Oman: Entry visas alloted to foreignnationals by type (residence/visit), purpose (employment, family reunion, etc.) and sector of employment of visa holder (public/private) (2013)

Type/ purpose of visa 2013 2012 2011
Public Private Total Public Private Total Public Private Total
Residence Visas 24,566 553,647 578,213 20,366 675,664 696,03 17,975 596,539 614,514
Employment 12,577 402,328 414,905 8,956 524,673 533,629 7,453 466,384 473,837
Family joining (family reunion) 7,947 48,793 56,740 7,508 54,143 61,651 6,894 50,621 57,515
Domestic servant 3,406 88,033 91,439 3,218 83,544 86,762 2,932 69,178 72,110
Short work 8 10,675 10,683 11 8,361 8,372 24 6,183 6,207
Family 628 3,818 4,446 673 4,943 5,616 672 4,173 4,845
Visit Visas 24,443 231,786 256,229 22,703 223,412 246,115 19,201 192,942 212,143
Family 8,161 95,073 103,234 7,03 88,784 95,814 6,499 74,413 80,912
Tourist 3 21,501 21,504 0 19,028 19,028 3 11,146 11,149
Official 15,062 0 15,062 14,163 0 14,163 11,651 8 11,659
Band 0 1,308 1,308 2 3,028 3,030 15 2,630 2,645
Sea crew 1 8,472 8,473 0 7,662 7,662 52 7,206 7,258
Express(1) 1,209 86,703 87,912 1,227 85,680 86,907 762 79,944 80,706
Others(2) 7 18,729 18,736 281 19,230 19,511 219 17,595 17,814

Source: Royal Oman Police

1- Includes business visas
2- Includes Road Transit Visa, Festivals Visa and Employment Contracting 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.