Oman extends resident card validity: What expats need to know

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The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has officially extended the validity of resident cards for expatriates to a maximum of three years, following recent amendments to the Executive Regulations of the Civil Status Law.

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According to Decision No. 78/2025, issued by Lieutenant General Hassan bin Mohsen Al Shraiqi, Inspector General of Police and Customs, and published in the Official Gazette (Issue 1608), expatriate resident cards can now be issued or renewed with the following options: one year for OMR 5, two years for OMR 10, and three years for OMR15, an Oman Observer report conveyed. 

Cardholders are required to renew their resident cards within 30 days of expiry to remain in compliance with national regulations.

In a related move, the validity of national ID cards for Omani citizens has also been extended, from five years to ten years. The issuance and renewal fee for the Omani ID card is set at OMR10, which also applies to replacements for lost or damaged cards.

The last update to the Executive Regulations came in 2021, when ID card eligibility was expanded to include residents and citizens from the age of 10, with optional issuance available for younger children based on specific conditions.