Oman has announced that expatriate workers aged over 60 will no longer receive new work permits or renewals of existing permits. Several expatriates said employers’ renewal applications had been rejected in recent weeks, while a senior official confirmed that permits are currently not being issued to foreign workers above the age threshold.

The decision has created uncertainty for many expatriates who have worked in Oman for a long time. In January 2022, the Omani government had allowed work permits for expatriates to be renewed after they turned 60, with retaining experienced and skilled workers among the stated aims of that policy.

The latest move effectively reverses that earlier approach. Although Oman’s Labour Ministry website continues to offer a work-permit renewal service for expatriate workers, it currently provides no clear information about an age limit. The report cited Gulf News as its source.