Oman has a population of about 5 million and a nominal GDP of roughly US$110 billion. It is a GCC member and its rial is pegged to the US dollar. Its Golden Residency, aligned with the Vision 2040 strategy, is included here.
Last Updated: August 5, 2026
Global Residency Programs Report: Oman
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Introduction
Oman’s Golden Residency Rankings Snapshot
The Global Residency Programs Index 2026 compares 48 residency pathways across five dimensions: Procedure, Mobility, Tax Optimization, Quality of Life, and Investment. The overall score provides a high-level comparison, while the individual rankings help readers identify the strengths and trade-offs most relevant to their priorities.
Index | Ranking | Score |
|---|---|---|
Overall Ranking
| 40th | 79.72 |
Procedure
| 46th | 74.09 |
Mobility
| 40th | 60.6 |
Tax Optimization
| 7th | 97.5 |
Quality of Life
| 20th | 83.45 |
Investment
| 7th | 97.34 |
Oman’s Golden Residency at Glance
Oman’s Golden Residency
Oman’s Investor Residency Programme offers five and ten-year renewable permits tied to investment level, supporting the Sultanate’s economic diversification agenda.
Programme: Golden Residency Legal basis: Ministerial Decision No. 214/2021, pursuant to the Foreigners’ Residence Law (Royal Decree 16/95) Indicative minimum: OMR 250,000 (approximately USD 650,000) for the 5-year permit; OMR 500,000 for the 10-year permit Estimated processing: 6 to 12 weeks
Category | Details |
|---|---|
Legal Provision
| Investor Residency Programme under Ministerial Decision No. 214/2021 (Royal Oman Police), pursuant to the Foreigners’ Residence Law (Royal Decree 16/95). |
Region
| Middle East and North Africa |
Minimum Investment Threshold
| OMR 250,000 (~USD $650,000) 5-yr; OMR 500,000 10-yr |
Year of Inception
| 2021 |
Visa-free Countries
| 117 = 48 (visa-free destinations) + 69 (visa on arrival/ETA) |
Investment Options
| Under Oman’s Investor Residency Program (IRP), launched to support the country’s Vision 2040 economic diversification, foreign nationals aged 21 and older can secure long-term, self-sponsored residency without a local employer or kafeel. Applicants must clear official security background checks and mandatory medical clearance before choosing one of two financial tiers. The premium Tier One (Golden Visa) grants a renewable 10-year residency for a minimum investment of OMR 500,000 (approximately 1.3 million USD) deployed into government bonds, active local public joint-stock companies, or premium residential real estate located within designated Integrated Tourism Complexes (ITCs) such as Al Mouj or Muscat Bay. Alternatively, Tier Two (Silver Visa) provides a renewable 5-year residency for a moderate threshold of OMR 250,000 (approximately 650,000 USD) routed into local company equity or ITC properties. Both pathways allow investors to sponsor their spouse and children without strict age limits, operate in a stable tax-neutral climate, and maintain residency with zero minimum-physical-presence mandates in the Sultanate. |
Physical Presence Requirements
| Reside approximately 90 days/year |
Family Member Inclusion
| Spouse, children, parents |
Dual Citizenship Allowed
| No |
Path to Citizenship
| n/a (naturalisation highly restricted) |
Average Processing Time
| 6–12 weeks |
Conclusion
The 2026 Global Residency Programs Index makes one thing clear: there is no single best programme, only the best fit for a given set of priorities. A decade of reform has left the sector more transparent, more compliance-driven and more diverse in the routes it offers (from regulated funds and entrepreneurial ventures to lifestyle and long-stay options) so that residency has matured into a credible, durable planning tool rather than a shortcut. Whether the goal is mobility, tax efficiency, quality of life or an eventual second passport, the value of this 2026 GRP Index lies in matching the right route to the right objective, grounded in evidence rather than marketing.
Footnotes
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