Foreign job for Asians
Oman
Living or working in Oman?
Just Landed helps you manage everyday life. Our Oman Guide covers topics like visas, housing, jobs and finance. Join the Just Landed Community, get in touch with people like you and share your experiences. Most importantly, have fun!
Click to set custom HTML
Visas & Permits
Before leaving to come to Oman, make sure you understand your legal situation. Depending on your nationality, you might need a visa, residence permit and/or work permit. Read our guide to legal requirements for coming to Oman or use the Just Landed forums to ask other members for help.
Documentation required to enter Oman
The movement of foreigners is tightly controlled in Oman, and issuing of visas and other permits is subject to strict bureaucratic procedures.
Those whose applications are denied have little chance of appealing their status. Fortunately, the average expatriate doesn’t need to deal with much of the bureaucracy. Most companies and institutions employ ‘fixers,´ whose job is to wade through the government´s red tape to obtain work and residence visas for foreign workers and their families.
If you are assigned a fixer, he will also act as your guide whenever your presence is required at a government office
Even with a fixer, you will be required to assemble a number of documents in order to apply for entry into Oman. The required documents include the following:
Note that you will be disqualified from entry if you have any connection to Israel: Israeli passport, entry stamp, visa, and so on.
While you’re in Oman, you’re required to carry identification documents (either your passport or a national identitiy card), and you must have your entry and residence visas available at all times. Labor officials often carry out spot checks on businesses in search of workers employed illegally and to inspect foreign employees´ passports.
So long as you obey the law and carry the required documents, you will have a pleasant and hospitable stay in Oman.
VisasHow to obtain a visa
For many years, Oman remained closed off from the rest of the world, and it was nearly impossible to gain entry.
The situation has changed and it’s now easier to enter Oman, a country known for its varied, beautiful landscapes and charming people. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nationals can enter the Sultanate freely, while other foreigners require visas. In 2003, the Omani government passed new immigration regulations and a complete overhaul of its visa categories.
Single Entry VisaThis category covers tourists, businesspeople, and what were previously classified as "short-term visitors." Single entry visas are issued at all ports of entry in Oman. All you have to do is submit your identification and pay a small fee, and you will be issued a visa valid for one month.
These visas can also be obtained at Omani embassies and consulates abroad prior to your arrival.
If you are caught outstaying your visa´s validity period you will be penalized with daily fines equivalent to the fee you paid for the visa.
Multiple Entry VisaThis, too, is obtained at Omani ports of entry after you fill out an application and pay an application fee. Multiple entry visas are valid for a period of one year, though you may only remain in Oman for three weeks at a time. In addition, at least three weeks must pass between each of your visits. This visa is ideal for travellers who do frequent business in Oman, or those who frequently visit family.
Multiple entry visas cannot be extended. As with single entry visas, if you violate any of the stipulated validity periods you will be charged daily fines equal to the fee you paid for the visa.
Express visaForeigners nationals who are not eligible for single or multiple entry visas (check with the Ministry of Information ) have to apply for express visas. These are issued by the Omani Directorate General of Passports and Residency through Omani consulates and embassies abroad. Applications may also be submitted to Omani travel agencies abroad.
Express visas are valid for two weeks, and may not be extended. The same fines as multiple and single entry visas are applied if you outstay an express visa´s validity.
Employment visaForeigners between the ages of 21 and 60 are eligible for employment visas. In addition to the standard entry documents, employment visa applicants must submit a letter of invitation from their employer and an official work permit issued by the Omani Directorate General of Labor. Certain nationalities may also be required to submit labor permits or identification from the embassy of their hoem country. For more information, consult an Omani embassy or consulate.
Apply for an employment visa at an Omani embassy or consulate abroad. Your application will then be processed by the Omani Directorate General of Passports and Residence.
The Omani authorities are exrtremely strict about employment of foreign nationals. In processing your application, they will carefully consider your qualifications and work experience and whether your employer has Omani employees that could do the job. Furthermore, if the authorities determine that your job could be done by a hypthetical Omani national - in other words, doesn´t require a foreigner, they will reject your application.
