Short answer: You can move to Oman in 2026 through five routes: an employer-sponsored work visa (two years, renewable), the healthcare route with an OMSB licence, a company you own up to 100 percent, buying a freehold home, which brings a sponsor-free owner visa for the whole family from OMR 61,635, or the renewable 10-year golden residency from OMR 200,000. A single person lives on OMR 550 to 700 a month, there is no personal income tax until 2028, and Muscat is seven hours from London and three from Mumbai.
People ask us how to move to Oman from the UK, the US, India and Pakistan almost as often as they ask about prices. This guide lays the routes side by side, says who each one suits, and then covers what life costs once you land. Property figures come from our own live inventory and living costs from our cost of living in Oman guide.
Five routes at a glance
| Route | Main condition | Validity | Family | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work visa | Job offer from an Omani employer | 2 years, renewable | Sponsorable above a salary floor | Professionals and skilled trades |
| Healthcare | Omani professional licence (OMSB) plus an employer | 2 years, renewable | Yes | Doctors, nurses, pharmacists |
| Company owner | A company with up to 100 percent foreign ownership | Renewable with the company | Yes | Entrepreneurs and traders |
| Property owner visa | Freehold home in an ITC from OMR 61,635 | For as long as you own it | Spouse and children | Families, retirees, remote workers |
| Golden residency | Investment of OMR 200,000 | 10 years, renewable | Yes | Investors |
Route one: moving to Oman for work
Oman's work visa is employer driven. You secure the offer first; the employer then obtains labour clearance from the Ministry of Labour and the visa from the Royal Oman Police. Four practical points:
- The visa normally runs two years and is renewable, and applicants are typically aged 21 to 60.
- A police clearance certificate from your home country, a medical fitness check and attested qualifications are required.
- Omanisation reserves certain occupations for nationals and sets quotas by sector, so confirm your role is open to expatriates before anything else.
- Changing employer has rules of its own; read the contract before you sign.
Engineering, oil and gas, IT, logistics and tourism carry most of the expatriate demand.
Route two: doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff
Healthcare professionals need a licence as well as an employer. It is issued under the Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB) and the Ministry of Health, and usually runs in three steps:
- Primary Source Verification of your credentials through DataFlow; the fee depends on the number of documents.
- The licensing exam at an authorised test centre, available in many countries. Each attempt typically costs OMR 90 to 120.
- The Ministry of Health licence once you pass and your experience is accepted.
Registered nurses need a bachelor's degree with at least two years of experience, or a three-year nursing diploma with at least three. General practitioners usually need two to three years of experience and specialists more. Confirm the current rules with the official body before you register, because they are revised every year.
Route three: moving as a company owner
Under the Foreign Capital Investment Law you can own up to 100 percent of an Omani company in most activities, with no local partner. The owner receives an investor visa and can sponsor family and staff. Costs are in company registration cost in Oman and low-capital models in starting a business in Oman.
Route four: buying a home, with no employer and no sponsor
For a household whose income does not depend on Oman, such as remote workers, retirees or business owners based elsewhere, this is the simplest route. The owner of a freehold home inside an Integrated Tourism Complex receives a renewable owner visa for themselves, their spouse and children, with no sponsor and no minimum stay. The cheapest unit on our books today is OMR 61,635, about USD 160,000, in Sultan Haitham City, and homes from OMR 200,000 reach the renewable 10-year golden residency. Details are in Oman residency by buying property and the rules in buying property in Oman as a foreigner.
Moving to Oman with a family
- Schools: international school fees in Muscat run OMR 3,500 to 10,300 a year; see international schools in Oman.
- Housing: a one-bedroom rents for OMR 175 to 260 a month and a three-bedroom for OMR 325 to 520.
- Budget: a family of four with two children at an international school needs OMR 2,100 to 2,500 a month.
- Healthcare: health insurance is required to renew residency, and Muscat's private hospitals are of a good standard.
- Safety: Oman is among the safest countries in the region, quiet and family oriented.
On a work visa, sponsoring your family depends on a minimum salary. The property and company routes carry no such condition.
What it costs
| Item | Approximate figure |
|---|---|
| Single person per month, with rent | OMR 550 to 700 |
| Couple per month | OMR 900 to 1,100 |
| Family of four with international schooling | OMR 2,100 to 2,500 |
| Company set-up, full package | OMR 2,200 to 3,500 |
| Cheapest freehold home | OMR 61,635 plus a 3 percent transfer fee |
The rial is pegged at USD 2.60. There is no personal income tax until 2028, and from then only income above OMR 42,000 a year is taxed, at 5 percent; see taxes in Oman.
Oman or the UAE?
Rent and schooling in Muscat usually cost less than half of Dubai, and residency through property needs far less capital; Dubai offers a larger job market in return. The numbers are side by side in Oman vs Dubai property, and UK buyers have their own notes in property for sale in Oman for expats.
A six-step plan
- Choose the route: work, healthcare, company, property, or company plus property.
- Make a short scouting trip to Muscat to see districts, schools and projects.
- Prepare documents: passport, police clearance, attested qualifications and legalised family certificates.
- Execute the route: employment contract, company registration, or purchase and title transfer.
- Complete the residency visa, medical and resident card, then the family visas.
- Finalise the bank account, school places and housing.
FAQ
How can I move to Oman?
Through five routes: an employer-sponsored work visa, the healthcare licence route, owning a company, buying a freehold home, or golden residency. The simplest route without an employer is a freehold home from OMR 61,635.
What are the requirements for moving to Oman for work?
A job offer from an Omani employer, age 21 to 60, attested qualifications, a police clearance certificate and a medical check. The visa runs two years, is renewable, and the occupation must be open to expatriates.
Can I move to Oman as a doctor or nurse?
Yes, with Primary Source Verification, a pass in the licensing exam, a Ministry of Health licence and an employer. Nurses need a bachelor's degree with two years of experience or a three-year diploma with three.
Can I move to Oman with my family?
Yes. The property, company and golden residency routes cover spouse and children directly. On a work visa, family sponsorship depends on a minimum salary.
How much money do I need to live in Oman?
A single person needs about OMR 550 to 700 a month including rent, and a family of four with international schooling OMR 2,100 to 2,500.
Does Oman give citizenship to investors?
No. Residencies are long term and renewable, and the ten-year golden residency is the longest.
Next step
Tell us which route fits you and your budget. A consultant replies within one working day with the right path, the costs and the homes that qualify.
Related guides
- Cost of living in Oman 2026
- Oman residency by buying property
- Oman residency by investment
- International schools in Oman
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