Final Call for Expats to Comply with Oman’s Visa Renewal

11/07/2025

Final Call for Expats to Comply with Oman’s Visa Renewal

MUSCAT, July 11: Oman’s Ministry of Labour has issued a final reminder to all employers, workers, and expatriates that the grace period to rectify legal employment status—including labour card (visa) renewals without penalties—will expire on July 31, 2025.

The Ministry urged all concerned parties to take advantage of the ongoing exemption and waiver package before the deadline, stressing that no applications will be accepted thereafter.

“The Ministry of Labour reminds all individuals, employers, and workers that the grace period for rectifying legal status will end on 31 July 2025. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered,” the official notice stated.

This announcement follows a comprehensive waiver initiative approved by the Omani Cabinet in January, valued at approximately 60 million Omani rials (US$156 million). The initiative aims to enhance workforce regulation, safeguard the rights of workers and employers, and foster a more efficient labour market.

Key Features of the Waiver Package:

Cancellation of fines and dues for expired labour cards inactive for over seven years.
Exemption from repatriation costs (airfare) for workers who departed Oman before 2018.
Cancellation of labour cards unused for more than ten years, provided no related service requests exist.
Waivers for liquidated companies if workers are repatriated or their services transferred.
A six-month grace period (February 1 – July 31, 2025) allowing workers to regularize their status and avoid fines, contingent on:
Renewal of labour cards and payment of fees covering the next two years.
Cancellation of absconding (work abandonment) reports.
Transfer of services or payment of repatriation costs.

Applications for these waivers and renewals are accepted exclusively via the Ministry’s official website and approved service channels during the specified grace period.

Oman’s expatriate workforce remains predominantly composed of nationals from Bangladesh (622,078), India (507,956), and Pakistan (314,997), who together constitute over 80% of the country’s foreign labour force.