Short answer: Oman has five visa routes that matter to people who want to stay: the work (employment) visa, sponsored by an employer for 2 years; the family joining visa for a spouse and children under 21; the residence visa for property owners, which since June 2026 needs no Omani sponsor; the 10-year Golden Residency from OMR 200,000; and short visit visas. Citizens of the UK, the US, Russia, Iran, China and most of the EU can also enter visa-free for 14 days.
"Which Oman visa do I need?" has a different answer for a job seeker, a parent, a buyer and a tourist, and most pages online still quote rules from 2021. This guide lists every Oman visa type side by side, with the fees and conditions published by the Royal Oman Police (ROP), the Ministry of Labour and Invest Oman as at September 2026, and says plainly where official sources disagree. Visa rules change often in Oman, so confirm the current fee with the ROP or your sponsor before you apply.
Oman visa types at a glance
| Visa | Who it is for | Sponsor | Validity | Official fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa-free entry | Visitors from about 100 listed countries | None | 14 days, not extendable | Free |
| Tourist eVisa | Short visits | None | 10 or 30 days | OMR 5 or OMR 20 |
| Work (employment) visa | Employees of an Omani company | Employer | 2 years, renewable | OMR 20 for the visa, plus the employer's work permit |
| Family joining visa | Spouse and children under 21 of a resident | The resident | 2 years, renewable | OMR 30 |
| Residence visa for property owners | Owners of a home in an Integrated Tourism Complex (ITC) | None since June 2026 | 2 years, renewable | OMR 50 |
| Golden Residency | Investors from OMR 200,000 | None | 10 years, renewable | Confirm with Invest Oman |
Oman's eVisa portal groups all of these into four classes: resident sponsored, resident unsponsored, visit sponsored and visit unsponsored. The names above are the ones you will see on the ROP and government pages.
Visa-free entry and the tourist eVisa
Under the Foreign Ministry's current rules (page updated 22 September 2026), citizens of more than 100 countries can enter Oman without a visa for 14 days. The stay cannot be extended and cannot be converted into a residence visa. The list comes in two groups:
- First group: includes the UK, the US, Russia, Iran, China, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Japan and most EU states.
- Second group: includes India and Egypt. These travellers also need a valid visa or residence permit for the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, the Schengen area or Japan.
- Conditions for both groups: a passport valid for at least 6 months, a return ticket, a confirmed hotel booking, health insurance and enough funds for the stay. GCC citizens need no visa at all.
If you need longer, or your country is not on the list, apply for a tourist eVisa on the ROP portal: 10 days for OMR 5 or 30 days for OMR 20, with a hotel booking and a passport valid for 6 months. The full list of countries is on the Foreign Ministry entry visa page.
Oman work visa (employment visa)
The Oman work visa is always requested by the employer, never by the worker. The steps are:
- The employer obtains a work permit (labour clearance) from the Ministry of Labour.
- The employer applies to the ROP for the employment visa. The ROP lists it as a multiple-entry visa valid for 2 years, with a visa fee of OMR 20.
- After arrival you complete the medical test, then receive your resident card.
Work permits now follow Ministerial Decision 602/2025, which took effect in early 2026: permits run for 24 months, employers that meet their Omanisation targets pay 30 percent less, and employers that miss them pay double. Late renewal is fined OMR 10 a month, capped at OMR 500. The permit fee itself is paid by the employer and depends on the job category; we do not quote a table because no current official one is published.
Two practical points. First, Omanisation reserves some jobs for Omani citizens, so check that your role is open to expats before you accept an offer. Second, the work visa ties your residence to your employer: if the job ends, so does the visa, unless you move to another route such as the property owner visa below. Our moving to Oman guide covers the healthcare licence and other job routes in more detail.
Oman family visa (family joining visa)
A resident can bring a spouse and children under 21 on a family joining visa, valid for 2 years with a fee of OMR 30. The sponsor applies through the ROP after the family's documents (marriage and birth certificates) are attested.
