Oman: Entry visas alloted to foreign nationals by type (residence/visit), purpose (employment, family reunion, etc.) and sector of employment of visa holder (public/private) (2007)

Type/ purpose of visa	2007
Type/ purpose of visa	Public	Private	Total
Employment visa	15,834	363,508	379,342
without family	6,611	280,488	287,099
with family	86	243	329
Family joining reunion)	6,717	45,036	51,753
Domestic servant	2,420	37,741	40,161
Visit visas	11,840	68,566	80,406
Family	4,265	43,557	47,822
Business Visa	3	10,458	10,461
Tourist	ـــ	14,426	14,426
Government	7,572	125	7,697
Business visas	18	421	439

Source: Royal Oman Police
ANNEXED NOTE

1. Technical Notes and Definitions

The Directorate General of Passports and Residence of the Royal Oman Police is responsible for issuing passports for Omanis and granting visas to foreigners wishing to enter the Sultanate. It is also involved in regulating and monitoring the entry and exit of people to and from Oman at border checkpoints.
The office also monitors the number of expatriates living in the country in accordance with policies set by the state.
Visas are granted at the request of an Omani sponsor and on his responsibility.
The employment visa is granted at the request of a local sponsor and on his responsibility to the foreigner coming to Oman for employment and whose age is not below 21.
The family joining Visa is granted to the wife of the foreigner, who is resident in Oman, and as well to his children who are below 21 years. It is also granted to the foreign wife of an Omani national at his request, and subject to a certificate from the concerned authority (Ministry of Interior) confirming the status of the marriage.
The family Visa is granted by the concerned authority at its discretion, and at the request of a local sponsor and on his responsibility, to the relatives of the Omani national and the relatives of the foreigner who are not included in the categories eligible for Family Joining Visa.
Employment visas are valid for 2 years.
Visit visas are valid for 3 months.

2. Institution which provides data

National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI)

3. Data availability

The present data is published in 2009′ Statistical Yearbook, section “Social Services and Security”, available online on NSCI’s website. Each thematic section is presented in PDF format.
The “Social Services” section is available at:
http://www.ncsi.gov.om/NCSI_website/book/syb2009cd/fscommand/english/index.htm
2009′ SYB is available at:
http://www.ncsi.gov.om/NCSI_website/book/syb2009cd/fscommand/tables/Social_Services/13_14-20.pdf

Date of access: December 2014.