The Royal Oman Police controls visa stamping, the Ministry of Labour controls work permits — these are separate fees at separate agencies, and the employer pays both.
Overview
Immigration costs in Oman are split between two agencies: the Royal Oman Police (ROP), which issues visas and residence cards, and the Ministry of Labour (MoL), which issues work permits (labour clearances). The work visa itself costs OMR 20, with a late-renewal fine of OMR 50 per month. Work permits under Ministerial Decision 602/2025 are set at OMR 301 for First Category occupations, with a 30% discount available to employers meeting their Omanisation quota and a doubling of the fee for non-compliant employers. Residence cards, overhauled in November 2025 under Ministerial Decision 157/2025, now carry a single annual fee of OMR 5 per year for up to ten years, replacing the previous 1–3 year variable structure. The Foreign Ministry (fm.gov.om) charges for document attestation via Oman Post — OMR 10 for personal certificates such as Good Conduct, OMR 30 for labour clearances. Fees verified against rop.gov.om, mol.gov.om and fm.gov.om as of June 2026.
Visa and Residence Card Fees (Royal Oman Police)
| Fee item | Amount (OMR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Work Visa (stamping fee) | 20 | Granted at employer's request; multi-entry, valid 2 years from passport stamping. Source: rop.gov.om. |
| Late renewal fine — work visa | 50 per month | Charged for each month of delay in renewal. |
| Residence card — annual issuance/renewal fee | 5 per year | Cards now valid up to 10 years. OMR 5 × years requested at time of issue/renewal. From Ministerial Decision 157/2025 (Nov 2025). |
| Residence card — replacement (lost/damaged) | 20 | Per Ministerial Decision 157/2025. |
| Good Conduct Certificate (Omanis) | 10 | Issued by Directorate General of Criminal Inquiries & Investigations, ROP; payable by bank card. |
| E-visa — tourist/visit (varies by category and nationality) | Varies | Check eligibility via evisa.rop.gov.om fee calculator; Group 1 nationals and GCC residents have specific sub-types. |
Work Permit Fees (Ministry of Labour, Ministerial Decision 602/2025)
- First Category base fee — OMR 301: Ministerial Decision 602/2025 (October 2025) sets the base work permit fee at OMR 301 for occupations classified under the First Category. Work permits have 24-month validity (non-renewable for initial work permits; work practice permits may be renewed).
- 30% discount for Omanisation compliance: Employers that meet their prescribed Omanisation quota receive a 30% reduction — reducing the effective First Category permit cost to approximately OMR 211.
- Fee doubling for non-compliance: Employers that fail to meet their Omanisation targets face a doubling of the permit fee rather than the standard OMR 301.
- Wage Protection System (WPS) fines: Under Ministerial Decision 729/2024, employers who fail to pay wages through the WPS within 3 days of the entitlement date face fines of OMR 50 per worker, doubling for repeat offences. From September 2025, at least 75% of the workforce must be covered; 90% from November 2025.
Foreign Ministry Attestation Fees (via Oman Post)
The Foreign Ministry (fm.gov.om) no longer accepts walk-in attestations. All services are delivered electronically or through designated Oman Post branches.
| Document category | Fee (OMR) |
|---|---|
| Good Conduct / Non-Conviction Certificate | 10 |
| Employment or experience certificate | 10 |
| Study certificate | 10 |
| Labour clearance | 30 |
| Other civil certificate (original) | 30 |
| Trade agency (original) | 60 |
| Trade contract (original) | 40 |
| Certificate of origin (original) | 20 |
What the Total Bill Looks Like
- Your employer pays the work permit: The OMR 301 (or adjusted) work permit fee is payable by the sponsoring employer at the Ministry of Labour. You should not be asked to reimburse this.
- Nationality-specific medical pre-clearance: Nationals of India, Pakistan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Syria and Nepal must present an attested medical certificate from the Ministry of Health before a work visa is issued — add the medical fitness cost (around OMR 30).
- Professional classification (engineers/accountants): From August 2025, engineers must hold a valid OSE professional accreditation certificate before a work permit can be issued or renewed — fees range from OMR 70 (Engineer grade, 2 years) to OMR 165 (Consultant Engineer, 2 years). Accounting/finance professionals face a parallel requirement from September 2025.
- Document attestation for incoming documents: Foreign documents must be apostilled at origin (if the issuing country is a Hague party) or legalised by the Omani embassy abroad before the Foreign Ministry can attest them. Budget for the origin-country's apostille fee plus any Oman embassy consular charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays the work permit fee in Oman — the employer or the employee?
The sponsoring employer pays the Ministry of Labour work permit fee (OMR 301 base for First Category occupations under Ministerial Decision 602/2025). The employer is also responsible for obtaining your work visa through the Royal Oman Police at a further OMR 20. Employees should not reimburse either cost. If you are asked to pay, this is a potential Labour Law violation — report it to the Ministry of Labour complaints service at mol.gov.om.
How has the residence card fee changed in 2025–2026?
Significantly. Prior to November 2025, residence cards were issued with variable validity of 1, 2 or 3 years at matching fees. Under Ministerial Decision 157/2025 (announced 9 November 2025 by the Royal Oman Police), residence cards now have a unified validity of up to ten years. The fee is OMR 5 per year — so a 5-year card costs OMR 25, a 10-year card OMR 50. Replacement for a lost or damaged card is OMR 20. You must still renew within 30 days of expiry.
Does Oman charge a fine if I don't renew my work visa on time?
Yes. The Royal Oman Police charges a late-renewal fine of OMR 50 per month for delays in renewing a work visa. In early 2025, the Ministry of Labour ran a grace period waiver (valued up to OMR 60 million nationally) to allow outstanding visa and permit regularisation without fines, but that programme ended 31 July 2025. From August 2025, the standard monthly fine applies. The longer you delay, the larger the accumulated debt — and fines must be settled before any new visa or permit application is processed.
What is the work permit fee if my employer does not meet Omanisation targets?
Under Ministerial Decision 602/2025, non-compliant employers have their work permit fees doubled. The First Category base fee is OMR 301, so a non-compliant employer pays approximately OMR 602 per permit. Compliant employers get a 30% discount (approximately OMR 211). The Ministry of Labour determines compliance based on the prescribed Omanisation percentage for your employer's business activity sector.
I'm an engineer. Do I need a special certificate before Oman will issue my work permit?
Yes, from 1 August 2025. The Oman Society of Engineers (OSE) now mandates that all engineers working in Oman — both existing employees and new hires — hold a valid professional classification certificate issued by the Sector Skills Unit for Engineering before a work permit can be issued or renewed. Applications go through the OSE's electronic system (ose.org.om). Fees are OMR 70 for the Engineer grade (2 years), OMR 90 for Associate Engineer, OMR 120 for Professional Engineer, and OMR 165 for Consultant Engineer. Foreign qualifications must first be verified by DataFlow or QuadraBay before an OSE application will be accepted.
How do I get a document attested by the Oman Foreign Ministry, and what does it cost?
Walk-in attestation at the Foreign Ministry building is no longer available. All attestations are handled electronically through Oman Post (omanpost.om/attestation-services) or at designated Oman Post branches across the country (Muscat, Sur, Sohar, Nizwa, Salalah, Al Buraimi, Khasab and others). Personal documents such as Good Conduct Certificates, employment certificates and study certificates cost OMR 10 each. Labour clearances cost OMR 30. Trade agencies cost OMR 60. Visit fm.gov.om for the full fee schedule.