Oman’s construction sector is booming, and there is a demand for qualified welders, steel fabricators and construction workers to work on infrastructure and industrial projects. In real terms, construction output increased by 3.6% in 2025 and is expected to grow on average by 4.4% per year over the period 2026-2029. It is supported by investment in manufacturing, energy, transport, housing and tourism infrastructure. As projects move forward, contractors need skilled workers with specialised welding, fabrication and installation skills.

Serbia offers a promising recruitment option. Its export-oriented metalworking and manufacturing industries have developed workers experienced in precision welding, steel fabrication, technical drawings and European industrial standards. These skills are relevant to Oman’s construction, fabrication and industrial installation projects.

This guide explains how to hire welders and construction workers from Serbia for Oman and the deployment procedures.

Which Welders and Construction Workers Can Oman Recruit from Serbia?

Omani employers should identify workers according to the actual tasks involved in their projects. Welding and construction occupations cover different technical competencies, and experience in one trade does not automatically qualify a worker for another.

Step-by-Step Process to Hire Welders and Construction Workers from Serbia for Oman

Omani contractors should confirm their eligibility to recruit foreign workers before committing to candidates from Serbia. Once the occupations are cleared, recruitment can proceed through technical screening, trade testing, employment documentation and visa processing.

Step 1: Specify the Trades and Technical Requirements

Start with what each employee is supposed to do. Working on the same construction project requires different skills for a structural steel welder, a pipe welder and a steel fabricator.

Prepare a recruitment brief which includes:

• Trade and vacancies: How many MIG/MAG welders, TIG welders, pipe fitters, steel fixers or any other workers are required.
• Technical specifications: welding process, base material, thickness, type of joint and welding position as appropriate.
• Qualifications: Required welder performance qualifications, trade certificates and experience
• Terms of employment: salary, contract length, working hours, accommodation and transport.
• Mobilisation: The location of the project, number of workforce and joining dates.

If the job is a welding job, share the applicable Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) or testing requirements with the recruiters.

Step 2: Check Occupation Eligibility and Obtain Labour Approval

The Omani employer must establish that the requested positions can be filled by non-Omani workers.

Under Article 27 of Oman’s Labour Law, an employer must obtain authorisation from the Ministry of Labour to recruit foreign workers. Approval is subject to conditions including Omanisation requirements, the availability of qualifying local workers and the technical demands of the occupation.

Before proceeding, the employer shall:

• Check that the commercial registration and the licensed activities are consistent with the requested workforce.
• Check current restrictions on the intended occupations.
• Ensure compliance with Omanisation and project-specific requirements.
• Apply for the appropriate Ministry of Labour recruitment or work-permit approval.

Use the correct occupation classification from the outset. Do not assign a worker recruited as a steel fabricator to a different regulated occupation without the required authorisation.

Step 3: Source and Screen Candidates

Shortlist candidates according to the trades and technical requirements. Recruitment can be targeted at Serbian companies involved in metalworking, fabrication and industrial welding, construction trades and other occupations.

For welders, consider the following:

• Experience with the required process, materials, position and type of work.

For construction occupations, consider the following:

• Experience in reinforcement fixing, formwork or steel erection and pipe works activities.

Before you ask for trade tests, check out the candidate’s passport, work record, availability and willingness to accept the terms offered.

Step 4: Verify Qualifications and Conduct Trade Tests

Use certificate checks and practical assessments together to establish whether a candidate can perform the required work.

For welders, examine existing qualification records, including the applicable standard, welding process, material, thickness range, position and validity. Depending on the project, relevant qualifications against ISO 9606-1 or ASME Section IX requirements.

Practical testing should reproduce the essential conditions of the job. A pipe welder required for TIG root welding, for example, should not be selected solely on the basis of a successful structural MIG/MAG welding test.

Assessment may include:

• Joint preparation and welding technique.
• Interpretation of drawings and weld symbols.
• Visual inspection against defined acceptance criteria.
• Non-destructive or destructive testing where specified.
• Safe equipment handling.

For other construction trades, use task-based assessments relevant to the vacancy.

A recruitment trade test does not automatically replace a formal welder qualification or project-specific approval. Confirm what the end client requires before mobilisation.

Step 5: Finalise the Offer and Employment Contract

Issue a written offer once the candidate has been through technical screening and the employer has confirmed the eligibility of the occupation.

The offer and the contract should specify the authorised occupation and include details of salary, working hours and overtime, leave, contract length and agreed benefits.

