Moving to Oman: the step-by-step checklist

Moving to Oman is exciting: wide skies, a gentle pace of life and a warm welcome that newcomers rarely forget. But the first weeks can feel like a puzzle, because so many steps depend on one another. You cannot open a bank account without your resident card, and you cannot sign some leases without a bank account. This checklist puts things in the right order, from the months before you fly to your first settled weeks in Muscat or Salalah.

Procedures and fees in Oman change, and decisions on visas and residence belong to the Omani authorities alone. Use this list as a practical guide, then check current rules with the relevant body or ask us a question.

Before you leave

1. Confirm your residency route. Employment, family joining or investor: each has its own sponsor and paperwork. Our residency guide explains the options.
2. Check your passport. It should be valid well beyond your planned arrival, ideally more than six months, with blank pages.
3. Attest key documents. Degrees, marriage and birth certificates usually need attestation in the issuing country and by the Omani embassy there. Do this before you leave; it is far harder from Oman.
4. Gather records. Bring vaccination records, recent medical and dental records, prescriptions (with generic names), and school reports for children.
5. Check your medicines. Some medicines legal at home are controlled in Oman. Check with the authorities or the embassy before packing them.
6. Bring your driving licence and, if useful, an International Driving Permit.
7. Sort out money. Tell your home bank you are moving, keep a card that works internationally, and plan for deposits and advance rent.
8. Decide what to ship. Furnished rentals are common; shipping large furniture is often not worth it.

Your first weeks in Oman

1. Medical test, fingerprints and resident card

This comes first because everything else depends on it. After arriving on your entry visa, you complete a medical test at an approved centre, then fingerprints at a Royal Oman Police (ROP) centre. Your sponsor or their PRO usually coordinates this. Once issued, your resident card becomes your main ID in Oman. Keep a photo of it on your phone and note its expiry date.

2. Phone and internet

You can buy a prepaid SIM on arrival with your passport, which is handy for the first days. Oman has several mobile operators, including Omantel, Ooredoo and Vodafone Oman. Once you have your resident card, you can register a line in your name, take a postpaid plan and arrange home fibre or 5G internet. Many local services, including banks, send verification codes by SMS, so a local number matters.

3. Bank account

Most banks ask for your resident card, passport and, for employees, a salary letter from your employer. Some will open an account while your card is being processed, others will not, so ask. The currency is the Omani rial (OMR), divided into 1,000 baisa. Online banking and contactless payment are widely used in Muscat.

4. Housing

• Muscat: popular areas with newcomers include Al Mouj, Madinat Sultan Qaboos, Qurum, Al Khuwair and Bausher. Proximity to work and school matters more than you think, because traffic can be heavy at peak hours.
• Salalah: a smaller, quieter city. Housing is generally easier to find, and many residents look near the coast or the city centre.
• Check what the rent includes (electricity, water, maintenance), whether air conditioning is serviced, and how the deposit is returned.
• Leases are usually registered with the municipality; your landlord or agent can explain the current process and any fee.

5. Driving licence

Visitors can usually drive for a limited period on a foreign licence or International Driving Permit, but residents are expected to get an Omani licence. Holders of licences from a list of countries, which has included France, Belgium, the UK, Canada, Morocco and Tunisia among others, can often exchange their licence without a driving test, after an eye test. Others must pass a test. The list, fees and requirements are set by the ROP and can change, so check before you apply.

6. Schools

Muscat has a wide choice of international schools following British, American, IB, Indian and other curricula, as well as a French school. Salalah has fewer options. Places at popular schools fill quickly, so apply as early as possible, ideally before you move, and ask about fees, waiting lists and the documents required.

7. Healthcare

Oman has public hospitals and a growing private sector, with many private clinics and hospitals in Muscat and good facilities in Salalah. Employers in the private sector usually provide health insurance; check exactly what your policy covers, including family members. If you are not covered by an employer, arrange private insurance. Pharmacies are easy to find, and many speak English.

Practical tips for Muscat and Salalah

• Weekend: Friday and Saturday. Government offices keep morning hours, so go early.
• Climate: Muscat summers are very hot and humid; plan errands for early morning or evening. Salalah enjoys the khareef monsoon from roughly late June to September: cool, misty and green, and busy with visitors.
• Dress and etiquette: dress modestly in public places, especially in government offices and souqs. A greeting and a little patience go a long way.
• Ramadan: working hours shorten, and eating or drinking in public during daylight is not appropriate.
• Getting around: a car is close to essential in both cities. Taxi apps operate in Muscat.
• Explore: once settled, take time to discover your new home. In Dhofar, a day at Wadi Darbat is a beautiful start.

FAQ

What should I do first after arriving?

Your medical test and fingerprints, so that your resident card is issued. Bank, phone contract, lease and driving licence all depend on it.

Can I open a bank account before my resident card?

It depends on the bank. Some require the card, others accept a file in progress. Ask several banks and bring your passport, visa and employer letter.

Is Salalah a good place to live, not just to visit?

Many residents love its slower pace, green khareef season and proximity to nature. It has fewer schools and services than Muscat, so check what your family needs first.

Do I need a car?

In practice, yes, in most cases. Public transport is limited, and distances are long, especially in Dhofar.

Want a personalised checklist and someone to guide you at each step? Discover Residency Full Support and arrive in Oman with peace of mind.