If your application is rejected, you will not necessarily be told why.
Student visasif you are coming to Oman to study at a university or language program you will require a student visa. In order to obtain a student visa, you will need a sponsor (your school will serve as your sponsor). Apply for a student visa at an Omani embassy or consulate in your home country.
Student visas usually cover periods of either one or two years, and are considered multiple entry visas. if you decide to continue your studies in Oman beyond your visa´s expiration date, you may apply for an extension with your original application materials through the Directorate of Passports and Residence.
Other visasFor information om additional, more specialized visa types (such as seaman´s transit visas), their required application materials and validity periods, consult the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs .
Visas issued by the Emirate of DubaiIf you hold a valid Dubai visa of any kind (except employment), that visa is also valid for Oman, and will remain so until it expires. Additionally, Dubai nationals are allowed to visit Oman for up to three weeks without a visa.
Employment prospects
Oman allows plenty of foreign workers into its territory, but almost exclusively on a temporary basis.
While foreign workers are common and well-treated in Oman, their status is tightly regulated by the government. For many years, Oman´s poor infrastructure and weak education system translated to a shortage of qualified workers. Since 1970, as the quality of life has improved, the Omani government has made a distinct effort to regulate the influx of foreign employees, in hopes that it can work toward relative economic self-sufficiency.
A majority of outside observers, however, believe that expatriates will play a major role in Oman´s development for many years to come - two or three decades at least, though there will probably be changes in the numbers of expats employed and the type of skills required. For example, the vast construction projects currently found throughout the region (e.g. road systems, airports, ports and trading zones) will become less common, but the amount of commerical development will grow.
Thus, both foreign laborers and executives are likely to remain in demand for some time.
Nonetheless, foreigners will find less potential for advancement and integration in Oman than they might in other countries. They cannot become citizens and they are not allowed to own property. Similarly, the government has become increasingly reluctant to grant work visas and permits to foreigners who are working jobs Omani nationals could do just as well.
Oman is likely to maintain its grudging relationship with expat workers for the foreseeable future.
Though you are technically allowed to search for jobs in Oman while on a tourist visa, you are better off arriving with employment secured. The further in advance you prepare your permit applications (and the more influence your employer wields with the government), the better chance you have of securing a work visa and permit.
Sponsorship
What is a sponsor?
All foreigners require a local sponsor in order to visit Oman, whether they are just visiting or doing business.
A sponsor acts as a guardian and guarantor and undertakes all administrative work (i.e. paperwork) on behalf of the foreigner, including applying for a work and residence visa, opening a bank account and signing a rental accommodation contract. A sponsor can be an individual, a company or an institution.
Employers usually sponsor their employees, but visitors may be sponsored by a business partner or associate - even by the hotel in which they’re staying. Those aiming to do business in Oman should research the local business environment, establish contacts, and find individuals or companies with good reputations to act as their sponsors. If you go this route, you should expect to pay for these services.
The sponsorship system is an effective form of immigration control. As your sponsor is responsible for you and ‘takes the rap’ if you misbehave or contravene any regulations (which will cause him to lose face in the community), he has considerable incentive to ensure that you are reliable, trustworthy and law-abiding.
It´s not all doom and gloom though. Your sponsor can also be an invaluabe source of support and advice, and you would do well to treat him as such. In many cases, a sponsor may become a lifelong friend.
Working conditions
Salary & Working hours
Salaries in Oman are usually similar to or greater than those paid in western countries.
In addition to their salary, contract workers are awarded an ‘indemnity’ at the end of the contract period. Indemnities are end-of-contract bonuses which are required by law to be paid to expatriate workers as monetary ‘thank-yous’ for being of service to the state. They are also sometimes known as ‘end of service benefits.´ Indemnities usually amount to 15 (in some cases 20) days of pay per year of employment for the first three years, and a month’s salary per year of employment after that.
In some cases, your salary pay may be delayed. This is common in Arab companies, since many of them experience occasional cash flow problems and banking delays.
