Oman: Foreigners’ Residence Law

Title

Oman: Foreigners’ Residence Law

Date of adoption

Entry into force

Text versions

Source:

– Sultanate of Oman Royal Oman Police, accessed: 12 October 2014, http://www.rop.gov.om/english/roplaws.asp

Abstract

This law regulates residence of foreigners in Oman. Foreigners are defined as those who do not hold Omani citizenship (Art. 2).

This law does not apply to certain categories listed in Art. 4, including citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Entry into and exit from Oman is only permitted for foreigners holding a valid passport or travel document issued by the appropriate authorities in his country. The foreigner must also have a valid entry visa issued by the competent Omani authority, embassy or consulate (Art. 5).

An entry visa may not be issued to foreigners belonging to any of the following categories without first referring to the competent authorities (Art. 9):

1. Individuals whose names are on the unwanted list.
2. Those entering Oman for work.
3. Individuals with transit visas.
4. Other categories as defined by the Inspector General.

An entry visa may only be stamped on the passport or travel document if they are valid for more than ninety days and in any case the visa shall expire 30 days before the expiry of either one of them (Art. 10).

In accordance with Art. 11, a foreigner may not be issued a work entry visa if he has previously worked in the Sultanate until two years have lapsed since his last departure. The Inspector General may waive this period if it is in the public interest.

Every foreigner entering the Sultanate must present himself to the competent authority within seven days of his entry for visitors and within thirty days for residents in order to register his residence (Art. 12).

In accordance with Art. 29, a foreigner who has entered the country illegally shall be deported at his own expense or the expense of those who facilitated his entry or employed him. Without prejudice to the terms of article 11 of this law, this foreigner may re-enter the country if he meets the conditions of article 5 (Art. 29).

A foreigner shall be deported if he is sentenced to deportation for committing a crime or felony after serving any other penalty he has been sentenced to (Art. 30).

Art. 31 lists the cases in which the Inspector General may order the cancellation of a foreigner’s residence. The cancellation shall extend to his spouse and any children he is supporting.

A foreigner who has been issued a deportation order may remain in the country for one month, renewable once, to settle his affairs after offering a personal guarantee (Art. 33).

A foreigner who has been deported may not be issued another entry visa until two years have lapsed and with a special permission from the Inspector General (Art. 34).

Any foreigner who has been deported from the country shall be included on the list of unwanted persons (Art. 35).

In accordance with Art. 40, the Inspector General shall issue a decision which specifies the fees for entry visas. Residence permits and transit visas. The highest fee that may be imposed shall be 50 Riyals.

Chapter X of this law lists all the penalties for violating the articles of this law.