To immigrate to Oman from the UK you need to apply for the appropriate visa that accommodates your traveling purpose. This includes traveling for work, studying, or family reunification. There are also two Investment Residency Programs in the sultanate for those who want to settle here. Citizenship can be acquired through naturalization after living continuously in Oman for 20 years. Alternatively, if you are married and have a son with an Omani woman, the residency period can be shortened to 15 years. Foreign wives of Omani nationals can receive citizenship if they have been married for 10 years and have a child with their Omani husband, among other requirements.
Our lawyers in Oman can offer more details about the immigration process and are ready to assist with the requirements for residency and citizenship.
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Types of Omani visas
Before moving to Oman from the UK, you must determine the type of visa you need to apply for. Our immigration lawyers in Oman will briefly describe the most commonly used types of visas:
- Student Visa – granted to a foreigner by a licensed educational or training institution, which takes responsibility for the visa holder. It has a validity of 1 or 2 years and can be renewed if you continue your studies in the sultanate;
- Family Joining Visa – granted to the spouse and children (under 21 years) of a foreign employee. It is also available to a foreign wife of an Omani citizen, based on a Ministry of Interior certificate validating their marriage. It is valid for 2 years and can be renewed;
- If you are relocating to Oman from the UK for work, you need to apply for the Work Visa. This is valid for 2 years and can be renewed;
- Housemaid Visa – for foreigners who are employed as domestic workers. This visa is valid for 2 years and can be renewed.
Please note that all these visas require an Omani sponsor, who is responsible for the visa holder’s stay. Our team can help you immigrate to Oman and secure a sponsor based on your traveling purpose.
Investment Residency Programs
If you are immigrating to Oman from the UK and wish to be granted residency in the sultanate, the Investment Residency Programsare a valid pathway to achieve this. The two options are the following:
1. Tier One Residency
To qualify for the Tier One Extended Residency Permit in Oman, you must meet one of the following investment criteria:
- Invest at least RO 500,000 in a limited liability company, a public joint-stock company, or government bonds. This also includes setting up a company in Oman, as long as it meets the investment criteria;
- Purchase a property evaluated at no less than RO 500,000;
- Open a company in Oman that employs at least 50 Omani nationals.
The Tier One permit is valid for 10 years and can be renewed.
2. Tier Two Residency
This option is another way for those moving to Oman from the UK to receive residency. To qualify, you must meet one of these two requirements:
- Invest at least RO 250,000 in a limited liability company or a public joint-stock company;
- Buy property in Omanworth at least RO250,000.
The Tier Two permit is valid for 5 years and can be renewed. Retired foreigners living in Oman also qualify for this permit, if they demonstrate a fixed monthly income of minimum RO 4,000.
Our immigration lawyers in Oman can offer more details about these investment options. We assist with documentation and the application process.
Statistics about Omani immigration
If you are relocating to Oman from the UK, these statistics about the immigration trends in the sultanate might be of interest. These statistics refer to the third quarter of 2023:
- The total population of Oman increased by 6.1% compared to the same period in the previous year;
- The number of foreigners living in Oman rose by 11.1% in the third quarter, accounting for 234,240 people;
- There were 900,237 total foreigners living in Muscat;
- 8,463 foreigners were living in Musandam.
For more details about immigrating to Oman, do not hesitate to contact our team for assistance.