How to Apply for a Dependent Visa in Oman?

By Shuja Ahmad

The dependent visa Oman system enables expatriate workers to sponsor immediate family members for residence permits, provided they meet specific salary thresholds established by the Royal Oman Police (ROP). Understanding the minimum salary for family visa Oman eligibility, OMR 600 monthly for single dependent, scaling to OMR 800-1,000 for multiple dependents, determines whether sponsorship applications proceed or face automatic rejection.

This guide addresses the family joining visa Oman process mechanics, including ROP portal procedures for applying for a dependent visa online, Oman family residence visa fees breakdown, Oman family visa processing time expectations, and requirements for how to sponsor a wife in Oman.

Understanding the Dependent Visa System

Royal Oman Police oversees family sponsorship through digital platforms integrated with the Ministry of Manpower employment verification systems and the Ministry of Health medical clearance databases. The process operates on sponsor eligibility verification, dependent documentation submission, medical examination clearances, and residence permit issuance upon approval.

Eligible Family Members for Sponsorship

• Spouses: Both male and female workers can sponsor legally married partners under Oman spouse visa requirements. Marriage certificates require attestation: issuing country MFA → Oman Embassy → Oman MFA. Religious marriage certificates may require additional Islamic authority attestation.
• Children: Sons eligible until age 21 (extended to 25 with full-time university enrollment proof). Daughters are eligible until marriage. Birth certificates require attestation matching the marriage certificate procedures.
• Parents: Limited availability requiring a sponsor’s monthly salary exceeding OMR 1,500 with additional financial dependency justification. Face stricter scrutiny and 30-40 working day processing versus standard 15-20 days.

Sponsor Eligibility Requirements – Critical Thresholds

Dependent Visa Salary Requirement Oman (2026 Standards):

• Single dependent (spouse only): OMR 600 minimum monthly
• Spouse + 1 child: OMR 700 minimum
• Spouse + 2 children: OMR 800 minimum
• Spouse + 3+ children: OMR 1,000 minimum
• Parent sponsorship: OMR 1,500+ minimum

These represent gross monthly salary before deductions. ROP verifies through employer salary certificates cross-referenced with the Ministry of Manpower wage protection data. Below-threshold sponsors face automatic rejection.

Employment Requirements: Valid residence permit with 12+ months remaining validity. Employment contract showing indefinite duration or a minimum 2-year fixed term. Active Ministry of Manpower labor card.

Housing: Registered tenancy agreements showing adequate accommodation—minimum 1-bedroom for a couple, 2-bedroom for a couple with children. Some governorates require municipality housing inspection certificates.

Required Documentation for Application

Sponsor’s Documentation

Employment: Salary certificate issued by employer (dated within 30 days), employment contract copy showing position and salary, Ministry of Manpower labor card confirming active status, bank statements (3-6 months) demonstrating consistent deposits.

Residence: Valid passport with residence visa (12+ month validity remaining), residence card (Civil ID), registered tenancy agreement or property deed, housing suitability certificate (required in Muscat and some governorates).

Dependent’s Documentation

Identity Documents: Valid passport (minimum 6-month validity), passport photos (4×6 cm, white background, recent), birth certificates for children (attested: issuing country MFA → Oman Embassy → Oman MFA), marriage certificate (same attestation chain).

Attestation Timeline: Varies by country—GCC 1-2 weeks, South Asian 3-4 weeks, European/American 2-3 weeks. Budget 6-8 weeks total for complete attestation chain.

Medical Examination Certificates

All dependents above age 18 require comprehensive medical examinations at Ministry of Health-approved facilities. Components: blood tests (HIV, Hepatitis B/C, syphilis), chest X-ray (tuberculosis), general health assessment, pregnancy test for females. Validity: 3 months from examination date.

Costs: OMR 10-25 at government facilities, OMR 30-50 at private centers, USD 100-200 at international centers.

Police Clearance Certificates

Required for dependents above age 18 from the country of residence for the preceding 6+ months. Validity: 6 months from issuance. Attestation required: issuing country MFA → Oman Embassy. Processing time varies dramatically: UK 2-3 weeks, India 4-6 weeks, Philippines 3-4 months. Represents a common application delay cause when sponsors underestimate timelines.

