Oman Visa Requirements: A Guide for 2026

With the 2040 Vision Program supporting economic growth, expanding business opportunities, and a favorable tax system, Oman is becoming an increasingly attractive option for high-net-worth expats looking to preserve and grow their wealth.

There are several paths to obtain both short- and long-term visas, each with its own eligibility criteria and documentation requirements. Understanding these requirements and choosing the right visa type can significantly impact the success and speed of your residency process.

In this guide, we’ll break down Oman visa requirements and available visa options and explain what you can expect from the Oman visa process.

What Are the Oman Visa Requirements?

Visa requirements in Oman vary depending on the type of visa you apply for:

1. Short-term entry visa
2. Long-term residency permit

Each category comes with its own eligibility criteria, supporting documents, and approval conditions. However, there are several core qualification criteria that apply across most visa types. These typically include:

• A valid passport with sufficient remaining validity
• A completed visa application form
• Supporting documents based on the visa type (e.g., employment contracts, investment proof, or sponsorship details)
• Proof of financial means or income (if applicable)
• Health insurance or medical clearance (for certain long-term visas)

Oman Short-Term Visa Options and Requirements

Oman offers several short-term visa options for foreigners who wish to enter the country for a specific purpose, with both single- and multiple-entry permits available. While the exact requirements vary by visa type, most applicants will need a valid passport, a completed application, and a local sponsor where applicable.

Depending on your reason to visit Oman, you can apply for:

• Business visa: A single-entry visa that allows professionals and entrepreneurs to visit Oman for up to 30 days under a local sponsorship. A multiple-entry option is also available, valid for one year and allowing 30-day stays per visit. Applicants typically need a sponsoring Omani company and supporting business documentation
• One-year visitor visa: Allows foreigners multiple entries into Oman over the visa’s one-year validity period. However, there is an upper limit of 30 days per visit. Requirements generally include proof of accommodation, financial means, and a valid return or onward ticket
• Patient visa: Allows foreign nationals to enter Oman once for medical treatment under local sponsorship. Allows for up to 7 days of initial stay within the country, but can be extended multiple times: first time by the applicant and subsequently by visiting the Directorate General of Passports & Civil Status office. Applicants must provide medical documentation and confirmation from a healthcare provider in Oman
• Contractor visit visa: Allows foreign nationals to enter Oman for medical testing under the sponsorship of a local employer, before starting work. It’s valid for up to a month, but can be extended if the visa holder needs to undergo additional testing. A sponsored employer and relevant employment documentation are required

There are also options for 10, 30, and 90-day tourist visas, as well as several types of transit visas that allow foreigners a single entry into the country. These typically require proof of travel plans, accommodation, and sufficient financial means.

Oman Long-Term Residency Visa Options and Requirements

Aside from short-term visas, Oman also has several programs that provide expats with long-term residency options, depending on their goals and circumstances. These include:

1. Property owner visa
2. Investor visa
3. Golden Visa

These programs are typically designed for individuals looking to live, work, or invest in the country on a more permanent basis, and they each come with their own eligibility criteria and investment or financial requirements.

Property Owner Visa

The property owner visa allows foreigners to acquire a two-year, renewable residency by purchasing real estate in the country. The program doesn’t specify a fixed minimum value of the property, but it imposes several strict eligibility criteria:

• The property must be located within an Integrated Tourism Complex (ITC), a government-designated area where foreigners are allowed to own land
• The property must be a qualifying residential type, such as an apartment, villa, serviced apartment, townhouse, or residential plot
• For off-plan properties, you must provide a four-year construction plan. Failing to follow up can result in penalties or your ownership being rescinded

Purchasing property this way grants you either freehold ownership, meaning that both the real estate and the land belong to you, or long-term usufruct rights, which allow you to rent, sell, or pass on the property to your heirs. Usufruct rights are valid for up to 99 years but can be renewed.

Keep in mind that your visa is directly tied to your property. If you sell it or transfer ownership without purchasing additional real estate, your residency permit can be revoked.

The application fee for the property owner visa is OMR 50, and along with it, you’ll need to submit the general visa documentation, including:

• A letter from the ITC developer that’s been stamped by the Ministry of Tourism and confirms that you own the property
• A title deed to the property, which you obtain by registering it with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning
• The property floor plan

Investor Visa

Oman offers a two-year renewable residency permit for foreign investors, distinct from the property owner program. There are several ways to qualify for an Oman investor visa, with slightly different criteria, which include:

• Investing in an existing company
• Establishing a new company in a specific sector
• Contributing to government-approved projects
• Investing in real estate

The specific amount you need to invest will vary depending on your chosen route, and due to this variability, there aren’t any clearly specified minimum thresholds.

Regardless of your investment choice, the application is submitted to the General Directorate of Passports & Civil Status, and you must have a local sponsor. Alongside the standard visa documentation, you’ll also need a labor permit with an investor stamp issued by the Ministry of Manpower.

Golden Visa

As of August 31, 2025, Oman officially introduced the Golden Visa program, officially known as Golden Residency. The program grants long-term residency to foreign nationals after making a qualifying investment. Mirroring the UAE, Oman has split the Golden Visa program into two tiers with different validity periods and eligibility criteria:

Program Tier	Validity Period	Eligibility Criteria
Golden Visa	10 years; renewable as long as the eligibility criteria are met	Invest a minimum of OMR 500,000 in an Omani-based LLC, joint-stock company, or government bonds Establish a business in Oman that employs at least 50 Omani nationals Purchase real estate in Oman with a minimum value of OMR 500,000
Silver Visa	5 years; renewable as long as eligibility criteria are met	Invest at least OMR 250,000 in an Omani-based LLC or joint-stock company, or in government bonds issued by the Omani government Purchase real estate in Oman valued at a minimum of OMR 250,000

Aside from investment options, expats working in Oman are eligible to apply for a Silver Visa if they wish to retire in the country. The main criteria for applicants are being over the age of 60 and having a fixed monthly income of more than OMR 4,000.

