Oman: In-Country Conversion of Visitor to Employment Visa No Longer Possible
November 8, 2023

Foreign nationals in Oman on a visitor visa can no longer change their immigration status in-country. This rule change applies to all types of visitor visa, including tourism, dependent and express visitor visas. Foreign nationals in Oman on a visitor visa who want to obtain an employment visa must now exit Oman, apply for and receive the relevant visa, and then re-enter. Previously, affected individuals could convert their visitor visa into an employment visa without leaving Oman. This change in policy – a decision of the Royal Oman Police – will delay work start dates and incur additional costs for foreign nationals as they must travel to obtain the employment visa.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
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