Oman introduces flexible 1-3 year expat residence cards, extends Omani ID validity to 10 years

Muscat: The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has announced major changes to the validity and fee structure for expatriate residence cards and Omani personal identity cards, aiming to provide greater flexibility and streamline renewal procedures for residents.

Under Decision No. 78/2025, issued by Lieutenant General Hassan bin Mohsin Al Shraiqi, Inspector-General of Police and Customs, expatriate residents can now choose from three validity options for their residence cards — one, two, or three years — with corresponding fees of 5, 10 and 15, riyals, respectively. Replacement of lost or damaged cards will incur a fee of 20 riyals.

The decision also extends the validity of personal identity cards for Omani citizens from the previous term to a full 10 years, aligning it with the duration of the Omani passport. The issuance, renewal, or replacement fee for Omani ID cards remains 10 riyals.

In addition to the new validity periods and fees, the amended regulations require all residence and ID card holders to renew their documents within 30 days of expiry to remain compliant with the law.

“These amendments are designed to ease administrative processes and provide residents with flexible options to suit their needs,” the ROP said in a statement.

Oman is home to approximately 1.8 million expatriate workers as of June 2025, spanning the private sector (1.4 million), government (41,000), domestic (349,000), and family sectors (6,800).

The changes are expected to positively impact this large and diverse population by offering more convenient and cost-effective residency management.

This update comes as part of ongoing efforts by the Omani government to modernise civil status laws and improve public services in line with international standards.

-- Fahad Al Mukrashi is a freelance journalist based in Oman