Omani Nationality Law 2025

Rules for Granting Omani Nationality, Its Loss, Revocation, and Restoration

The Royal Decree No. 17/2025 has been issued to enact the Omani Nationality Law, which regulates the rules for granting nationality, its revocation, lapse, and restoration. This study will address these matters.

The Omani Nationality Law defines a person as an Omani by origin as anyone born to an Omani father in Oman or abroad before the enforcement of this law. A person is considered Omani by origin according to the provisions of this law:

1. Anyone born in Oman or abroad to an Omani father by origin.
2. A grandson born in Oman or abroad to an Omani father, where the grandfather acquired Omani nationality by grant, provided the grandson has reached the age of fifty (50).
3. Anyone born in Oman or abroad, whether to an Omani or foreign mother, if his father is an Omani by origin, and he became stateless.

1. Omani Nationality for Omanis

According to the law, Omani nationality can only be granted once. A person is considered Omani: if he falls under any of the following categories:

1. Anyone granted Omani nationality under the provisions of this law.
2. Anyone born in Oman or abroad to an Omani mother whose paternity to a father has not been legally established.
3. Anyone born in Oman to unknown parents.

2. Granting Omani Nationality to Foreigners

(a)        A foreigner may apply for Omani nationality if the following conditions are met:

1. That his application be preceded by a lawful and continuous residence in the Sultanate of Oman for a period of not less than fifteen (15) years. Absences within a single year may not exceed ninety (90) days to still be considered continuous.
2. He must be proficient in Arabic, both reading and writing.
3. To be of good conduct and behavior.

4 – He must not have been previously convicted by a final judgment of a felony or a crime

involving moral turpitude or dishonesty, even if his reputation has been restored.

• He must be medically fit and free from infectious diseases, as specified in the regulations.
• He must have a lawful source of income sufficient to cover his needs and those of his dependents.
• Declare in writing his willingness to renounce the nationality of the state he currently holds and confirm that he does not hold another nationality other than the one he will renounce.

Minor children acquire Omani nationality following their father if born in Oman or if their usual residence is there.

(b)  Foreign Husband of an Omani Womanmay apply for nationality if the following conditions are met:

1. He has been married to the Omani woman and legally residing with her in Oman for at least ten (10) continuous years. Absences within a single year may not exceed ninety (90) days.
2. Has a child with the Omani wife.
3. Proficiency in reading and writing Arabic.
4. Good conduct and behavior.
5. He must not have been previously convicted by a final judgment of a felony or of a crime involving dishonor or breach of trust, even if his reputation has since been restored.
6. Medically fit and free of infectious diseases as specified in the regulations.
7. He must have a legitimate source of livelihood that provides him with enough to meet his own needs and the needs of those he supports.

8 – To acknowledge in writing his desire to renounce the nationality of the state of which he is a

citizen, and that he does not hold the nationality of any other state except the one whose nationality he is about to renounce.

Minor children acquire Omani nationality through their father if born in Oman or if their habitual residence is there.

(c) Foreign Wife of an Omani Man may apply for Omani nationality if the following conditions are met:

1.  She must have been married to the Omani and lived with him in the Sultanate of Oman

under a continuous legal residence for a period of not less than eight (8) years, and her absence during any single year for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days shall not affect the continuity of her residence.

• She has a child with her Omani husband.
• Proficient in spoken Arabic.
• Good conduct and behavior.
• Must not have been previously convicted by a final judgment of a felony or a crime involving dishonor or breach of trust, unless she had been legally rehabilitated.
• That she acknowledges in writing her desire to renounce the nationality of the state whose nationality she currently holds, and that she does not hold the nationality of any other state except for the state whose nationality she will renounce.

(d) An Omani widow of foreign nationality may apply for Omani citizenship if the following conditions are met:

1.   She must have been widowed and legally residing in the Sultanate of Oman continuously for a period of not less than six (6) years, and her residence shall still be considered continuous even if she was absent during any single year for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days.

• Must have a child from the Omani husband.
• Not married to a non-Omani.
• Proficient in spoken Arabic.
• Good conduct and behavior.
• She must not have been previously convicted by a final judgment of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty, unless she has been rehabilitated.
• Medically fit and free from infectious diseases as per the regulations.

