Oman tightens entry rules for foreign workers

ISLAMABAD: Oman has tightened entry rules for foreign workers, warning of a crackdown on those who provide fraudulent information.

Oman has tightened pre-entry requirements for foreign workers under its professional accreditation system, requiring expatriates to verify their educational and professional qualifications before entering the country, while warning of stiff penalties for fake certificates.

Zaheer bin Abdullah Al Shaikh, director of the Professional Standards Department at the Ministry of Labor, said the measures aim to regulate the labor market, prevent credential fraud and raise the quality of the workforce in key sectors.

Under the new system, expatriate workers seeking employment in regulated professions, including engineering, logistics and accounting, must have their qualifications assessed and approved by sectoral skills units before arrival. Work practice licenses are issued only after verification, and entry permits are only granted after the license is approved.

Violations include sanctions, fines, license revocation, deportation, and referral to the courts, with liability placed on employers who facilitate or ignore violations.