Working Hours & OvertimeThe working week in Oman tends to vary between 40 and 48 hours, depending on company policy. Office hours are usually from 8.30 or 9.00 am to 5.30 or 6.00 pm. There are no differences in time-keeping between summer and winter. In the month of Ramadan, the working day is sometimes reduced to six hours. In theory, the reduced hours should apply to all employees, but many companies only grant the reduced hours to their Muslim employees, leaving their foreign workers to work standard hours.
Friday is the Muslim rest day (the equivalent of Sunday in most western countries). If your company has a five-day work week, your other day off will probably be either Thursday or Saturday. Saturday is the more popular choice for international companies (taking Thursday off means reducing the number of operational days in common with much of the rest of the world). Still, some companies insist on Thursday, since the school ‘weekend’ is Thursday and Friday.
Changing Jobs
The difficulties of changing jobs
Since most companies bring expatriate employees to Oman at great expense (especially if they are paying to relocate an entire family), they do not look kindly on foreign workers changign jobs.
In earlier years, workers were hired on fixed period contracts (normally two years), which were renewable with mutual employer/employee consent. This didn´t always work the the employers´ advantage, however, since many employees would negotiate new contracts with competitors as they approached the ends of their contracts. The new employer would then gain an experienced foreign employee without having to pay relocation costs, and the employee would generally be rewarded for his trouble with a higher salary.
Today, contracts tend to be open-ended and include clauses to protect the employer, such as minimum six-month waiting periods between work visa issuance (in which the employee may not change his visa to work for another employer).
Technically, this means that the worker must leave the country for six months before reapplying for a visa if he changes jobs. There are, however, ways around this. For instance, a worker can transfer to a new employer if his original sponsor or employer provides him with a ‘letter of no objection’ or a ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC). While you might think employers would use this requirement to hold their foreign workers hostage, it is not as common as you might imagine. In many cases, employers would rather provide foreigner with a NOC than pay to send them back to their home country.
Even still, don’t assume that a job change will be quick or simple.
In order to have the full support of your new employer, it’s usually best to leave the country for a period and then return under a new contract. When you return, don´t expect any friendly correspondence from your former employer, especially if you are working for a competitor. Omani employers loath disloyalty.
Before leaving to come to Oman, make sure you understand your legal situation. Depending on your nationality, you might need a visa, residence permit and/or work permit. Read our guide to legal requirements for coming to Oman or use the Just Landed forums to ask other members for help.
Documentation required to enter Oman
The movement of foreigners is tightly controlled in Oman, and issuing of visas and other permits is subject to strict bureaucratic procedures.
Those whose applications are denied have little chance of appealing their status. Fortunately, the average expatriate doesn’t need to deal with much of the bureaucracy. Most companies and institutions employ ‘fixers,´ whose job is to wade through the government´s red tape to obtain work and residence visas for foreign workers and their families.
If you are assigned a fixer, he will also act as your guide whenever your presence is required at a government office
Even with a fixer, you will be required to assemble a number of documents in order to apply for entry into Oman. The required documents include the following:
- a passport valid for at least six months (it’s useful to have at least three or four photocopies);
- at least six passport-size photographs;
- a marriage certificate (if applicable);
- birth certificates for all family members;
- a medical certificate in the case of workers.
Note that you will be disqualified from entry if you have any connection to Israel: Israeli passport, entry stamp, visa, and so on.
While you’re in Oman, you’re required to carry identification documents (either your passport or a national identitiy card), and you must have your entry and residence visas available at all times. Labor officials often carry out spot checks on businesses in search of workers employed illegally and to inspect foreign employees´ passports.
So long as you obey the law and carry the required documents, you will have a pleasant and hospitable stay in Oman.
VisasHow to obtain a visa
For many years, Oman remained closed off from the rest of the world, and it was nearly impossible to gain entry.
The situation has changed and it’s now easier to enter Oman, a country known for its varied, beautiful landscapes and charming people. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nationals can enter the Sultanate freely, while other foreigners require visas. In 2003, the Omani government passed new immigration regulations and a complete overhaul of its visa categories.
Single Entry VisaThis category covers tourists, businesspeople, and what were previously classified as "short-term visitors." Single entry visas are issued at all ports of entry in Oman. All you have to do is submit your identification and pay a small fee, and you will be issued a visa valid for one month.