Explain the terms and conditions of accommodation, transport, medical care and any other applicable terms before the candidate accepts the offer. Serbian-speaking workers should be given a detailed explanation or translation of the offer where appropriate.

The Ministry of Labour also has an online service for registering non-Omani employment contracts. Employers should complete the relevant registration and employee-acceptance requirements at the appropriate stage of the work-authorisation process.

Step 6: Apply for the Individual Work Permit and Employment Visa

The employer must first complete the individual labour authorisation prior to submitting the employee’s work visa application to the Royal Oman Police (ROP).

For a normal work visa for Oman, the employer must provide the following:

• A valid Permit from the Ministry of Labour.
• A passport valid for at least six months;
• A candidate over 21 years of age.
• Photographs and information for the application as required.
• Designation in accordance with the permit.
• Applicable medical or other documents, if required.

The fee for a work visa from ROP is OMR 20, in addition to any charges from the Ministry of Labour.

Serbia is not among the nationalities specifically named on the ROP’s standard work-visa page for mandatory pre-visa medical certificates. However, employers should check current medical and occupational requirements for each application rather than assuming no examination is needed.

Step 7: Finish Pre-Departure Checks in Serbia

Do not make travel plans until you have the proper employment and immigration approval. Arrange for the issue of the visa, get passport details, signed employment contracts and any medical or certificate requirements before you travel.

Check whether your project clients or the Omani authorities require certified translations of the Serbian trade certificates or supporting documents, or authentication thereof.

Give workers:

• Travel itinerary
• Contact on arrival
• Accommodation details
• Reporting location
• Site instructions

Step 8: Arrival formalities and site mobilisation

Workers must satisfy the relevant entry, stay and work authorisation requirements before they commence the work assigned to them. The employer should assist with any necessary medical treatment, residence-card formalities and updating of employment records on arrival.

Fill in prior to deployment at a construction or industrial site:

• Site health and safety induction.
• Confirmation of the worker’s approved occupation and assigned duties.
• Competency checks specific to task and equipment
• Any welding qualification tests or approvals required by the Client.

Induction should include relevant hazards for welding and construction work, including hot work, working at height, lifting operations and heat exposure. Where a project requires additional certification or client approval, obtain it before assigning the worker to the relevant task.

Construction Safety and Site Competency Requirements in Oman

Before they begin work, construction workers must know the safety procedures of their trade. This is particularly important in welding, lifting operations, scaffolding and work at height.

Employers should evaluate the following competencies:

• Hot-work safety: Welders should know about fire prevention, hot-work permits, welding fumes, ventilation and the proper use of protective equipment.
• Fall protection training: It is required for steel erectors, scaffolders and other workers working above ground level.
• Lifting and rigging: Workers in lifting operations must know how to handle the load, the limits of the equipment, how to signal, and the exclusion zones.
• Confined-space work: As needed, workers must be trained in emergency procedures, ventilation, atmospheric testing and entry permits.
• Precautions against heat stress: Outdoor construction work in Oman involves precautions against heat exposure, including compliance with applicable restrictions on outdoor work during the summer.

Workers should get site-specific induction in a language they understand. Employers should also assess competence for safety-critical activities before allowing people to work unsupervised.

Hire Skilled Workers from Serbia with Oman Agencies

If you are interested in recruiting skilled tradespeople from Serbia, then you need to understand the country’s industrial workforce and the construction needs of Oman. A welder who has experience in a factory fabrication shop may not have the technical know-how to work on a pipeline installation or structural steel project. Employers need to examine candidates beyond job titles and employment history.

This is where working with an experienced international recruitment agency can ease the process. Oman Agencies assist Omani contractors in finding suitable Serbian candidates, checking welding certificates, setting up practical trade tests and shortlisting workers for project requirements.

We also provide co-ordination of employment documentation, work permit and visa procedures and mobilisation arrangements. If you require specialist welders for industrial installations, or a number of construction trades for a large project, our recruitment approach is based on technical suitability, compliance and the timely deployment of workforce.

Get the Right Workforce for Your Next Project

Recruiting welders and construction workers from Serbia can help Omani contractors meet specialised workforce requirements for steel fabrication, industrial installations and infrastructure projects. Success depends on selecting the right trade qualifications, verifying they are actually capable of doing the work, and planning the work to meet project deadlines.

Are you looking for good welders or construction workers from Serbia? Contact Oman Agencies to talk about your vacancies, technical needs and workforce mobilisation plans.