Oman Imposes Strict Pre-Arrival Licensing for Skilled Foreign Workers

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In a significant move to safeguard the integrity of its labour market, Oman has closed the "enter first, verify later" loophole for expatriate professionals. Under a new mandatory accreditation system, the Sultanate now requires foreign workers in key sectors, including engineering, accounting, and logistics, to have their academic and professional credentials vetted by accredited sectoral skills units before they enter the country.

The policy shift comes as a direct response to a rise in credential fraud, with the Ministry of Labour identifying numerous cases of forged degrees and licenses from non-existent institutions. By linking entry permits directly to the approval of a "work practice license," Oman aims to ensure that every arriving professional meets strict national standards. The Ministry has made its stance on fraud crystal clear: those caught with forged documents face immediate deportation, heavy fines, and a permanent ban on returning. Employers are not exempt from this scrutiny either; the government has warned that companies facilitating or overlooking these breaches will be held legally and financially accountable, reinforcing a new era of transparency and professional quality in the Omani workforce.