Oman to reopen visas for Bangladeshis, now targeting skilled workers 

After a seven-month suspension of all types of visas for Bangladeshi nationals, Oman is set to reopen the visa programme, this time focusing on skilled workers.

It will cover 12 categories of visa,  reports Times of Oman, quoting Sirajul Haque, chairman of Bangladesh Social Club Oman. 

The categories include family visas, visit visas for Bangladeshi nationals in GCC countries, and visas for doctors, engineers, nurses, teachers, accountants, investors, and other official purposes, says the report.

The suspension, which began on 31 October last year, was initially enacted to prevent human traffickers from exploiting Omani visas, and to address the oversupply of foreign workers and increasing employment opportunities for its own citizens. 

Prior to the suspension, at least around one lakh Bangladeshis had moved to Oman in the ten months leading up to October 2023, according to data from Bangladesh's Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training.

Oman used to hire mainly less-skilled workers from Bangladesh. However, the new visa programme does not include a low-skilled category. 

Bangladeshi workers, particularly in low-skilled roles within Oman's non-hydrocarbon sector, have historically played a vital role in the Gulf nation's economy. Despite Oman's economic growth being primarily driven by oil and hydrocarbon activities, the non-hydrocarbon sector remains crucial.

In March, Oman's labour ministry announced plans to create 35,000 jobs in the public and private sectors, focusing on opportunities for both citizens and expatriates. The new visa programme aligns with the plan by excluding categories for low-skilled workers.

Data from the Bangladesh Bank show that Oman was the ninth-largest source of expatriate income for Bangladesh in the fiscal years 2021-22 and 2022-23, contributing $897.40 million and $790.65 million, respectively. 

Following the visa suspension, remittances from Oman experienced a decline. However, they showed a rebound with $139.87 million recorded in April 2024, totaling $837.86 million from July 2023 to April 2024.

The suspension led to a sharp decrease in Bangladeshi workers entering Oman, with only 302 arrivals in January 2024 and none in the subsequent three months. Previously, Oman had been recruiting around 10,000 Bangladeshi workers monthly.