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
Type/ purpose of visa	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.