Getting your residency sorted out in Oman is really essential if you want to open a bank account, get a provisional drivers license for new drivers and many other things. Without the residence card, you would just not be able to do it. When you land in Oman, you are given 1 month from date of entry to apply for residency after which a penalty I believe of 10 OMR a day will apply. Do not linger on this and get it done straight away!
We went to some government building (can't remember its name) and we approached the desk for advice-they referred us to another officer at another building who filled out a form for me and asked me some questions such as whether I was married (even though my husband was standing right next to me *sigh*), if I lived in Sohar (well what do you think lady?!?!) and my religion and once done, we paid a small fee of 1.500 OMR and were sent back to the main building. At the main building, we went into a room where residency cards are issued to all needing them. We entered a room where there was about 100 workers all waiting in a seating area. They consisted of mostly workers from the Asian Subcontinent and female maids and some Omani people both male and female. As for foreigners, I was the only one there along with my husband and consequently got many stares from all parties as is something I have got used to here (white, female and in jeans-you do not see that much here!!). The good thing is is that females are rarely made to wait for anything and even more so is a female who also happens to be a western foreigner is not something you want to mess with here. So we jumped the queue and went in, I had my photograph taken for my ID card by a friendly officer who was concerned I was not smiling enough in my photographs!! LOL! So after take three, I had my thumb prints scanned, did an electronic signature and we paid a fee of 10 OMR (Please make sure you have a credit/debit card with chip and pin that works because they do not accept cash or cheques or anything else!!!!) for the service and were then sent to another desk to pick up my card. That in the same quick fashion took a matter of a minute till it was ready. We picked it up and last but not least, we were sent to another room where all my finger prints were taken. Once this was done we were free to leave and I became an official Omani Resident.
As for my experience, it was fast and efficient and staff were helpful and friendly. My husband tells me that my procedure was definitely better than his, he waited more than two hours on the day till all was completed and he did not get the same friendliness that I did. So ladies, consider yourselves lucky!
A small bit of advice would be to go in the late afternoon say about 3pm as any earlier and it will be incredibly busy. Most offices close at approximately 5 pm Saturday through Wednesday with the weekend being Thursday and Friday here and they will be closed I believe on these days.
Another bit of advice is to dress a bit modestly when you go especially if you want to avoid looks and stares which can be very annoying. Just a pair of jeans and a t-shirt will do, no need for more than this.
From start to finish it took about 30 minutes .
If you have all the required paper work done, it will be a breathe.
We went to some government building (can't remember its name) and we approached the desk for advice-they referred us to another officer at another building who filled out a form for me and asked me some questions such as whether I was married (even though my husband was standing right next to me *sigh*), if I lived in Sohar (well what do you think lady?!?!) and my religion and once done, we paid a small fee of 1.500 OMR and were sent back to the main building. At the main building, we went into a room where residency cards are issued to all needing them. We entered a room where there was about 100 workers all waiting in a seating area. They consisted of mostly workers from the Asian Subcontinent and female maids and some Omani people both male and female. As for foreigners, I was the only one there along with my husband and consequently got many stares from all parties as is something I have got used to here (white, female and in jeans-you do not see that much here!!). The good thing is is that females are rarely made to wait for anything and even more so is a female who also happens to be a western foreigner is not something you want to mess with here. So we jumped the queue and went in, I had my photograph taken for my ID card by a friendly officer who was concerned I was not smiling enough in my photographs!! LOL! So after take three, I had my thumb prints scanned, did an electronic signature and we paid a fee of 10 OMR (Please make sure you have a credit/debit card with chip and pin that works because they do not accept cash or cheques or anything else!!!!) for the service and were then sent to another desk to pick up my card. That in the same quick fashion took a matter of a minute till it was ready. We picked it up and last but not least, we were sent to another room where all my finger prints were taken. Once this was done we were free to leave and I became an official Omani Resident.
As for my experience, it was fast and efficient and staff were helpful and friendly. My husband tells me that my procedure was definitely better than his, he waited more than two hours on the day till all was completed and he did not get the same friendliness that I did. So ladies, consider yourselves lucky!
A small bit of advice would be to go in the late afternoon say about 3pm as any earlier and it will be incredibly busy. Most offices close at approximately 5 pm Saturday through Wednesday with the weekend being Thursday and Friday here and they will be closed I believe on these days.
Another bit of advice is to dress a bit modestly when you go especially if you want to avoid looks and stares which can be very annoying. Just a pair of jeans and a t-shirt will do, no need for more than this.
From start to finish it took about 30 minutes .
If you have all the required paper work done, it will be a breathe.
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