Oman draws 56,000 Golden Residency applications as backlog processing nears

How Oman's relaunched Golden Residency works

Oman's Golden Residency has pulled in roughly 56,000 applications since its relaunch on Aug. 31, 2025, averaging about 5,500 per month through the first five months of 2026, according to economy ministry figures reported by AGBI.

The program offers a 10-year renewable self-sponsored residence permit to foreign investors who commit at least OMR 250,000 to 500,000 (about $650,000 to $1.3 million) through approved channels: real estate in designated tourism zones, Omani company stakes, government bonds, listed shares or fixed-term bank deposits. A shorter five-year Silver tier sits below it at the OMR 250,000 threshold, with a retiree route requiring monthly income of OMR 4,000.

Processing of the post-relaunch backlog is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026, with approvals expected within roughly three months after that. No applications from the current cohort have been approved yet.

Who's actually applying

About 70% of applicants already live in Oman as expatriates, with Indians, Britons and Egyptians leading the nationalities, per the ministry data. The pattern points to existing residents converting employer-tied work visas into long-term self-sponsored status rather than fresh arrivals choosing Oman as a new base.

Family inclusion covers spouses, children up to age 25 and dependent parents on a single application, with no Omani sponsor required. Entrepreneurs who establish a company employing at least 50 Omani nationals can qualify without hitting the capital threshold.

Location-independent workers without investment capital get nothing new here. Oman still has no dedicated remote-work or digital nomad visa, so the Golden Residency only helps nomads who can park six-figure sums in qualifying Omani assets. Tourist entries continue through the Royal Oman Police e-Visa system.

What applicants should weigh

Applicants file through the Invest Oman platform and the government Golden Residency portal, with parallel filings required for each family member.

One tax change matters for investor calculus: a 5% personal income tax on annual income above OMR 42,000 takes effect Jan. 1, 2028 under Royal Decree 56/2025, covering interest and investment income. The levy is expected to hit about 1% of the population.

Read our full Oman guide for the complete picture and our latest visa updates.