Manama : Oman will allow expats and visitors entering the country on visit visa to convert them into work visas. The new rule also applies to those on family joining visas and student visas, according to Royal Oman Police.
The newly amended Foreigners’ Residence Law will enable visit visa holders to change it to a work visa without the hassle of exiting the country.
The new amendment was issued by Inspector-General of Police and Customs Lieutenant General Hassan bin Mohsin Al Shraiqi.
According to the decision, competent authorities can convert a visist visa to a work visa. Visit visas issued to residents of GCC countries, visit visas issued to meet friends and relatives, single-entry tourist visas (valid for up to 10 days or a month), single and multiple-entry business visas, express visas, investor visas, student visas, visas provided to sailors serving onboard ships or passengers aboard cruise ships and visas issued to owners of residential units of freehold properties and their family members can be converted to work visas.
Oman is yet to start issuing new visas, including visit visas, which have remained closed since May first week. It is likely that the visa services will resume shortly.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia plans to resume tourist visas soon after suspending them last year because of the coronavirus, Bloomberg reported citing official sources.
The Kingdom is also working with other Middle Eastern and European nations on a unified protocol to facilitate travel, the report added.
