Oman has removed the requirement for foreign property owners to have a local sponsor when applying for residency. Under Decision No. 87/2026, issued by the Royal Oman Police and published in the Official Gazette, eligible owners can now apply for a visa and residence permit using certification from the relevant authority instead. Previously, applications had to be processed through an Omani national or company acting as a sponsor.
The updates were published in Official Gazette No. 1653 on 21 June 2026 and took effect the following day. They amend the Executive Regulations of the Foreigners Residence Law, making it easier for foreign property buyers to apply for residency and extending eligibility to certain off-plan and unregistered properties.
Owners of development land and residential units that are still awaiting registration can now apply for residency before the process is complete. These visas are issued for six months to one year and can be renewed.
For completed and registered residential properties, owners can obtain residency without a sponsor. The new rules apply to:
- Individual foreign property owners
- First-degree family members of eligible owners
- Legal representatives of corporate entities that own property in Oman
Applicants must enter Oman within three months of visa issuance.
The residence permit remains connected to the property. If the owner sells or transfers the property through another legal transaction, the residence permits of the owner and accompanying family members are no longer valid.
The amendments also expand the categories of people who can sponsor family members, including GCC nationals, licensed foreign investors, foreign property owners, and expatriates working for government entities. Dependants of investors and property owners are also exempt from certain age-related residency rules.
The reform simplifies residency for foreign property buyers by removing the previous sponsor requirement.