These visas can also be obtained at Omani embassies and consulates abroad prior to your arrival.
If you are caught outstaying your visa´s validity period you will be penalized with daily fines equivalent to the fee you paid for the visa.
Multiple Entry VisaThis, too, is obtained at Omani ports of entry after you fill out an application and pay an application fee. Multiple entry visas are valid for a period of one year, though you may only remain in Oman for three weeks at a time. In addition, at least three weeks must pass between each of your visits. This visa is ideal for travellers who do frequent business in Oman, or those who frequently visit family.
Multiple entry visas cannot be extended. As with single entry visas, if you violate any of the stipulated validity periods you will be charged daily fines equal to the fee you paid for the visa.
Express visaForeigners nationals who are not eligible for single or multiple entry visas (check with the Ministry of Information ) have to apply for express visas. These are issued by the Omani Directorate General of Passports and Residency through Omani consulates and embassies abroad. Applications may also be submitted to Omani travel agencies abroad.
Express visas are valid for two weeks, and may not be extended. The same fines as multiple and single entry visas are applied if you outstay an express visa´s validity.
Employment visaForeigners between the ages of 21 and 60 are eligible for employment visas. In addition to the standard entry documents, employment visa applicants must submit a letter of invitation from their employer and an official work permit issued by the Omani Directorate General of Labor. Certain nationalities may also be required to submit labor permits or identification from the embassy of their hoem country. For more information, consult an Omani embassy or consulate.
Apply for an employment visa at an Omani embassy or consulate abroad. Your application will then be processed by the Omani Directorate General of Passports and Residence.
The Omani authorities are exrtremely strict about employment of foreign nationals. In processing your application, they will carefully consider your qualifications and work experience and whether your employer has Omani employees that could do the job. Furthermore, if the authorities determine that your job could be done by a hypthetical Omani national - in other words, doesn´t require a foreigner, they will reject your application.
If your application is rejected, you will not necessarily be told why.
Student visasif you are coming to Oman to study at a university or language program you will require a student visa. In order to obtain a student visa, you will need a sponsor (your school will serve as your sponsor). Apply for a student visa at an Omani embassy or consulate in your home country.
Student visas usually cover periods of either one or two years, and are considered multiple entry visas. if you decide to continue your studies in Oman beyond your visa´s expiration date, you may apply for an extension with your original application materials through the Directorate of Passports and Residence.
Other visasFor information om additional, more specialized visa types (such as seaman´s transit visas), their required application materials and validity periods, consult the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs .
Visas issued by the Emirate of DubaiIf you hold a valid Dubai visa of any kind (except employment), that visa is also valid for Oman, and will remain so until it expires. Additionally, Dubai nationals are allowed to visit Oman for up to three weeks without a visa.
Employment prospects
Oman allows plenty of foreign workers into its territory, but almost exclusively on a temporary basis.
While foreign workers are common and well-treated in Oman, their status is tightly regulated by the government. For many years, Oman´s poor infrastructure and weak education system translated to a shortage of qualified workers. Since 1970, as the quality of life has improved, the Omani government has made a distinct effort to regulate the influx of foreign employees, in hopes that it can work toward relative economic self-sufficiency.
A majority of outside observers, however, believe that expatriates will play a major role in Oman´s development for many years to come - two or three decades at least, though there will probably be changes in the numbers of expats employed and the type of skills required. For example, the vast construction projects currently found throughout the region (e.g. road systems, airports, ports and trading zones) will become less common, but the amount of commerical development will grow.
Thus, both foreign laborers and executives are likely to remain in demand for some time.
Nonetheless, foreigners will find less potential for advancement and integration in Oman than they might in other countries. They cannot become citizens and they are not allowed to own property. Similarly, the government has become increasingly reluctant to grant work visas and permits to foreigners who are working jobs Omani nationals could do just as well.
Oman is likely to maintain its grudging relationship with expat workers for the foreseeable future.
