Oman’s Ministry of Labor has provided clarity regarding the relaxations of fines for expired visa holders who are still to leave the country.
The ministry has confirmed that only expatriates who have expired the validity of their residency cards after March 2020 will be spared from paying applicable penalties before they leave the country permanently.
The authority clarified that the offer for the residents who are overstaying in the country will only be valid until the end of the year and does not apply to individuals who have over-stayed in Oman after losing their residence as they were either released from their jobs or were asked to leave the country during or before February 2020.
In its statement, the Labor Ministry elaborated that “This facility has been made available to only those whose resident cards have expired during the COVID-19 pandemic, and are required to pay fees and fines associated with them, but were unable to because of the closure of services belonging to the Royal Oman Police. This provision does not include those non-Omani workers who were required to leave the Sultanate before February 2020.”
Oman’s Minister of Information and a member of the Supreme Committee for dealing with COVID-19 Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al Harrasi further elaborated about the nation’s stance on the matter by confirming that “The violation, whatever its kind, cannot be normally waived, but if it is related to the conditions that are a result of the pandemic, it is, of course, a different situation.”
Mr. Al Harrasi further added that “Any worker belonging to the non-Omani workforce who has had a violation during the pre-Corona period cannot be exempted from it.”
