Saturday 16 / August / 2025
Oman has implemented significant reforms to its civil identification system through Royal Oman Police Decision 78/2025, amending the Executive Regulation of the Civil Status Law originally issued under Decision 40/2007. The changes modernise card validity periods and fee structures to enhance administrative efficiency while adjusting fiscal requirements.
Speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman, Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Zadjali, Founding Partner of Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm, explained that: “Under the previous framework, Omani nationals’ identity cards had a validity of five years with an issuance or renewal fee of OMR 5 and the replacement of damage/lost fee was OMR10.
Residence cards for non-Omani, on the other hand, were available with a validity of one year or two years. For a one-year residence card, the issuance or renewal fee was OMR5, and the replacement of damage/lost fee was OMR10, while for a two-year residence card, the issuance or renewal fee was OMR10, and the replacement fee was OMR20.”
He added that “the amended framework now grants 10-year validity for Omani national IDs doubling previous durations but raises issuance/renewal fees to OMR10. Crucially, the renewal window shrinks from 60 to 30 days post-expiry. For foreigners, the validity of residence cards has now increased from two years to three years. The residence card can be issued or renewed for one, two, or three years at fees of OMR5, 10, or 15 respectively, with a replacement fee of OMR20 in case of loss or damage.”
These reforms aim to ease the administrative burden on citizens by introducing a 10-year validity period for national ID cards, while extending residence cards for foreigner to be valid for up to 3 years, increased from the previous 2-year limit, thereby providing more flexibility for residents and streamlining renewal processes, he concluded.
* (Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm ([email protected]), (+968 244 87 600) was established 18 years ago and is serving clients through its offices in Muscat and Sohar, as well as operating on a request basis in other areas. It offers legal representation across a wide range of practice areas that include Labour Law, Corporate, Commercial, Contracts, Banking and Finance, International Trade, Foreign Investment, Insurance, Maritime Law, Construction and Engineering Contracts, International Arbitration, Intellectual Property and more).