The residency extends to the visa holder’s partner and children, with flexibility regarding age criteria. Golden Visa holders can also sponsor other relatives during the visitor visa application process.

The Oman Visa Application Process

While the specifics may differ depending on your chosen route, applying for a visa in Oman generally follows the same four steps:

1. Create an account on the ROP website
2. Upload the required documentation
3. Pay the visa fee
4. Wait for approval

1. Create an Account on the ROP Website

You can apply for all residency visas through the Royal Oman Police (ROP) eVisa portal. The only exception is the Golden Visa; applications for it are submitted through a dedicated government portal separate from the ROP website.

Regardless of the route you choose, you’ll need to make an account on the corresponding portal to start the application process. This will require both an email address and passport details. From there, you select and fill out the application form for your residency route.

2. Upload the Required Documentation

Once you’ve prepared the application form, the next step is to submit the required documentation. The specifics will depend on your chosen route, but in general, you must submit scanned copies of:

• Your passport, which must be valid for at least six months past the entry date
• A passport-sized photo
• A copy of a medical fitness certificate issued by the Ministry of Health

All documents must be valid, clear, and submitted in accordance with the ROP’s requirements. Additional documents may be requested depending on your nationality and route.

3. Pay the Visa Fee

The final step before waiting for approval is paying the visa fee, which varies by residency route:

Visa Route	Fee
Golden Visa	OMR 500
Silver Visa	OMR 300
Investor visa	OMR 50
Property owner visa	OMR 50

The Golden Visa and Silver Visa also require paying a resident card issuance fee, which is OMR 51 and 26, respectively.

4. Wait for Approval

Once you’ve submitted the full documentation and paid the fees, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Processing visa requests can take anywhere from:

• 60–90 days if you’re applying through property investment
• 3–8 weeks if you’re applying for other routes

The Benefits of Oman Residency

Aside from allowing foreign nationals to reside in Oman, residency visas provide several other important benefits:

• Family inclusion and sponsorship: Residency permit holders can sponsor their partner and children under 25. Golden Visas include the holder’s immediate family and grant them the ability to sponsor other relatives for visitor visas
• Sponsor-free business ownership: While investor visa holders still need a local sponsor, Golden Visa holders can establish a business without requiring a local partner, which grants them greater flexibility
• Access to services: Residency visa holders gain full access to Oman’s healthcare, education, and banking systems, all of which are recognized for their high quality
• Life in a safe environment: According to global safety indexes, Oman is among the safest countries in the world to live in

The Tax Benefits of Oman Residency

Aside from investment opportunities and a high standard of living, one of the biggest draws of Oman residency is the country’s zero-tax regime. Currently, Oman does not impose personal income tax, inheritance tax, wealth tax, or capital gains tax on individuals. A value-added tax (VAT) of 5% applies to most goods and services, and corporate profits are currently subject to a 15% corporate tax.

However, this is bound to change with the announced updates to the tax system. Starting January 1, 2028, Oman will introduce a 5% personal income tax on individuals earning more than OMR 42,000 annually. This is calculated worldwide for residents and Oman-sourced income for non-residents. Inheritance, wealth, and capital gains will remain untaxed.

To become a tax resident of Oman and benefit from its tax system, you need to spend at least 183 days in the country during a calendar year. This also enables you to benefit from double taxation agreements, which ensure that residents of multiple jurisdictions are taxed on their income only once.

Note that some countries have taxation laws that affect how double taxation works. For example, the U.S. has regulations that allow it to tax its citizens regardless of residency, though specific mechanisms, such as the foreign tax credit, may alleviate the financial burden.

Does Oman Offer Citizenship Options?

Although they do allow you to stay and invest in the country, none of the Oman residency visas create a direct path to citizenship. Instead, you have to meet long-term residency and naturalization criteria, which involve legally residing in the country for 20 years and demonstrating a sufficient level of proficiency in Arabic.

Oman also doesn’t allow dual citizenship, meaning that even if you do qualify, you would have to renounce your original passport to obtain theirs. In practice, this means that expats can enjoy the high standard of living, business opportunities, and the country’s low-tax regime, but are not able to vote.

Because of the eligibility rules, various options, and nationality-based criteria, careful planning and a deep understanding of the visa application process are essential. Working with an experienced consultancy firm, such as Nomad Capitalist, can help you streamline the process, understand your long-term options, and navigate the Omani legal landscape more securely. 

Acquire Your Oman Visa Effortlessly With Nomad Capitalist

Nomad Capitalist is an expert-led advisory firm that has helped more than 1,500 high-net-worth individuals relocate to 100+ countries, protect their assets, and optimize their global tax liability.

We achieve this through our Action Plan—a tailor-made strategy designed around your lifestyle, financial, and relocation goals. The Plan outlines every step of applying for an Oman visa, setting up offshore banking, as well as verifying and gathering the necessary documentation. 

Here’s how getting a personalized Action Plan works:

1. You fill out a short application form to determine if we’re a good fit
2. We then schedule a short one-on-one call to get a better understanding of your goals and circumstances
3. We review this information and use it to create the Action Plan
4. We present you the Action Plan and implement it over 12 months
5. We provide lifetime support regarding any changes, questions, and concerns

Partner with Nomad Capitalist today to enjoy the benefits of life in Oman while we handle all the administrative legwork. Get your tailor-made Plan today!