Oman reduces work permits fee by 30% for employers meeting Omanization targets; Check new rules and exemptions here

The Ministry explained that a work permit is a written approval issued by the Ministry of Labour to an employer, allowing them to bring in expatriate workers to work in specific professions. A work practice permit, on the other hand, is approval issued by the Ministry for a worker to practice a specific profession in the country. 

Dawood bin Suleiman Al Hinai, Director of the Legal Affairs Department, Ministry of Labour told Hala FM, “This new decision benefits three main groups: employers as companies, individual employers, and workers. Each of these will benefit from the facilities and advantages provided…as we review the older regulations, we’re taking into account the feedback and challenges faced by employers, revising the previous frameworks accordingly.” 

“This new regulation does not increase any fees. And if there’s any change at all, it’s a reduction, not an increase,” he clarified. Explaining some of the key provisions, he added.

“In the past, if an employer delayed renewing a worker’s card or work permit, fines accumulated indefinitely, with no maximum cap. Some reached thousands of rials, which became a heavy burden. Now, the Ministry has set a maximum fine of OMR 500, regardless of the delay duration.” 

“In cases… if a domestic worker is deported, you don’t lose the work permit. If the worker is found medically unfit, the employer is required to repatriate them, and previously, this meant losing the previous work permit. In the past, the guarantee period was six months, and the recruitment office was only responsible for refunding the paid amount, not the work permit. 

Today, the employer is guaranteed both the amounts paid to the recruitment office and the cost of the work permit. Anyone eligible for the family income benefit doesn’t have to pay anything at all, not even a single trial,” Al Hinai shared.

A work permit will be valid for 24 months and cannot be renewed, while a work practice permit will be valid for up to 24 months and can be renewed. 

A temporary work permit may also be issued for a period of less than 24 months. 

The profession listed on either permit may be upgraded from a lower to a higher category, provided the Ministry approves and the employer pays the difference in fees between the two categories. 

For clubs, civil society institutions, mosques, and churches, the fee for bringing in a non-Omani worker will be RO 101. 

Payment of fees must be made after the Ministry approves the application for issuing or renewing the permit. 

In the case of delays, employers will face a fine of RO 10 per month per worker for failing to renew the work permit or register worker data, up to a maximum of RO 500 per worker. 

The fine will be calculated from the date of the worker’s arrival or the date of permit expiry, whichever applies. If multiple workers are involved, the total fine will be multiplied accordingly. 

Employers who delay correcting a worker’s status, such as by arranging their departure, transferring services, registering a notice of work abandonment, recording death, or changing the visa, will be fined RO 15 per month if the employer is an individual, or RO 20 per month if the employer is a legal entity. 

In all cases, the total fine may not exceed RO 500 per worker. Employers are not required to pay fees or fines in specific cases, including when a worker files a labour complaint after the end of their contract (until a final ruling is issued), or in the event of a worker’s death, visa change, or final departure from Oman, provided proper documentation is submitted. 

Employers may request a refund or new permit for a fee of RO 1 per worker if the worker fails the medical examination, if the Royal Oman Police rejects the issuance or renewal of a visa or resident card, or if the worker dies, is returned, or transferred within 90 days of arrival or renewal. 

Refunds also apply if the employer dies (in the case of a sole proprietorship) or if the Ministry cancels or suspends the license due to an administrative or technical error. 

Employers may also be exempt from late fees in certain situations. These include the death of the employer (up to one year), cases where a worker’s illness requires more than 30 days of treatment (with Ministry of Health proof), when a worker’s passport is held by an embassy or government agency, or when a company is bankrupt or undergoing liquidation (for up to one year). 

Employers are also exempt if a worker is imprisoned, for the duration of imprisonment.

Certain categories are exempt from paying recruitment fees altogether. These include domestic workers, nannies, private drivers, private nurses, and home health assistants, as well as persons with disabilities, individuals requiring special care, elderly persons unable to care for themselves, and families receiving income support verified by the Social Protection Fund. 

The exemption applies to one worker only, but the Ministry may approve a second worker if justified based on social research. The new resolution also outlines work practice permit fees based on professional classifications. Fees are RO 301 for first-class professions, RO 251 for second-class professions, and RO 201 for third-class professions. Investor-class professions will also have a fee of RO 301.

For domestic workers, nannies, drivers, gardeners, and home nurses, the fee is RO 101 for up to three workers and RO 141 for four or more. For agricultural, camel, horse, and livestock workers, as well as residential building workers, the fee is RO 141 for up to three workers and RO 241 for four or more. For sailors, ship mechanics, and ship electricians, the fee will be RO 201. 

Other fees include RO 5 for changing a profession on the work permit, RO 1 for updating wage or bonus details in the contract, and RO 5 for transferring a worker’s service to another employer.