Application Process – ROP Portal Procedures

ROP Dependent Visa Application – Step-by-Step

• Step 1: Portal Access – Navigate to evisa.rop.gov.om. Create a sponsor account using Civil ID and residence permit details. Verify via SMS code to the registered mobile.
• Step 2: Application Selection – Dashboard → “New Application” → “Family Joining Visa” → Select dependent category (spouse, son, daughter, parent). Each dependent requires a separate application with an individual tracking number.
• Step 3: Form Completion – Enter sponsor information (auto-populated), dependent personal details (name, nationality, passport, relationship), employment information (employer, designation, monthly salary), housing details (tenancy reference number). Critical: ensure passport numbers, names, and dates match documents exactly—discrepancies trigger automatic rejection.
• Step 4: Document Upload – Portal accepts PDF/JPG (max 2MB each): sponsor passport and residence permit, salary certificate (dated within 30 days), dependent passport, marriage/birth certificate (attested), medical results if completed, tenancy agreement, and additional documents per category.
• Step 5: Fee Payment – Portal payment gateway for credit/debit cards: visa application OMR 20, processing OMR 5, entry permit OMR 20 (if outside Oman). Total OMR 45-65 per dependent. Generates a receipt number for tracking.
• Step 6: Submission – Review information and documents. Electronic signature via SMS OTP. Portal generates application reference and estimated timeline (15-20 working days standard).

Application Review and Processing

ROP conducts multi-stage verification:
Stage 1 – Document Verification (3-5 days): Automated checks on validity, attestation, expiry dates, with manual quality review.
Stage 2 – Sponsor Eligibility (2-3 days): Ministry of Manpower confirms employment, salary, and labor card via the wage protection system.
Stage 3 – Security Clearance (5-10 days): Background checks on sponsor and dependents, police clearance verification, immigration history review.
Stage 4 – Final Approval (2-3 days): Senior officer review and approval generation.

Total Processing: Standard 15-20 working days. Complex cases (parents, large families, certain nationalities) may extend 25-35 days.

Common Rejection Reasons

Salary below threshold (40% of failures), incomplete attestation (missing chain steps), expired medical examination (over 3 months old), housing inadequacy (unregistered tenancy or substandard accommodation), passport validity issues (expiring within 6 months), employment contract problems (less than 12 months remaining), previous visa violations (sponsor or dependent overstay history). Rejected applications receive SMS/email notifications specifying deficiencies. Resubmission requires a new application with corrections and fee repayment (no refunds).

Visa Issuance and Dependent Entry

• Entry Permit Validity: 2 months from issuance for dependents abroad. Dependent arrives with entry permit printout, completes immigration processing at the airport. Sponsor coordinates pickup as dependents cannot travel alone from the airport without collection.
• Post-Entry Requirements: Within 7 days, complete a medical examination if not done abroad. ROP schedules a biometric appointment (fingerprints, photograph) via SMS 3-5 days post-entry. Attendance is required within the specified timeframe.
• Residence Card: Following biometric registration and medical clearance, cards are produced within 5-10 working days. Collection from ROP centers or courier delivery (OMR 3 fee). Cards are valid for matching the sponsor’s permit duration or 2 years maximum.

Oman Family Residence Visa Fees – Complete Breakdown

• Initial Application: Visa application OMR 20, entry permit (if outside Oman) OMR 20, medical examination Oman OMR 10-25 (abroad USD 100-200), police clearance varies by country OMR 5-50 equivalent, document attestation OMR 50-150 per document, residence card OMR 20.
• Annual Requirements: Residence renewal OMR 20, medical re-examination every 2 years OMR 10-25, mandatory health insurance OMR 150-400 annually.
• Total First-Year: OMR 400-800 per dependent, including all application, medical, attestation, and insurance. Subsequent years: OMR 170-420 for renewal and insurance. Many companies provide dependent visa assistance covering application and medical costs as employee benefits.

Visa Validity and Renewal Requirements

Dependent visas link directly to the sponsor’s residence permit validity. Renewal timing critical—commence 60 days before expiry. Renewal Documentation: Updated salary certificate, valid tenancy agreement, passport copies with 6+ months’ validity, medical re-examination if 2+ years since previous, previous residence card copies. Processing: 7-10 working days. Fees: OMR 20 per dependent plus OMR 20 residence card. Grace Period: 30 days post-expiry without penalties; beyond 30 days, OMR 10 daily fine accumulates.

Changes in Dependent Status

• Age Limits: Sons turning 21 (or 25 when university lapses) must transition to independent residence or exit. 30-day grace period.
• Marriage: Daughter’s marriage terminates parental sponsorship. The new spouse may sponsor if eligible. 60-day grace period.
• Job Change: New employer assumes sponsorship through transfer (OMR 50 fee per dependent).
• Divorce: Spouse visa cancellation within 30 days. Former spouse receives a 30-day grace period for exit or alternative authorization.

