Oman Supends Conversion of Visitor to Employment Visas While in the Country

As of the beginning of the month, visitor visa holders in Oman have not been able to change their immigration status while being in the country. As the Royal Oman Police (ROP) has revealed, the new rule applies to all types of visitor visas, including those issued for tourism purposes and express visitor visas.

According to the announcement, foreign nationals with visitor visas must leave the country to apply for and obtain an employment visa, VisaGuide.World reports.

Before this announcement, this category of visa holders could convert their visitor visa info into an employment visa while still being in the country. The new measure is expected to delay work start dates and cost more expenses for foreign nationals as they must travel to obtain their necessary documents.

The new decision also suspends the issuance of new visas for Bangladeshi nationals until further notice as the authorities are reviewing the policies for obtaining some of the visas.

However, there wouldn’t be any hassle in renewing the existing visas, and they can follow the usual channels for renewing residency status for this nationality. 

Another change that foreign nationals can encounter in Oman this year includes applying online for an e-visa, with the process being simple and intended to reduce long waiting times at airports for getting visa permits. In general, Oman e-visa is estimated to take two to three days to be processed, while a Tourist Visa can be issued within one week or seven business days.

Oman Resident Sponsored Student Visas can take one to seven days to be processed, like the Oman Resident Sponsored Employment Visa.

This GULF country has been rising in popularity as the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) has revealed that a noticeable increase in visitors has been evident in 2022.

More specifically, 2.9 million people visited Oman in 2022 – 348 percent more than in 2021, while the top nationality to visit was Emiratis, with 1.9 million arrivals. The second to follow were Indians (355,460), Yemenis (106,529) and Germans (41,829). In addition, revenue generated by the hotels with a rating of three to five stars rose by 91.7 percent until the end of November 2022, peaking at RO 161.26 million or $418 million. The country is known for its landscapes and a vibrant culture that makes it a very attractive country for tourists.