Oman Employment Visa Guidelines

Oman offers a wealth of opportunities for international professionals in 2025. But, is there an age limit for a work visa in Oman? And what are the requirements?

This guide provides detailed insights into the application rules, documents involved, and Oman working visa prices, ensuring that both employees and employers are well-prepared.

Table of contents

• Oman Job Visa Conditions
• Eligibility Criteria for Oman Job Visa
• Oman Employment Visa Application Process
• Documents Required for Oman Job Visa
• Oman Visa Photo Requirements
• Get an Oman Visa Photo Online
• Visa Photo App
• Oman Employment Visa Fees
• Oman Job Visa Processing Time

Oman Job Visa Conditions

To work in Oman legally, foreigners need a work visa, usually supported by a local employer. There are several general types of work permit in Oman:

• Resident Work Visa
  Valid for two years. Permits multiple entries into the country. Necessitates a sponsor from an employer and a labor permit from the Ministry of Manpower. Applicants must be a minimum of 21 years old, and their job role must match the labor permit specifications.
• Temporary Work Visa
  Valid for a period between 4 and 9 months. Designed for short-term engagements, requiring employer sponsorship. May need a release letter from a previous employer.
• Employment Contracting Visa
  Usually valid for two years. Must be submitted electronically to the Royal Oman Police and necessitates sponsorship by an Omani business or a licensed freelancer.

What are the Oman's new rules for employment visas? — Effective January 1, 2025, Oman is reinforcing its "Omanization" strategy by expanding the list of Oman visa-banned professions. This policy aims to promote local employment and lessen the dependence on expatriates in various industries. The following professions will be off-limits to foreign workers:

• Technical and engineering fields:
  • Systems analyst
  • Information systems network specialist
  • Computer programmer
  • Computer engineer
  • Drilling fluid engineer
  • Drilling supervisor
  • Electrician/General maintenance technician
  • Mechanical technician/General maintenance
• Hospitality and tourism:
  • Hotel reception manager
  • Travel agent
  • Room service supervisor
  • Lifeguard
• Quality control and supervision:
  • Quality control manager
  • Quality officer
  • Quality supervisor
• Sales and marketing:
  • Marketing specialist
  • Sales representative
  • Commercial broker
• Transportation and logistics:
  • Driver of refrigerated trucks for food and medical supplies
  • Driver of water transport trucks
  • Aircraft loading supervisor
  • Cargo handling supervisor
• Various other roles:
  • Labor supervisor
  • Ship mooring worker
  • Flatbed crane operator
  • Forklift operator

These restrictions began on January 1, 2025, with further limits phased in over subsequent years. For example, bans on roles like Computer Programmer and Computer Engineer will start on January 1, 2026, while positions such as Web Designer and Operations Analyst will be restricted from January 1, 2027.

Eligibility Criteria for Oman Job Visa

Foreign individuals must fulfill certain Oman Work visa requirements:

• Oman Work visa age limit: Applicants must be between 21 and 60 years old.
• Sponsorship: A visa must be backed by either an Omani citizen or a legally registered Omani business.
• Job alignment: The job listed on the visa application must match the labor permit issued by the Ministry of Manpower.
• Employer qualifications: The employer must have a legal presence in Oman with an operational office and must be authorized to hire foreign workers. They are also responsible for submitting the visa application for the employee.
• Temporary visas: In some cases, temporary work visa applicants might need to submit a release letter from a previous employer.
• Omanization plan: Employers also need to present an Omanization strategy that details how they plan to hire Omani nationals, ensuring compliance with local labor regulations.

Oman Employment Visa Application Process

Here's a step-by-step guide to the Oman Employment visa procedure:

1. The employer must first get a labor license from the Ministry of Manpower. This involves sending in an application with details about the job role and the number of foreign employees they plan to hire. The approval for the labor license usually takes around 3 to 4 weeks.
2. Once the labor license is secured, the employer sends a job offer letter to the chosen candidate. This letter should specify job responsibilities, salary details, and other important terms.
3. The employer then files a visa application with the Immigration Department of the Royal Oman Police on behalf of the employee. The employee might also need to undergo a medical check at a designated clinic in Oman.
4. After the visa is approved, the employee must apply for a residence permit within 30 days of their arrival in Oman.

Documents Required for Oman Job Visa

Below is a detailed list of documents needed:

• A passport valid for at least six months.
• A filled-out employment visa application form.
• A labor permit granted by the Ministry of Manpower.
• A job offer letter specifying job duties and salary.
• Two recent passport-sized photos.
• A medical certificate validated by the Ministry of Health for nationals from certain countries (in the case of Oman Job visas for Indians, Pakistanis, and the Philippines).
• Relevant educational qualifications or certificates, which may need to be translated into Arabic or English and legalized if necessary.
• An approval letter from the competent authority for certain professions (like teaching or medical roles) might be needed.
• Verification from the Oman Embassy in the applicant's home country and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oman.

Oman Visa Photo Requirements

Ensure your visa application photo meets these criteria:

• The physical Oman photo size should be 40 mm x 60 mm. Digital photos must have a resolution greater than 350 pixels in both width and height.
• Digital images should not exceed 200 KB in file size.
• The photo must be well-lit, with good contrast, and capture your natural skin tone.
• It should primarily feature your head and partial shoulders.
• Your face should be centered, looking straight ahead, with a neutral expression. Avoid any ink marks, creases, or lines.
• The face should occupy 70 to 80% of the image, from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin.
• Eyes must be open and unobstructed by hair.
• Prescription glasses are acceptable, provided they have thin frames and do not reflect light or cover the eyes.
• Any headgear or facial accessories must not block the face.
• The background should be light and plain, preferably blue, with no other people or objects present.
• Lighting should be even, with no shadows cast on your face or behind you.
• Avoid “red-eye” in the photo.

Here is an example photo:

Get an Oman Visa Photo Online

The simplest way to obtain an Oman visa photo that complies with guidelines is to use an online professional service. Visafoto.com can instantly format your photo to meet all official requirements! Since 2013, Visafoto has been producing document photos for passports, visas, driver's licenses, and other documents worldwide.

Curious about getting started? First, take a picture of yourself in natural light and then upload it to our tool below. Don’t worry about background, dimensions, or format — we’ll adjust everything for you.

You'll receive both a digital file suitable for online submissions and a print-ready version. If you’re not happy with the outcome, we offer free photo replacements. Should the photo be rejected by authorities, we guarantee a full refund.

Visa Photo App

For an even easier process, try the 7ID app from Visafoto.com. This app uses advanced algorithms to perfect your photo. It works on iPhone and Android devices.

With 7ID, just upload your picture, select the document type and country, and the app will automatically adjust your image to meet official standards, handling size, format, and background color, ensuring your face and eyes are centered perfectly. You will get a digital copy along with a print template that fits standard paper sizes like 4×6, A4, A5, or B5.

If you need help, our customer support team is available 24/7.

Oman Employment Visa Fees

As of 2025, the Oman Job visa costs are:

• The cost is OMR 20 (around USD 52) for a visa that is valid for two years. This price applies to all kinds of work visas, including both temporary and employment contract categories.
• Late renewal penalty: If you delay the renewal of your work permit, you will be charged an Oman Employment visa renewal cost of OMR 50 (approx. USD 130) for each month of delay.

Oman Job Visa Processing Time

The time it takes to process an Oman employment visa can vary, but it typically ranges from one week to a month.