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For foreign professionals and recruiting companies, the message is clear: early verification and compliance are now essential
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With entry permits tied to credential approval, advance planning and strict adherence to the new accreditation process will be critical for anyone seeking employment in Oman going forward
Oman has introduced stricter pre-entry requirements for foreign workers by making verified academic and professional credentials mandatory before arrival, marking a significant shift in how expatriate employment is regulated. The move, reported by local media and cited by Gulf News, comes under a newly implemented professional accreditation system aimed at strengthening labour market oversight and curbing credential fraud.
Under the revised framework, foreign nationals seeking employment in regulated professions must complete qualification verification before travelling to Oman. Entry permits are now directly linked to the approval of a work practice licence, which is issued only after credentials are authenticated by accredited sectoral skills units. Without this clearance, candidates will not be allowed to enter the country for employment purposes.
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The Ministry of Labour has clarified that the new system primarily targets regulated professions where professional competence is critical, including engineering, logistics, accounting and similar technical or specialised roles
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Zaher bin Abdullah Al Sheikh, Director of the Department of Professional Standards at the Ministry of Labour, said the initiative is designed to improve quality control, ensure professional credibility and enhance overall workforce standards in the Sultanate
Officials noted that the ministry has identified several cases involving forged professional classification certificates and fraudulent work practice licences. Such violations, authorities warned, constitute serious breaches of Omani law.
Responsibility for compliance rests not only with foreign workers but also with employers, who are required to obtain licences exclusively through authorised channels and verify the authenticity of all documents submitted.
The penalties for non-compliance are severe. Individuals found using forged or unauthorised certificates may face fines, cancellation of licences, deportation and referral to the courts. Employers who knowingly facilitate or fail to detect such violations can also be held legally accountable, reinforcing the government’s message that due diligence is a shared responsibility.
The reforms form part of Oman’s broader labour market restructuring efforts, which seek to enhance transparency, protect employers from misrepresentation, and ensure that professionals entering the country meet clearly defined competency standards. At the same time, the measures support workforce nationalisation goals by ensuring fair competition and maintaining high professional benchmarks across sectors.
