Oman family visa: bringing your spouse and children

ROP grants the Relative Joining Visa to the spouse and children under 21 of a foreign worker, to the spouse and first-degree relatives of a foreign investor, to the foreign wife of an Omani citizen, to the spouse and first-degree relatives of a cultural residency holder, and to the family of a foreign property owner. Unmarried sons and daughters over 21 may join a parent who is an investor or property owner.

Relatives of Omani citizens, of foreign residents and of GCC nationals living in Oman can also be sponsored on the Family Joining Visa, which ROP grants at its discretion for six months to two years. Family members of a foreign property owner have a separate Property Owner Joiner's Visa.

The resident must hold an employment, investor or property owner visa in Oman. For the no-fee subtype available to families of employment visa holders, ROP says the application cannot be filed until three months after the worker has started employment.

A child born in Oman to a foreign resident needs a visa within six months of birth; after that ROP charges OMR 15 for each month without a residence permit. The family member must not hold another current Omani visa and must not have been refused an Omani visa before.

The sponsor uploads the family member's photo and passport copy, a copy of the sponsor's own passport and residence card, proof of the relationship and a letter of undertaking naming the relationship. Married couples are typically asked for a certified copy of the marriage certificate.

Applicants of certain nationalities must add a medical fitness certificate endorsed by the Omani Ministry of Health.

ROP lists OMR 30 for the Relative Joining Visa with an individual sponsor, and both OMR 30 and OMR 50 for the standard subtype. The subtype for families of certain employment visa holders has no fee. Families of category-two investors (5 years) pay OMR 50 and of category-one investors (10 years) OMR 100, with the same amounts for families of 5- and 10-year cultural visa holders.

The standard visa gives two years of residence and is renewed every two years. The Family Joining Visa costs OMR 30. Late renewal or non-registration of a residence permit is fined OMR 20 per month.

Family members who receive residence must obtain a residence card from ROP within 30 days of entry. The family visa follows the sponsor's status, so it ends if the sponsor's residence ends.

ROP cancels a residence visa when the holder stays outside Oman for more than six months.