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) (2011)

Type/ purpose of visa	2011
Type/ purpose of visa	Public	Private	Total
Residence Visas	17,975	596,539	614,514
Employment	7,453	466,384	473,837
Family joining (family reunion)	6,894	50,621	57,515
Domestic servant	2,932	69,178	72,110
Short work	24	6,183	6,207
Family	672	4,173	4,845
Visit Visas	19,201	192,942	212,143
Family	6,499	74,413	80,912
Tourist	3	11,146	11,149
Official	11,651	8	11,659
Band	15	2,630	2,645
Sea crew	52	7,206	7,258
Express	762	79,944	80,706
Others(1)	219	17,595	17,814
Business visas(2)	5	26	31

Source: Royal Oman Police

1- Includes Road Transit Visa, Festivals Visa and Employment Contracting Visa
2- the Business Visa was cancelled in 2012 and merged with Express Visa

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.

2. Institution which provides data

National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI)

3. Data availability

The present data is published in 2014′ 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/SYB2014/20-Social.pdf
2014′ SYB is available at:
http://www.ncsi.gov.om/NCSI_website/book/SYB2014/index.htm

Date of access: December 2014.