Though you are technically allowed to search for jobs in Oman while on a tourist visa, you are better off arriving with employment secured. The further in advance you prepare your permit applications (and the more influence your employer wields with the government), the better chance you have of securing a work visa and permit.
Sponsorship
What is a sponsor?
All foreigners require a local sponsor in order to visit Oman, whether they are just visiting or doing business.
A sponsor acts as a guardian and guarantor and undertakes all administrative work (i.e. paperwork) on behalf of the foreigner, including applying for a work and residence visa, opening a bank account and signing a rental accommodation contract. A sponsor can be an individual, a company or an institution.
Employers usually sponsor their employees, but visitors may be sponsored by a business partner or associate - even by the hotel in which they’re staying. Those aiming to do business in Oman should research the local business environment, establish contacts, and find individuals or companies with good reputations to act as their sponsors. If you go this route, you should expect to pay for these services.
The sponsorship system is an effective form of immigration control. As your sponsor is responsible for you and ‘takes the rap’ if you misbehave or contravene any regulations (which will cause him to lose face in the community), he has considerable incentive to ensure that you are reliable, trustworthy and law-abiding.
It´s not all doom and gloom though. Your sponsor can also be an invaluabe source of support and advice, and you would do well to treat him as such. In many cases, a sponsor may become a lifelong friend.
Working conditions
Salary & Working hours
Salaries in Oman are usually similar to or greater than those paid in western countries.
In addition to their salary, contract workers are awarded an ‘indemnity’ at the end of the contract period. Indemnities are end-of-contract bonuses which are required by law to be paid to expatriate workers as monetary ‘thank-yous’ for being of service to the state. They are also sometimes known as ‘end of service benefits.´ Indemnities usually amount to 15 (in some cases 20) days of pay per year of employment for the first three years, and a month’s salary per year of employment after that.
In some cases, your salary pay may be delayed. This is common in Arab companies, since many of them experience occasional cash flow problems and banking delays.
Working Hours & OvertimeThe working week in Oman tends to vary between 40 and 48 hours, depending on company policy. Office hours are usually from 8.30 or 9.00 am to 5.30 or 6.00 pm. There are no differences in time-keeping between summer and winter. In the month of Ramadan, the working day is sometimes reduced to six hours. In theory, the reduced hours should apply to all employees, but many companies only grant the reduced hours to their Muslim employees, leaving their foreign workers to work standard hours.
Friday is the Muslim rest day (the equivalent of Sunday in most western countries). If your company has a five-day work week, your other day off will probably be either Thursday or Saturday. Saturday is the more popular choice for international companies (taking Thursday off means reducing the number of operational days in common with much of the rest of the world). Still, some companies insist on Thursday, since the school ‘weekend’ is Thursday and Friday.
Changing Jobs
The difficulties of changing jobs
Since most companies bring expatriate employees to Oman at great expense (especially if they are paying to relocate an entire family), they do not look kindly on foreign workers changign jobs.
In earlier years, workers were hired on fixed period contracts (normally two years), which were renewable with mutual employer/employee consent. This didn´t always work the the employers´ advantage, however, since many employees would negotiate new contracts with competitors as they approached the ends of their contracts. The new employer would then gain an experienced foreign employee without having to pay relocation costs, and the employee would generally be rewarded for his trouble with a higher salary.
Today, contracts tend to be open-ended and include clauses to protect the employer, such as minimum six-month waiting periods between work visa issuance (in which the employee may not change his visa to work for another employer).
Technically, this means that the worker must leave the country for six months before reapplying for a visa if he changes jobs. There are, however, ways around this. For instance, a worker can transfer to a new employer if his original sponsor or employer provides him with a ‘letter of no objection’ or a ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC). While you might think employers would use this requirement to hold their foreign workers hostage, it is not as common as you might imagine. In many cases, employers would rather provide foreigner with a NOC than pay to send them back to their home country.
Even still, don’t assume that a job change will be quick or simple.
In order to have the full support of your new employer, it’s usually best to leave the country for a period and then return under a new contract. When you return, don´t expect any friendly correspondence from your former employer, especially if you are working for a competitor. Omani employers loath disloyalty.
