card validity	Up to 10 years, depending on category
Issue or renewal fee	OMR 5 per year of validity
Replacement (lost or damaged)	OMR 20
Renewal deadline	Within 30 days of expiry

Important: a long card validity does not extend your right to work. Your residence and work permit remain linked to your employment, and in practice the card is aligned with the residence granted to you. Always check the residence expiry date, not only the date printed on the card.

How to renew your resident card

Renewal usually goes hand in hand with renewing your residence visa. Your employer starts the process, often a few weeks before expiry. The common steps are:

• Medical fitness exam for renewal where required; the Ministry of Health allows this to be arranged through its e-services and Sanad centres.
• Work permit renewal by the employer with the Ministry of Labour.
• Residence renewal with the ROP and payment of the card fee.
• Biometrics if requested, then collection of the new card.

Do not wait until the last week. Late renewal can trigger fines and block other services such as bank transactions or family visa renewals. Set a calendar reminder at least 60 days before expiry and confirm with HR that the process has started.

Replacing a lost or damaged card

If your card is lost, stolen or damaged:

1. Inform your employer's HR or PRO immediately.
2. If the card was stolen, report it to the nearest police station and keep the reference.
3. Apply for a replacement through ROP services; the announced replacement fee is OMR 20.
4. Provide a passport copy and photo if requested, and complete fingerprinting if asked.

Until the replacement arrives, keep a copy of your passport visa page and civil number handy for banks and employers.

Changing jobs, cancellation and leaving Oman

When you move to a new employer, your residence is transferred or reissued under the new employer's file, and a new card may be issued. When you leave Oman permanently, your employer must cancel the work permit and residence; your card then stops being valid. Before leaving, make sure your final settlement is paid and your residence is properly cancelled, which protects you if you want to return later. Our guide on changing jobs in Oman explains the transfer process in more detail.

Practical tips

• Keep digital copies of your card, passport and visa in a secure place.
• Update your mobile number with the ROP so you receive renewal reminders.
• Never hand your original card to unofficial agents.
• Check that your name and details match your passport exactly.
• Remember that dependants' cards depend on your own residence.

Key takeaways

• The resident card is mandatory ID for every expatriate resident and is issued by the ROP.
• Since November 2025, cards can be valid for up to 10 years depending on category, at OMR 5 per year.
• A lost or damaged card costs OMR 20 to replace.
• Renew within 30 days of expiry to avoid fines and service blocks.
• Card validity does not override your residence and work permit; follow your employer's renewal timeline.
• Official information: Royal Oman Police. Looking for a new role? Browse jobs in Oman or jobs in Muscat.