Oman Extends Foreign Residency Card Validity to 10 Years in 2025

The Sultanate of Oman has also announced that foreign residency cards will be validated for a period of ten years, as opposed to the former three-year limit, in a major change in policy to enhance the stability of the expatriates and ease administrative procedures in the country. This relocation serves the larger goal of Oman to attract and retain qualified foreign workers, decrease renewal costs, and improve the desirability of living and working in Oman. Other reforms of visa categories, fee structure and residency conditions are also accompanied by the change, which is also one of the significant changes in the attitude to foreign residents in the country.

Why the Change Matters?

One of the biggest changes with regard to securing long-term planning among expatriates is the extension of the time of the residency card to ten years. The executive regulations of the civil status law, in Oman, have been revised under the new regulation issued by the Inspector General of police and Customs in Oman, Hassan bin Mohsin Al Shuraiqi.

 In the case of foreigners, this will result in less renewal, less administrative burden, and increased confidence in remaining in Oman over the long term. It is an indication that Oman is seeking to position itself as a regional centre not only to the short-term workers, but also to professionals, families and persons who want to contribute to the economy over a longer period. 

Also Read: Oman’s New Golden Visa: Unlocking Business Ownership & Residency For Global Investors

Key Details of the New Rule

The tenure of the foreign residency cards (also known as foreign residency IDs or permits) has been renewed to ten years.

• It has been decided that the issuance/renewal fee be charged at 5 Omani rials/year.

• The cost of issuing a lost or damaged card is fixed at 20 Omani rials.

• In the former regime (determined in August 2024), only one, two- or three-year periods of foreign residency cards were being issued.

• The new rules mandate that foreign residents renew their residency ID within 30 days after the date of expiry.

Broader Visa and Residency Reforms in Oman

This amendment to the validity of the residency card is one of the numerous changes in the Omani immigration and residency system:

• The cultural visa programme has been extended to cover spouses and the first-degree relatives of the primary visa holder.

• Oman has likewise conferred citizenship on 45 individuals in the recent past under the revised Omani Nationality Law, and it portends a more liberal attitude towards long-term residence and assimilation.

All these actions imply the transition to less mobile and more permanent domesticity, including households and better-skilled migrants.

Impacts for Expatriates and Their Families

To the expatriates who already live and work in Oman, and both as individuals and families, the new validity period has several benefits:

• Further Future: Ten-year card enables people to plan on a longer basis- lifestyle, child education, property choice (where applicable), and career advancement with more confidence.

• Less Administration: There will be less paperwork as it will have fewer renewals over time, less time and resources will be devoted to this operation, fewer inconveniences, and unpredictabilities.

• More Desirable to Plan Families: Family members have more chances and better prospects of remaining together with the inclusion of the spouse and the first-degree relatives in the cultural visa expansion.

• Improved Economic Thinking: Expatriates can have greater motivation to make long-term investments in Oman, which will not only benefit the individual (through stability) but also the country (through talent retention).

• Renewal Requirement Still Urgent: The ten-year validity notwithstanding, the renewal within the first 30 days of the expiry is still obligatory, or it will be deemed as a penalty. The card does not have indefinite renewal without considering the regulations.

Also Read: Average Salary in Oman: Know Factors, Jobs, Salary

Implications for Oman’s Economy and Labour Market

Regarding the point of view of Oman, the reforms comply with multiple strategic goals:

• Retaining Talented Foreign Workers: Oman can be made more competitive in hiring talented foreign workers by allowing them a longer stay and family-friendly visa options.

• Lessening the Workforce Turnover: The lengthening of stability diminishes the turnover of expatriates and facilitates experience accretion, tenacity of workplaces and contribution to the host economy.

• Driving the Development of the Non-Oil Economy: Since Oman is moving out of oil dependency, the need to preserve international talent in other areas of the economy, including tourism, services, technology, education and healthcare, gains particular significance.

• Strengthening Reputation on the Global Level: The more liberal residency regulations improve the image of Oman as a safe, open nation to expatriates, family life and career development.

• Administrative Efficiency: A decrease in the number of renewals saves administrative burdens on authorities and lowers the costs and disruption of processes.

Potential Challenges and Considerations

Though the changes can be broadly positive, there can be issues of implementation and transitional problems:

• Awareness and Transition: To be fully beneficial, awareness and transition of the new rules, deadlines, fees and renewal procedures must be made to the expatriates.

• Compliance Risks: Despite such a period of validity, the inability to renew it within the 30 days might lead to penalties or status issues.

• Integration Issues: Prolonged residency does not necessarily mean complete integration in the society; the problem of cultural adjustment, rights, and the local-expatriate relations are still present.

• Family and Dependent Visa Logistics: Spouses and first-degree relatives are considered in the cultural visa extension, but the benefits and conditions will be different, based on the job category, the employer and the industry.

• Balances Between Workforce Supply and Demand: In the case of Oman, the challenge of how to attract expatriate talent without compromising on the ability to provide a job to a native citizen is not new. These longer residences must optimally be in tandem with local workforce development programmes.

Why This is Relevant Now

The date of the announcement, November 2025, involves the time when the global mobility, competitiveness of the working forces and expatriates' expectations are quickly changing. As most countries provide long-term or permanent residency, Oman has positioned itself in a better position with its decision to convert to ten years of validity compared to the other states in the Gulf and Middle East. In terms of expatriates in India, South Asia, Africa and others, in the event that they consider moving, then this policy would provide them a better value proposal as compared to the shorter-term residency frameworks. Today, in the world of talent wars, such a change in policies is important to migrants and their host nations.

Also Read: Jobs In Oman For Indians: Salary, Openings, Scope & More

How to Navigate the New Rules (Steps for Residents)

Steps for residents to navigate the new rules:

1. Confirm the type of card you are carrying or applying for as your residency card, either a work permit, a family permit, a cultural visa category, etc.

2. Affirm that the new ten-year validity refers to your category (with the amended executive regulations).

3. Record the fee as 5 Omani rials/per year to issue/renew; 20 Omani rials to substitute lost/damaged cards.

4. Make sure that it is renewed within 30 days of lapsing.

5. Record inclusion of spouse / first-degree relatives in the case of the expanded cultural visa programme.

6. Uphold other residency requirements (e.g. employers, tax/residence records, civil status law) in order to enjoy the maximum benefit of the status stability in the long term.

What it Means for Future Expatriate Planning

To the potential expatriates abiding in Oman, this provision renders Oman more favourable as a location to stay longer. Instead of having a few-year plan, it is possible to imagine a decade of living, career growth and family. On the part of the employer, organisations might be less inclined to attract and retain talent when residency is not so nomadic. In the case of Oman itself, the story would change from a temporary worker destination to a permanent home for qualified migrants and their family unit.

Conclusion

The introduction of a ten-year validity period for the foreign residency card in Oman is a significant step in the changing attitude of the country towards migration, interaction with residents and expatriates. To expatriates, it is more certain, less bureaucratic and more of a long-term planning approach. In the case of Oman, it enhances the capacity of the country to attract, retain and create value for international professionals and their families.

Although implementation and awareness will play a significant role, it is a positive step to indicate that Oman is ready to be a stable, welcoming environment to international talent - and an increasingly popular destination in the region.

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