Omani Labor Laws for Hiring Foreign Workers | Complete Guide

Hiring foreign manpower in Oman sounds simple on paper. Find the right worker, agree on salary, and get them on site.

Then reality kicks in.

Suddenly, you are dealing with Ministry approvals, visa requirements, contract registration, salary transfer rules, and a few timelines you cannot afford to miss. This guide to Oman labor laws for foreign workers breaks it down in a practical way, so you can hire correctly and keep mobilisation smooth.

The legal foundation: approval comes before hiring

Oman’s Labour Law is clear that employers cannot freely bring in non-Omani workers.

Under Royal Decree 53/2023 (Labour Law), employers are prohibited from bringing in non-Omani workers unless they obtain the required licence from the Ministry, and work permits are tied to conditions such as Omanisation compliance and the need for skills not readily available locally.

Just as important: a non-Omani cannot start work before obtaining a work permit.

Practical takeaway: your hiring plan begins with the correct Ministry process, not with travel bookings.

Work permits and visas: the simplest way to understand the order

Most delays happen because steps get mixed up. A clean, employer-friendly way to think about it is:

Step 1: Ministry of Labour authorisation first

The worker must have the correct work permission before they can legally start. 

Step 2: The Royal Oman Police Work Visa is linked to the labour permission

ROP’s Work Visa requirements state that the visa is requested by the employer (sponsor), depends on a labour permit, and the occupation on the visa must match the labour permit.

Step 3: Residence Card timing matters after entry

ROP states that expatriate residents must obtain a Residence Card within 30 days of entry.

When you keep this order intact, most hiring timelines become easier to predict.

The part many employers overlook: payroll compliance and WPS

Many “compliance issues” do not start with visas. They start with salary.

Oman’s Wage Protection System (WPS) rules have been tightened through Ministerial Decision 729/2024, which focuses on monitoring electronic wage transfers through banks or financial institutions regulated by the Central Bank of Oman.

What matters for employers in 2025 is the phased compliance push that has been publicly reported:

• From September 2025 wages (paid in October 2025): wages via WPS for at least 75% of workers
  
  
• From November 2025 wages (paid in December 2025): increase to at least 90%.
  
  

Practical takeaway: if you hire foreign manpower but your payroll is not WPS-ready, you are building future risk into the project.

Contract basics that affect foreign manpower hiring

Even if sourcing and permits are perfect, contract issues can still cause friction.

Contract registration (still missed surprisingly often)

Oman’s Ministry of Labour announced that registering employment contracts for expatriates became mandatory from July 1, 2023.

Probation rules you should align early.

Under the Labour Law, probation (if used) must be stated in the contract and is capped at:

• Up to 3 months for monthly paid employees
  
  
• Up to 2 months for others.
  
  

Practical takeaway: keep role title, salary structure, contract terms, and what you submit for approvals consistent from day one.

A simple hiring flow that employers can actually follow

1. Confirm role, headcount, site location, and mobilisation date
   
   
2. Check Omanisation and Ministry licensing requirements early.
   
   
3. Secure work authorisation before any “start work” commitment
   
   
4. Apply for the ROP Work Visa with matching occupation details.
   
   
5. Set up WPS-compliant payroll before the first salary cycle.
   
   
6. Complete the Residence Card steps within the required time after entry.
   
   
7. Track renewals and avoid last-minute expiry surprises
   
   

Common mistakes that stretch timelines

• Starting mobilisation planning before approvals is unrealistic
  
  
• Visa and labour permit occupation mismatch
  
  
• Contract terms do not match what is submitted in applications.
  
  
• Payroll is not ready for WPS compliance.
  
  
• Missing Residence Card deadlines after arrival.
  
  

Where Oman Agencies helps (when you want fewer surprises)

Not every employer needs an agency for every hire. But agencies become valuable when you are hiring in volume, working against deadlines, or managing multiple roles and nationalities.

Oman Agencies supports employers by:

• Sourcing candidates aligned to role and site requirements
  
  
• Coordinating documentation in a structured way
  
  
• Keeping steps aligned with the Oman labour and visa rules
  
  
• Supporting mobilisation planning so teams arrive on time
  
  

Quick checklist before you hire foreign manpower in Oman

• Ministry requirements are precise, and role approval is in place
  
  
• The worker will not start work before the work permit is approved.
  
  
• Visa occupation matches the labour permit.
  
  
• WPS-ready payroll is set up for the first salary cycle.
  
  
• The Residence Card process is planned within 30 days of entry.
  
  

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it legal to hire foreign workers in Oman?
   Yes, as long as the employer follows the Ministry licensing and permit process and the worker has a work permit before starting work.
2. What is the Work Visa in Oman, and who applies for it?
   ROP’s Work Visa is requested by the employer (sponsor) and is linked to the labour permit, with occupation details expected to match.
3. What is WPS and why does it matter?
   WPS is the wage transfer monitoring system strengthened under Ministerial Decision 729/2024, focused on electronic salary transfers through regulated institutions.
4. What are the key WPS compliance targets mentioned for late 2025?
   Public guidance has referenced 75% coverage starting September 2025 wages (paid October 2025), rising to 90% from November 2025 wages (paid December 2025).
5. How soon should an expatriate apply for a Residence Card after entry?
   ROP states within 30 days of entry.

Final thoughts

Foreign manpower hiring in Oman can be smooth, but only when you treat it as a process, not paperwork. Start with proper Ministry approvals, keep job roles consistent across every document, plan the ROP visa step early, and make payroll WPS-ready before the first salary cycle.

If you want a structured, predictable hiring journey, Oman Agencies can support you end-to-end, from sourcing and documentation coordination to mobilisation planning, so you stay compliant, and your workforce arrives ready.