Tourist visa conversion to work visa

2POSTS

last month

Hello everyone,

I would like to ask about the current situation in Oman in 2026.

I am planning to visit Oman on a tourist visa and use the allowed stay period to look for a job.

If I find an employer who is willing to hire me, can the employer arrange my employment visa/residency while I am still in Oman, or do I have to leave Oman and re-enter on a new employment visa?

I would especially appreciate hearing from anyone who has personally gone through this process recently (2025–2026).

Also, if leaving Oman is required, where did you go to obtain the employment visa before returning?

Thank you in advance for sharing your recent experience.

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Asif_Hassan Oman Advisor

259POSTS

last month

@ruqaya22ali

No — you should not consider that a tourist/visit visa can be converted into an employment visa while you remain inside Oman.

The Royal Oman Police (ROP) stopped the general in-country conversion of visitor visas to employment visas in November 2023, and the rule applies to tourist/visitor visas generally. The person must leave Oman, obtain the employment visa, and then re-enter Oman on that employment visa.