8. That she acknowledges in writing her desire to renounce the nationality of the state whose  

nationality she holds, and that she does not hold the nationality of any other state except the one whose nationality she will renounce.

(e) A foreign woman who is divorced from an Omani man may apply for Omani citizenship if she

meets the following conditions:

1. She must have been married to the Omani and lived with him in the Sultanate of Oman in a legal and continuous residence for a period of not less than eight (8) years before the divorce, and her continuous residence shall not be considered interrupted if her absence during any single year does not exceed ninety (90) days.
2. Must have a child from the Omani husband.
3. Not married to a non-Omani.
4. Proficient in spoken Arabic.
5. Good conduct and behavior.
6. shall not have been previously convicted by a final judgment of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or breach of trust, even if its reputation has been subsequently rehabilitated.
7. Medically fit and free from infectious diseases as per the regulations.
8. She must have a legitimate source of income that provides her with enough to meet her needs and the needs of those she supports.
9. That she acknowledges in writing her desire to renounce the nationality of the state of which she is a citizen, and that she does not hold the nationality of any other state except the one whose nationality she intends to renounce.

(f) Omani nationality may be granted to a minor child born to an Omani mother from her foreign husband, provided that the following conditions are met:

1. The mother must be either a widow or divorced, provided that five (5) years have passed since the widowhood or divorce, or that her husband has been absent or has abandoned her for an unknown location for a continuous period of no less than ten (10) years, and such absence or abandonment must be proven by a judicial ruling.
2. Custody is with the mother as per court ruling.
3. He must have had a legal and continuous residence in the Sultanate of Oman for no less than five (5) years if his mother is a widow or divorced, and ten (10) years if her husband has been absent or abandoned her. In both cases, his residence is still considered continuous even if he was absent during a single year for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days.
4. Good conduct and behavior.
5. He must not have been previously convicted by a final judgment of a felony or a crime involving dishonor or breach of trust, unless he has been fully rehabilitated.
6. Parental consent for the minor – if applicable – in writing, confirming his acquisition of Omani nationality and that he does not hold the nationality of any other country except the one he will renounce.

3. Conditions for Losing Omani Nationality

An Omani loses nationality by law in three cases:

1. If he acquires another nationality in violation of the law.

• A foreigner who was granted Omani nationality due to marriage to an Omani woman shall lose Omani nationality if their marital relationship ends due to divorce or abandonment before five (5) years have passed from the date of granting the nationality. The loss of Omani nationality shall take effect from the date of the divorce or abandonment.

And in this case, the loss of Omani nationality by the father does not consequently result in the loss of this nationality by his children.

• A foreign woman granted nationality due to marriage to an Omani man loses it if the marriage ends by divorce and she remarries a non-Omani. Loss occurs from the date of the new marriage.

4. Cases Where Omani Nationality Is Revoked

Omani nationality by origin is revoked in the following four cases:

1. If the person acts or speaks against Oman or the Sultan.
2. If he belongs to a group, party, or organization with principles harmful to Oman’s interest.
3. If he is working on behalf of a foreign state in a manner that conflicts with the interests of the Sultanate of Oman, whether his work is inside or outside the Sultanate, and he fails to comply with the Omani government’s request to cease this work within the specified period.
4. If he is working for an enemy state acting against Oman.

5. Rules for Revoking Omani Nationality

Oman nationality may be revoked in these five cases:

1. If any of the conditions listed in Article (26) of the law apply.
2. If someone acquires Omani nationality through illegal means, this applies also to anyone who acquires it through him.
3. If he has been finally convicted of any crime affecting the state’s security.
4. If he has been finally convicted with a custodial sentence enforceable for more than one felony within the five (5) years following the acquisition of Omani nationality.
5. If he resides outside the Sultanate of Oman during the years following the acquisition of Omani nationality for a period exceeding twenty-four (24) consecutive months without justification, in accordance with the procedures specified by the regulations.

6. How to Restore Omani Nationality

According to Article (26) of the Omani Nationality law, nationality may be restored if the reasons for its revocation no longer exist.

Prepared by: Dr. Mohammed Gharbawi
Al-Alawi & Co – Lawyers and Legal Consultants
Muscat, Sultanate of Oman