Oman has issued new rules for agencies that recruit non-Omani workers. Ministerial Decision No. 390/2026, issued by the Minister of Labour on Sunday 11 October 2026, comes into force on 1 January 2027. The Ministry of Labour says the aim is to strengthen oversight of recruitment offices, curb unregulated practices and protect both employers and workers. For job seekers, the most useful points are the ban on charging workers recruitment fees and the requirement to have a written job offer. This guide explains what was announced and how to protect yourself, both before and after the rules start.
- Effective date: 1 January 2027. The rules are not in force yet.
- Licensed offices only: recruitment activity is restricted to offices licensed by the Ministry of Labour, with a register of licensed offices.
- No fees from workers: recruitment offices are prohibited from collecting any recruitment fees from workers.
- Written job offer: a job offer stating the wage and nature of work must be available before recruitment, and offices must use ministry-approved contracts.
- Accountability: offices must lodge a financial guarantee of RO 5,000 and face fines for violations.
What the New Framework Requires
| Area | What was announced |
|---|---|
| Who can run an office | Owner, partners and authorised signatories must be Omani. The owner or one partner must manage the business full-time |
| Financial guarantee | RO 5,000 submitted to the ministry, to help ensure contractual obligations are met |
| Licence fee | Reduced to RO 300 for two years |
| Contracts | Ministry-approved contracts and unified forms. A job offer with wage and nature of work must exist before recruitment |
| Service guarantee | Two-year guarantee on the recruitment service. The recruitment period must not exceed 45 days |
| Worker protections | No fees may be collected from workers. Offices must provide accommodation and care while workers are in their custody, and meet safety and health requirements |
| Disputes | Ministry procedures with set timeframes for complaints |
Penalties for Agencies
- RO 100 per worker: recruiting domestic workers without a licensed office.
- RO 50 per contract: not using approved contracts or not providing the required job offer.
- RO 500: unauthorised transfer of a recruitment licence, which can also lead to licence cancellation and the agency’s name being published on the ministry’s website.
- RO 100 per worker: violations involving allowances or required travel tickets.
- RO 500 plus deportation costs: allowing a non-Omani to manage the office.
- RO 200 per worker: failing to carry out medical examinations.
- RO 300: conducting unauthorised activities.
What This Means If You Want to Work in Oman
1. Never pay a recruitment fee
Under the new framework, offices cannot collect recruitment fees from workers. If anyone asks you for money to “process” an Oman job, treat it as a warning sign. Our guide to “free visa” job offers explains how visa-selling schemes work.
2. Ask for the job offer in writing
The offer should state your wage and the type of work. Compare it with the contract you are asked to sign, and keep copies of both.
3. Check the office is licensed
The framework creates a register of licensed offices. Before dealing with any agency, check its licence with the Ministry of Labour. Do not rely on a screenshot or a social media page.
4. Follow the usual visa steps
The recruitment rules sit alongside Oman’s work visa process, which your employer must start. Read our Oman work visa guide for the steps, fees and how to avoid scams.
What Is Still Unclear
The rules are not yet in force, and reports so far come from the ministry’s announcement. Details such as how the public register will be published and how complaints from workers abroad will be handled will become clearer closer to 1 January 2027. Until then, the general advice applies: use licensed channels, never pay for a job, and verify any offer. The same pressure on unlicensed agents is visible elsewhere in the Gulf, for example in Saudi Arabia’s recent fines on unlicensed recruitment offices, covered in our report on the HRSD announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Oman’s new recruitment agency rules start?
On 1 January 2027, under Ministerial Decision No. 390/2026, which was issued on 11 October 2026.
Can an Omani recruitment agency charge workers a fee?
No. Under the new framework, recruitment offices are prohibited from collecting any recruitment fees from workers.
Do I need a written job offer before I travel to Oman?
The rules require a job offer specifying the wage and nature of work to be available before recruitment, and offices must use ministry-approved contracts. Keep a copy of both.
How can I check if a recruitment office in Oman is licensed?
The framework introduces a register of licensed offices. Check the agency’s licence with the Ministry of Labour before paying or signing anything.
What penalties do agencies face?
Fines include RO 100 per worker for recruiting domestic workers without a licensed office, RO 50 per contract for not using approved contracts, and RO 500 for unauthorised licence transfer, which can also lead to cancellation.
Do these rules apply before January 2027?
No. They take effect on 1 January 2027, so use caution with any agency until then and never pay for a job offer.
Sources
Last updated: 16 October 2026. This summary is based on the Ministry of Labour’s announcement as reported by Muscat Daily. Check the full text of Ministerial Decision No. 390/2026 with the ministry for exact wording. This is general information, not legal advice.
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