Oman abolished the No Objection Certificate requirement for job changes effective 1 January 2021, and a new labour law, Royal Decree 53/2023, strengthened worker protections including a higher end-of-service gratuity. Oman also offers a Long-Term Residency (Golden Visa) scheme, launched 3 October 2021, allowing self-sponsored residency tied to qualifying investment or property.
NOC abolition and the 2023 labour law
Effective 1 January 2021, Royal Oman Police abolished the No Objection Certificate requirement that
previously forced workers to get their employer's consent before switching jobs, and removed the
associated two-year work ban for those who lacked one. Workers can now transfer employers on proof of
contract termination or expiry, with Ministry of Manpower approval of the new contract; the change was
widely reported as strengthening the bargaining position of expatriate employees, including many
Indian workers, who previously had to secure their existing employer's cooperation before moving to a
better offer. Separately, Oman's new labour law, Royal Decree 53/2023, effective for full compliance
from 30 January 2024, increased end-of-service gratuity to 30 days' pay per year of service from the
first year (replacing a lower rate for the first three years under the older law), cut the maximum
working week from 45 to 40 hours, and introduced enhanced maternity and new paternity leave. NRIs
negotiating an Oman employment contract should ask their employer to confirm which version of the
gratuity formula applies to service rendered before versus after the law's effective date.
Family visas and the reduced salary threshold
Royal Oman Police reduced the minimum sponsor salary required to bring dependants to Oman to OMR 150
per month, down from higher thresholds in prior years, easing family sponsorship for a wider band of
salaried Indian workers. A dependant's family (or joining) visa is typically renewed alongside the
sponsor's own residence card and requires proof of accommodation and, in some cases, medical insurance
for the dependant. Because this threshold has changed multiple times and eligibility can also depend on
the sponsor's profession and employer category, NRIs sponsoring family members should confirm the
current figure and any category-specific conditions directly with Royal Oman Police before relying on
any previously cited amount.
Oman's Long-Term Residency (Golden Visa) scheme
Launched 3 October 2021, Oman's investor residency scheme was the country's first self-sponsored
residency option, not tied to employment. It offers a 10-year renewable permit for a substantial
investment in an Omani company or government bonds, employing a significant number of Omani nationals,
or purchasing property above a set value, and a 5-year renewable permit at roughly half those
thresholds, including a route for qualifying retirees with prior Omani employment history. Holders
generally gain the right to reside in Oman without an employer sponsor and, depending on the specific
permit tier, may be able to include immediate family members and access certain government services.
Current investment thresholds, application fees, and category conditions should be confirmed directly
with Oman's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Invest Oman before relying on any specific figure, since
eligibility criteria are periodically reviewed and can change without extensive advance notice.
