Oman says children of foreign residents now eligible for ID cards

Children of foreign residents in Oman are now eligible for ID cards regardless of their age, according to reports.

Royal Oman Police confirmed the change to the country’s resident card system to Times of Oman.

Previous rules meant only children above the age of five could have their own ID card.

“All expatriates can now apply for resident cards regardless of their age,” an official told the publication

“The move aims to facilitate the service for the beneficiaries and to make it easier in terms of finishing transactions and accessing benefits such as using the e-gate system at the Muscat International Airport.”

Residents told the publication they expected the change to speed up immigration for families at the airport, which opened a new passenger terminal in March.

Read: Video: Muscat’s new airport readies for first flights

Parents will have to pay OMR20 to renew the ID cards of their children if they expire.

Current laws make it mandatory for parents to apply for a residency card for their children who are over the age of 15.

Oman has a foreign population of more than two million people.