Oman Suspends Conversion of Visitor Visas to Work Permits While In-Country
Oman has enacted a new policy barring foreigners entering on a visitor visa from transitioning to an employment permit without leaving the country first.
The rule change announced by the Royal Oman Police (ROP) requires visitor visa holders, including tourists and express visa recipients, to exit Oman and apply for work authorization from abroad. Previously, applicants could convert from a visitor to employment visa within the country.
The revised regulations will likely delay work start dates and increase costs for migrant workers who must undertake international travel simply to secure documents. The ROP indicated the move came amid a review of policies for certain visa categories.
In a further twist, Oman has temporarily suspended issuance of fresh visas to Bangladeshi citizens as part of the policy reassessment. However, Bangladeshi nationals can still renew existing residency visas as usual without issue for now.
The visa criteria updates come despite Oman recently transitioning to faster online e-visa applications for simplified entry. Tourists can typically obtain e-visas in 2-3 days, while other categories like student or work visas require 1-2 weeks processing.
But the e-visa system’s convenience only extends to initial visitor permits, not status changes after arrival. By closing the in-country visa conversion loophole, Oman hopes to better regulate immigrant employment and entry procedures.
Similar to other Gulf states, Oman relies heavily on South Asian migrant labor. But with COVID’s economic impacts and rising unemployment among citizens, Oman is reevaluating its dependence on foreign workers.
Suspending visa switches from inside the country adds a hurdle for migrants to navigate. Yet Oman maintains it is simply realigning policy to be consistent with most nations worldwide.
The visa criteria changes sent ripples among Oman’s large expatriate community. However, the country aims to strike a balance between controlling inflows and retaining needed skills.
With Oman’s visa policies still in flux, foreign workers and businesses must adapt to the new conversion ban and prepare for further reforms. The ROP has not indicated when the temporary suspension on Bangladeshi visas might lift.
