Look up Oman’s golden visa and you’ll come across two different sets of numbers. Some pages quote OMR 250,000 for five years and OMR 500,000 for ten. Others say OMR 200,000 for ten years. Both have shown up in reputable places, and that’s exactly why so many investors walk into our Muscat office confused.
The explanation is fairly simple. The higher figures come from Oman’s earlier investor residency tiers. On 31 August 2025, in Salalah, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion relaunched the scheme as the Golden Residency. It’s a renewable 10-year residence built around one threshold, OMR 200,000, and seven ways to qualify.
This guide sticks to the question company owners actually bring to us: which Golden Residency requirements apply to my business, and how big does my company need to be?
The seven routes
Based on the official presentation reported at the launch, you can qualify through any one of these routes. Each one requires OMR 200,000 or more unless stated otherwise.
RouteWhat you need1. Company establishmentAt least one year since incorporation, with your stake in the company’s total assets worth OMR 200,000 or more2. Real estateProperty in an Integrated Tourism Complex worth OMR 200,000 or more, with a title deed3. Government development bondsOMR 200,000 or more, with a minimum maturity of two years4. Listed equitiesShares on the Muscat Stock Exchange with a market value of OMR 200,000 or more, registered to you5. Fixed depositOMR 200,000 or more in a local bank for five years6. Employing OmanisOwnership of a company with at least 50 Omani employees and capital of OMR 200,000 or more7. Company nominationA company registered under the Foreign Capital Investment Law, with capital of OMR 200,000 or more, nominating a partner or senior professionalThree of those seven run through a company, and that’s where most business owners will find their way in.
How big does your company need to be?
Route 1: it’s your share that counts
This route measures your stake, not the company’s total. Say you own 50% of a company with OMR 300,000 in total assets. Your stake is OMR 150,000, so you’d fall short. The company also has to be at least one year old.
One thing catches people out here. Registered capital on paper isn’t the same as assets you can prove. Be ready to show financial statements and ownership records.
Route 6: it’s about headcount
Here the focus is on how many people you employ, not how much you’ve personally put in. A company with at least 50 Omani employees and capital of OMR 200,000 or more can back its owner’s application. For established businesses with a big local workforce, this is often the most natural fit.
Route 7: the company nominates you
A company registered under the Foreign Capital Investment Law with capital of OMR 200,000 or more can nominate one partner or senior professional for Golden Residency. With more capital, more nominations are allowed. Several advisers read this as one extra nomination for each multiple of the OMR 200,000 threshold, but confirm the exact number for your structure before you build a plan around it.
This route comes in handy when ownership is split between partners and none of them meets Route 1 alone.
A few real-world scenarios
These examples show how the rules tend to play out. Every application is still assessed on its own.
You’re the sole owner, your company is two years old and it has OMR 250,000 in total assets. Route 1 is the likely fit. Your stake is above OMR 200,000 and the company has passed the one-year mark.
You and a partner split the company 50/50, and its assets total OMR 300,000. Look at Route 7. Neither of your stakes reaches OMR 200,000, but the company’s capital may support one nomination.
Your company was set up eight months ago with OMR 220,000 invested. You could use Route 7 now or wait for Route 1, which needs a full year since incorporation.
Your company has 60 Omani staff and OMR 250,000 in capital. That’s Route 6, since you meet both the headcount and the capital conditions.
Your company has OMR 400,000 in capital and two key partners. Route 7 again. The higher capital may allow more than one nomination.
Personal conditions
Whichever route you take, the published eligibility rules ask that you’re at least 21, have a clean criminal record and hold valid health insurance.
What you get
You get a 10-year renewable residence with no local sponsor. Your first-degree family members can be included, with no cap on how many or on their age. There are fast-track lanes at airports and border points, and you get access to the Invest Oman platform for company and licensing services.
Renewal depends on still meeting the qualifying conditions. If you sell the investment that got you the residence, have a plan for keeping it.
Golden Residency or an ordinary investor visa?
Not every company owner needs the Golden Residency. If you own or are a partner in a registered Omani company, you can usually get an ordinary investor residence tied to that company. It renews on a shorter cycle and doesn’t carry the OMR 200,000 threshold.
Golden ResidencyOrdinary investor residenceValidity10 years, renewableShorter renewable cycleThresholdOMR 200,000 through a qualifying routeNo Golden thresholdFamilyFirst-degree relatives, no age or number limitStandard family visa rulesBest forInvestors with committed capital and long-term plansFounders starting smaller companiesHow to apply
You apply through the Invest Oman platform, run by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, and the Royal Oman Police issues the residence. Before you start, get your company documents, audited or certified financial statements, ownership records and bank evidence together.
Talk it through with our team in Muscat
Very often, the gap between qualifying and nearly qualifying comes down to structure. Who owns what, how the capital is evidenced and which route fits all make a difference. Our Oman team handles company formation, investor residency and Golden Residency applications from Office 207, 1991 AQAR, Al Ghubrah Street, Muscat. You can reach Black Swan Business Setup Services at info@blackswanbss.com or on +971 56 658 2477.
The short answer
For company owners, the Oman Golden Residency usually comes down to one of three tests. Either your own stake in a company is worth OMR 200,000 or more, or your company employs 50 or more Omanis and has OMR 200,000 in capital, or a company with OMR 200,000 or more in capital nominates you. Work out which one you meet before you apply.
Sources: Zawya on the 10-year Golden Residency routes · Zawya on the Salalah launch · Gulf News on eligibility conditions · Middle East Briefing on the reduced threshold
Programme rules can change. Confirm the current criteria on the Invest Oman platform before applying.
FAQs
What’s the minimum investment for Oman’s Golden Residency?
OMR 200,000 through one of seven qualifying routes, which gets you a renewable 10-year residence.
Does my company’s total value count, or only my share?
On the company establishment route, it’s your own stake in the company’s assets that has to reach OMR 200,000.
Can a company nominate someone for Golden Residency?
Yes. A company under the Foreign Capital Investment Law with OMR 200,000 or more in capital can nominate a partner or senior professional.
Is there a route based on employing Omanis?
There is. Owning a company with at least 50 Omani employees and OMR 200,000 or more in capital can qualify you.
Can my family be included?
Yes. First-degree family members can be included, with no limit on how many or how old they are.