The Oman Ministry of Labour has announced that Indian engineers, accountants, finance professionals, technicians, and workers in energy, logistics, and industrial sectors must now obtain a Professional Classification Certificate or Professional Practice Licence to renew their work permits. Authorities are urging employers and workers to initiate the certification process one to two months prior to the expiry of residence cards or employment contracts to avoid processing delays.
- Mandatory certificates required for work permit renewals.
- Applies to Indian engineers, accountants, technicians, and more.
- Start the process early to avoid delays.
This regulation is critical for the Indian community in Oman. Data from the Embassy of India in Muscat indicates that approximately 6.75 lakh Indians were residing in the country as of February 2026, while Omani statistics from May 2026 show over 5.26 lakh Indian nationals on work visas. Many are employed in engineering, construction, oil and gas, maintenance, logistics, accounting, technical services, and manufacturing.
Professional accreditation requirements depend on a worker's official job code and sector. The engineering sector requires professional classification, while accounting, finance, and auditing roles are linked to classification certificates for permit renewal. The logistics, energy, and minerals sectors utilize a Professional Practice Licence system for various regulated occupations, including technicians, operators, and maintenance roles. In the industrial sector, a phased implementation of the system began on February 9, 2026, with full enforcement effective from May 1, 2026. Furthermore, the grace period for certain energy and minerals professions expired on June 1, 2026. Following this deadline, work permits for affected roles cannot be processed without a valid professional licence. The Ministry advises that certificates are not instant and involve qualification verification, experience reviews, and sector body approvals.
Workers are encouraged to verify their official profession code with their HR department rather than relying solely on internal company designations. Discrepancies in names, passport details, or academic records can further delay verification. The Ministry of Labour has also issued strict warnings regarding the use of fake certificates.
