Manpower Recruitment License in Oman: Requirements, Fees and Ministry of Labour Rules

A company registration in Oman does not, by itself, authorize a business to recruit non-Omani workers. Recruitment of non-Omani workforce is a separately regulated activity that requires a Ministry of Labour license. The government service currently lists a new-license fee of OMR 500 and a service time of 90 days.

The most important point for an investor is eligibility: the official licensing service states that the applicant must be Omani. That makes this activity materially different from an ordinary commercial activity and means the licensing position should be established before a company structure is selected.

At a glance

• The licensing authority for non-Omani workforce recruitment is the Ministry of Labour.
• The published fee for a new recruitment license is OMR 500.
• The published service time is 90 days.
• The listed documents are initial approval and final approval.
• The applicant must be Omani and meet education or experience, conduct and full-time management requirements.
• The license is valid for two years and renewal is requested 30 days before expiry.

What the Oman manpower license actually covers

The regulated activity documented by Oman government sources is the recruitment of non-Omani workforce. Article 31 of the Labour Law prohibits carrying out this activity without a Ministry of Labour license and leaves the detailed operating conditions and the contract between the licensed recruiter and employer to ministerial rules.

This should not be confused with a worker's employment permit. The recruitment business has its own activity license, while an individual non-Omani worker requires the relevant authorization to work. The Ministry of Labour's electronic services separately cover recruitment-related licensing, work permits, worker registration and employment contracts.

The phrase manpower supply is broader in commercial use. A business may, for example, intend to employ workers itself and place them with another company. The current official sources reviewed do not establish a separate generic license called manpower supply or labour supply, so that business model should not automatically be treated as identical to licensed recruitment.

Who can apply?

The official government service states that the applicant for the non-Omani workforce recruitment license must be Omani. This is a decisive eligibility condition for foreign investors and should be checked before treating the activity as an ordinary company-registration project.

The same service requires at least a General Education Diploma or at least 10 years of practical experience with literacy. The applicant must have full legal capacity and good conduct.