Oman Work Visa 2026: Requirements, Documents and Process

An Oman work visa (employment visa) is sponsored by your employer: the company first obtains a work permit from the Ministry of Labour, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) then issues the entry visa, and after arrival you complete a medical check and get a resident card within 30 days. Under Ministerial Resolution 602/2025, work permits are issued for 24 months and the permit fees are paid by the employer.

How the Oman employment visa system works

Oman uses an employer-sponsorship system. You cannot apply for a standard employment visa on your own; a licensed company, government body or individual employer in Oman must apply for you. Two authorities are involved:

• Ministry of Labour (MoL): approves the employer's request to hire a non-Omani for a specific profession and issues the work permit.
• Royal Oman Police (ROP): issues the employment visa that lets you enter Oman and, after arrival, the resident card that proves your legal residence.

Ministerial Resolution 602/2025 distinguishes between a work permit (the employer's approval to recruit a foreign worker for a given profession) and a work practice permit (the worker's licence to practise that profession). Both are now valid for up to 24 months, matching the usual residence period.

Who can get a work visa: profession and eligibility checks

Before an employer can apply, the job title must be open to non-Omanis. The Ministry of Labour keeps a list of professions reserved for Omani nationals, and that list has been expanded in phases between 2024 and 2027. Roles such as many sales, marketing, HR, administrative and some IT positions are now restricted. If your target job is on the list, the employer cannot obtain a new permit for an expatriate.

Some professions also require a professional certificate before a permit is issued or renewed:

• Engineers need accreditation through the Oman Society of Engineers (since August 2025).
• Around 20 accounting, finance and audit roles need a professional classification certificate (since September 2025).
• Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and allied health staff usually need to pass the relevant licensing exam administered by the Oman Medical Specialty Board.

Documents usually required

Exact requirements depend on your nationality and profession, but employers typically ask for:

• A passport with sufficient remaining validity (employers generally ask for at least six months).
• Recent passport-size photographs with a white background.
• A signed employment contract or offer letter.
• Attested educational certificates and, for skilled roles, experience letters.
• Professional accreditation or licensing documents where your profession requires them.
• A medical fitness certificate. Some nationalities complete a pre-departure check at a GCC-approved centre in their home country.

Start the attestation of your degree certificates early, as it can involve your home country's authorities, your foreign ministry and the Omani embassy.

Step-by-step: the work visa process

1. Job offer and contract. You accept the offer and send your documents to the employer.
2. Work permit application. The employer applies to the Ministry of Labour for a work permit in your profession. Fees are paid after the ministry approves the application.
3. Employment visa. With the permit approved, the employer applies to the ROP for your employment (entry) visa, which is sent electronically.
4. Travel to Oman. You enter Oman on the employment visa.
5. Medical examination. You complete the medical fitness test; results are approved electronically through the Ministry of Health system or at Sanad service centres.
6. Resident card. You visit an ROP office in person for fingerprints and to receive your resident card. According to the ROP, this must be done within 30 days of entering Oman, with your original passport and the required forms.

Since January 2024, the ROP only accepts medical results that have been approved electronically, so you no longer need to visit a Ministry of Health fitness centre to have paper results stamped. Processing times vary by employer, profession and nationality. Ask your HR contact for a realistic timeline before you resign from your current job.

Work permit fees in 2026 (paid by the employer)

Ministerial Resolution 602/2025 sets the following main fees for issuing or renewing a work permit, according to reports in the Oman Observer. Employers that meet their Omanisation targets receive a 30% discount, while those that do not pay double.

Profession category	Standard fee (RO)
First-class professions	301
Second-class professions	251
Third-class professions	201
Investor category	301

The resolution also introduces late fines of RO 10 per month for late renewal (capped at RO 500 per worker) and allows an employer to upgrade a worker to a higher-category profession by paying only the fee difference. Visa and resident card fees charged by the ROP are separate. Always check the current amounts on the Ministry of Labour and Royal Oman Police websites, as fees can change.

These are employer costs. A genuine employer or licensed agency should not ask you to pay for your work permit or visa.

Bringing your family

Expatriate employees can sponsor a spouse and children on a family joining visa. In 2023 the ROP reduced the minimum monthly salary required for this from RO 350 to RO 150. You will usually need attested marriage and birth certificates and proof of salary. Rules can change, so confirm the current requirements with the ROP before you apply.

Renewal, job changes and cancellation

• Renewal: your employer renews the work permit and resident card before expiry. Late renewal leads to fines for the employer.
• Changing jobs: since 2021 you no longer need a no-objection certificate (NOC) from your former employer to move after your contract ends. Your new employer applies for a new work permit or a transfer.
• Leaving Oman: when you leave permanently, the employer cancels your visa. Make sure your end-of-service benefits are settled first.

Looking for sponsoring employers? Browse current vacancies in Oman or set up a free job alert.

Key takeaways

• Your employer sponsors and pays for your work permit; you should never pay for a visa.
• Check that your job title is open to expatriates and whether you need certification.
• Work permits are now valid for 24 months under Resolution 602/2025.
• Complete your medical test and get your resident card within 30 days of arrival.
• Confirm fees and rules on the official MoL and ROP websites before relying on them.