Oman Hikes Visa Fee, Invites Expats on Tourist Visa

Come November 21, 2014, fee for renewal and new issuance of Oman visa will go up. Royal Oman Police have recently announced the fee hike for investor visa, student visa, and family visa. The table below gives out the current fee for various visa types and the expected hike from November 2014:

Category	Current Fee	Fee from 21st November
Investor Visa	RO20 ($52)	RO50 ($130)
Family/Visit Visa	RO20 ($52)	RO30 ($78)
Residence Visa (Renew)	RO10 ($26)	RO30 ($78)
Student Visa	-	RO30 ($78)

Besides the fee structure, the visa duration will be reduced to half. Compared to the current six months visa, only a three months visa will be issued, as reported in the Muscat Daily. That being announced, Royal Oman Police (ROP) have also rolled out a program from expats who left Oman without a No Objection Certificate from the Employer. Official sources clarified that such expats can obtain a tourist, investor, or a family visa and come to the Sultanate. Investor visa is given to individuals who invest in Oman. Currently a six months visa is stamped once a significant investment is made, and later to that a residence visa is issued to the investor and related family members including the spouse and children below 21 years. Oman had levied a two year ban on foreigner workers who left the country without a NOC, but now the rule is being amended and will come in to force soon. Source: Arabian Business. Times of Oman For more news and updates on immigration and visas, please visit Y-Axis News