Conclusion

Successfully securing dependent visas in Oman hinges on understanding the dependent visa salary requirement in Oman (OMR 600-1,000 depending on family size), navigating the ROP dependent visa application portal procedures, and managing the family joining visa in Oman process timeline of 15-20 working days standard processing. The distinction between knowing Oman spouse visa requirements theoretically versus executing an online Oman dependent visa application with attested documents determines approval versus rejection.

For how to sponsor a wife in Oman specifically, the procedural reality requires a marriage certificate attestation (6-8 weeks), OMR 600 minimum monthly salary, valid housing, and medical clearances converging simultaneously. Understanding Oman family visa processing time realistically (not optimistic estimates but actual processing, including documentation phases) enables proper planning for international relocations.

The Oman family residence visa fees totaling OMR 400-800 for the first year per dependent represent significant commitments beyond basic application costs, with mandatory health insurance and renewal obligations requiring sustained budgeting. The Oman family visa salary 2026 thresholds, continuing at OMR 600-1,000, provide stability, though sponsors should verify current figures through ROP before committing.

MakeMyCompany, providing comprehensive Visa Services in Oman, specializes in dependent visa processing, including attestation coordination, ROP portal management, medical scheduling, and residence card collection. Professional guidance proves valuable for complex scenarios involving parent sponsorship, large families, or borderline salary qualifications.

Legal Disclaimer

This guide provides general information about dependent visa procedures in Oman and should not be construed as legal immigration advice. Visa requirements, salary thresholds, processing timelines, and fees change through Royal Oman Police policy updates, ministerial decisions, and operational modifications. Information current as of February 2026 may become outdated as regulations evolve.

Readers must verify current requirements through official ROP channels (evisa.rop.gov.om) or the Ministry of Manpower before initiating applications. Individual circumstances, including nationality, employment sector, employer policies, and specific family situations, affect eligibility and documentation requirements. The author assumes no liability for visa application outcomes, processing delays, or financial costs arising from actions based on this information.

About the Author

Shuja Ahmad specializes in Oman immigration procedures with extensive experience navigating Royal Oman Police dependent visa systems, salary threshold interpretations, and document attestation requirements. Shuja assists expatriate families in coordinating the complete visa application workflow from initial eligibility assessment through final residence card collection.

Through MakeMyCompany, Shuja provides end-to-end dependent visa services, including employment verification, attestation management, ROP portal submission, medical examination coordination, and renewal processing. His approach emphasizes documentation accuracy and timeline management that prevent common rejection scenarios while ensuring families reunite within realistic timeframes.

FAQs

What is the minimum salary for a family visa in Oman?

OMR 600 monthly for single dependent (spouse only), OMR 700 for spouse plus one child, OMR 800 for spouse plus two children, OMR 1,000 for spouse plus three or more children. These are gross salary figures verified through employer salary certificates and Ministry of Manpower records.

How long does dependent visa processing take in Oman?

Standard processing: 15-20 working days from complete application submission to approval. Add 6-8 weeks for document attestation before application if certificates are not yet attested. Post-approval residence card issuance adds another 5-10 working days. Total timeline: 8-12 weeks from starting attestation to receiving residence cards.

Can I apply for a dependent visa online in Oman?

Yes. All applications must be submitted through the ROP e-visa portal at evisa.rop.gov.om. Physical submissions to immigration offices are no longer accepted. Portal requires sponsor account creation using Civil ID and residence permit details.

What are the total costs for a dependent visa?

First year per dependent: OMR 400-800, including application fees (OMR 45-65), medical examination (OMR 10-50), attestation (OMR 50-150), residence card (OMR 20), and mandatory health insurance (OMR 150-400). Subsequent years: OMR 170-420 for renewal and insurance.

What happens if my salary is below the minimum requirement?

Automatic application rejection. ROP verifies salary through employer certificates cross-referenced with the Ministry of Manpower wage protection data. Some options: request a salary increase from the employer, add allowances to the base salary if officially documented in the contract, or delay the application until the salary increases. No exceptions or appeal process for below-threshold applications.

Can my dependent work in Oman on a family visa?

Not directly. A dependent visa prohibits employment. However, a dependent can secure a job offer, then the employer applies for a work visa, transferring sponsorship from family to employment basis. This requires a salary meeting minimum standards for an independent work permit and an employer willing to sponsor.