Oman has formally launched a 10-year Golden Residency programme, positioning itself as the latest Gulf state to roll out long-term residency schemes for foreign investors and skilled professionals.
Announced during the “Sustainable Business Environment” forum in Salalah, the programme forms a key plank of Oman’s Vision 2040 strategy, which seeks to drive private sector development, attract foreign capital, and diversify the economy away from oil dependency.
Unlike short-term work or business permits, Oman’s Golden Residency is a renewable 10-year visa that provides foreign nationals and their families with long-term security. It covers not only the applicant but also spouses, children, and first-degree relatives, with no restrictions on age or family size.
This level of inclusivity makes the Omani scheme more flexible than several similar Gulf residency programmes, many of which impose strict limits on dependents or eligibility.
To qualify, applicants must make a minimum investment of 200,000 Omani rials (about $520,000). The government has outlined seven main pathways to eligibility:
Also, being nominated under the Foreign Investment Law by qualifying companies, with scope for multiple nominations
Applicants must also meet basic requirements, including being at least 21 years old, holding a valid passport, providing proof of financial solvency, and maintaining a clean criminal record.
Required documents include proof of investment (such as property deeds, business licenses, or bond certificates), bank statements, health insurance, police clearance certificates, and family relationship documents like marriage or birth certificates.
Applications can be made directly through the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP). Once approved, successful applicants are issued a renewable 10-year residency permit, provided eligibility is maintained.
Oman’s move mirrors wider Gulf trends, where countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have launched golden visa programmes to attract foreign investment and global talent.
For Oman, the scheme is expected to stimulate capital inflows, create jobs, and advance the broader Vision 2040 agenda of building a diversified and sustainable economy.