Dubai: Thirty veteran expats in Oman have been granted citizenship, local media reported.
According to a Royal Decree issued by Oman’s Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik on Sunday, as many as 30 expats have been given the citizenship.
This is the third batch of expats getting citizenship in Oman since the beginning of this year. In March this year, Sultan Haitham granted citizenship to 39 expats while in February, 157 expats living in the country got Omani nationality.
How to get Omani citizenship
Expats who have been living in Oman for more than 20 years can become citizens if they fulfil the requirements of the Citizenship Law of Oman. All they need to do is comply with the procedure and submit the set of documents required. The decision rests with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
There are certain criteria that must be met before expats become eligible for citizenship. They have to file an application that costs OMR600, while the spouses or previous spouses of Omani citizens will need to pay OMR300, according to the Ministry of Interior.
Applicants will need to prove that they live and work in Oman, and that they have not had any legal cases brought against them. They will also need to present a medical certificate to prove they do not have communicable diseases.
Executive regulation 92/2019 released by the ministry said the application for Omani citizenship will cost OMR600, while the application for an expat wife, widow, or divorcee of an Omani citizen will cost OMR300, as does the citizenship for an underage child of an Omani woman.
Applying to give up Omani citizenship or to have it returned will cost OMR200.
Anyone who gains Omani citizenship must report to the ministry to receive an Omani passport, and must remain a long-term resident of Oman.
Article 16 of the law states: “Any who receive the Omani citizenship must visit the ministry to complete the procedures required for an Omani passport for him and underage children who will automatically receive it, within six months.”
Expats who begin this procedure will have to undergo an Arabic language exam. The exam can be written, or it can be an interview in Arabic, at the ministry itself. Expats who fail the exam can repeat it once six months have passed, although they have four chances to repeat it.
The new citizens of Oman will not be able to spend more than six months outside the country at a go during the first 10 years after gaining citizenship, unless they receive a permit from the Ministry of Interior.
