While Canadian citizens do not need a visa for short tourism purposes, in order to immigrate to Oman from Canada they will need to obtain a visa related to their stay.
Business, employment, and study in Oman require an initial visa which grants the holder the right to obtain residency, thus being able to move to Oman from Canada for his/her intended purpose.
Our immigration lawyers in Oman can help you apply for a work visa, or a residence permit, as well as for those related to business purposes.
We can also answer your questions if you are already in the Sultanate and are interested in company formation in Oman.
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How to relocate to Oman from Canada
Canadians who wish to enter Oman for purposes other than tourism will need to obtain a visa. The application is managed by the Royal Oman Police and several types of visas are available.
Our lawyers in Oman briefly list the types of visas below:
- Employment visa: intended for sponsored workers; Canadian nationals need to secure employment in Oman in order to apply for this visa;
- Student visa: for students who are accepted by an approved university, college, or educational institution in Oman;
- Family joining visa: suitable for the relative of an Omani national, or the relative of a foreigner already lawfully residing in Oman; a special visa category applies to the spouse of an Omani citizen;
- Property owner visa: this is a type of unsponsored visa for a foreign national who owns real estate in an approved tourist complex in Oman.
Document requirements
The following documents are required in the case of those who wish to relocate to Oman from Canada for the purpose of investment/doing business:
- Valid passport and passport copy;
- Digital photograph;
- Original labor permit issued by the Ministry of Manpower bearing an investor stamp;
- Medical fitness certificate;
- Proof of visa fee payment; the current fee for this type of visa is OMR 50,000 (approximately 129 USD);
- Visa-specific documents, such as those attesting the investment or business interests in Oman.
Investors who obtain a visa and relocate to Oman from Canada are allowed multiple entries into the country once residency is established. The visa can be renewed for the same period of one year, provided that the applicant still meets the conditions.
A Canadian who wishes to apply for a one-year business visa in Oman must be an investor in an Omani company and must be sponsored by an approved Omani sponsor. Moreover, the applicant must be at least 21 years old at the time of the application and must not have been previously rejected when applying for an Omani visa.
Omani immigration rules
Understanding the entry and stay conditions is important if you wish to immigrate to Oman from Canada. Our team can help you apply for a work or business visa, as well as help you handle matters related to your residency rights.
The types of visas that allow the holder to move to Oman from Canada (briefly listed above) have different validity periods:
- 2 years for the property owner visa;
- 1 or 2 years for the investor visa;
- 5 or 10 years for some business visas (subject to conditions);
- 3 months to 2 years for the student visa (according to the duration of the courses the holder is enrolled in);
- 2 years for the family reunification visa (spouse or child under 21 years) when the person who will immigrate to Oman from Canada is accompanying a foreign resident who has a work visa, an investment visa, or a property owner visa.
Holders of a certain type of visa cannot apply for another. For example, those who wish to apply for a one-year investor visa cannot have another valid Omani visa at the time of the application.
Visas should be renewed within due time, as a fee for late renewal applies. When the visa is renewed, the residency rights are also extended for the same period.
Contact our lawyers in Oman if you have questions about visas or how you can reside in Oman if you are a Canadian citizen.