The minimum salary is where sources disagree. In February 2023 the ROP announced that the minimum monthly salary to sponsor a family was cut to OMR 150, and Muscat Daily and Times of Oman reported the change. The ROP's older visa page still shows a higher figure, and the government's current family visa page (updated December 2025) gives no amount. Treat OMR 150 as the current rule and ask the ROP to confirm for your case.
The property owner and Golden Residency routes below have no salary condition: they cover the owner's first-degree family directly.
Residence visa for property owners, with no sponsor
A foreigner who owns a home in an Integrated Tourism Complex (ITC) can hold a residence visa for property owners: valid for 2 years, renewable, with a fee of OMR 50 according to the government's service page. No minimum property value is stated.
In June 2026 this route became much stronger. Decision 87/2026 (Official Gazette 1653, in force 22 June 2026) lets property owners hold residence without a local sponsor, covers first-degree family, and gives buyers of land or of units not yet registered (off-plan) a 6 to 12 month permit that can be renewed. The permit ends automatically when the property is sold, and the holder must enter Oman within 3 months of issue.
For a family whose income does not come from Oman, this is the simplest way to live here. The lowest entry price in our live listings today is OMR 61,635, in Wadi Zaha, Sultan Haitham City. The full rules are in our Oman owner visa guide.
Investor visa and the 10-year Golden Residency
Invest Oman launched the 10-year Golden Residency on 1 September 2025 with a minimum investment of OMR 200,000 (about USD 520,000) across seven routes. One route is real estate: a completed residential, commercial or tourism unit with a title deed inside an ITC. The residency covers first-degree family with no limit on age or number and allows up to 3 domestic workers.
Some law firms and news sites still quote the older investor residence thresholds of OMR 250,000 for 5 years and OMR 500,000 for 10 years. Those come from the earlier scheme. Because the two figures differ, confirm the exact threshold for your property with Invest Oman before you buy. Our Oman residency by investment guide compares the investor routes and the homes that qualify.
How to check your Oman visa status
Applications made online are tracked on the ROP eVisa portal under Track Your Application: sign in with the account used for the application and open "Find Visa Application". Visas requested by an employer are tracked by the employer or its PRO.
Which Oman visa fits you?
- You have a job offer: the work visa, then a family joining visa for your spouse and children.
- You work remotely, are retired or earn abroad: buy a home in an ITC and use the sponsor-free property owner visa.
- You are investing OMR 200,000 or more: the 10-year Golden Residency, which also covers your family and household staff.
- You are visiting first: visa-free entry for 14 days if your country is listed, otherwise a 10 or 30 day tourist eVisa.
FAQ
What are the types of visas in Oman?
The main types are visa-free entry for 14 days, the tourist eVisa (10 or 30 days), the work or employment visa, the family joining visa, the residence visa for property owners, the Golden Residency, and the student visa. The ROP portal groups them as resident or visit, sponsored or unsponsored.
How much does an Oman work visa cost?
The ROP lists the employment visa fee as OMR 20 for 2 years. The employer also pays the Ministry of Labour work permit fee, which depends on the job category and is 30 percent lower for employers that meet Omanisation targets.
What is the minimum salary for an Oman family visa?
The ROP announced OMR 150 a month in February 2023. The older ROP page still shows a higher figure, so confirm with the ROP. Property owners and Golden Residency holders need no minimum salary to include their family.
Can I get residence in Oman by buying property?
Yes. Owning a home in an Integrated Tourism Complex gives a renewable residence visa for the owner and first-degree family, with no Omani sponsor since June 2026. Our live listings start from OMR 61,635.
How much is an Oman visit visa?
The tourist eVisa costs OMR 5 for 10 days or OMR 20 for 30 days. Citizens of about 100 listed countries, including the UK, the US and Russia, can instead enter visa-free for 14 days.
How do I check my Oman visa status online?
Use Track Your Application on the ROP eVisa portal, evisa.rop.gov.om, and sign in with the account used to apply.
Next step
If the property owner visa or the Golden Residency fits your plans, tell us your budget. An advisor replies within one business day with the homes that qualify, their prices and the residence route each one opens.
Related guides
- Moving to Oman in 2026
- Oman owner visa, with no sponsor
- Oman residency by investment
- Cost of living in Oman 2026
- Company formation cost in Oman
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