How to Change Employer in Oman: Transfer of Services for Non-Omani Workers

Changing jobs in Oman is not completed simply by signing a new offer or leaving the current workplace. For a non-Omani worker, the employment move must also pass through the official transfer-of-services process. Until that process is completed, the worker should not start working for the new employer.

This guide explains the public workflow currently described by the Oman government portal and the Ministry of Labour service page. It is a procedural overview, not individual legal advice; a case involving a dispute, an expired document, a work-abandonment report or another irregular status may require direct guidance from the Ministry.

What “transfer of services” means

A transfer of services moves a non-Omani worker’s registered employment relationship from the current employer to a new employer. Gov.om describes the service as available for transfers initiated by an employer, representative or authorised signatory, covering individuals, employers and government entities.

The procedure is related to, but not the same as, obtaining a first Oman work visa. It also does not replace the terms of the worker’s existing employment contract. Contractual notice, final dues and the administrative transfer each need attention.

Who starts the request?

In the Ministry’s published workflow for individual employers, the new employer starts the transfer request from the work-permit requests list. The new employer enters the worker’s civil number, date of birth and the work permit that will be used for the transfer.

The service page says no documents are uploaded for this route, but that does not mean no information or valid records are required. The identifying details and applicable work permit must match the Ministry’s records.

The official process, step by step

1. New employer signs in. The employer uses the Ministry’s electronic service, with the authentication method required by the portal.
2. New employer submits the worker details. The request identifies the worker and the permit intended for the transfer.
3. The request goes to the current employer. The published standard workflow allows the current employer to approve or reject it.
4. Outstanding amounts are dealt with. As part of approval, the current employer pays any fees or fines shown as due in the service.
5. The new employer pays the transfer fee. The Ministry page currently lists the transfer fee as OMR 5.
6. ROP confirmation is awaited. After payment, confirmation from the Royal Oman Police is handled automatically between the systems.
7. The transfer is completed. The worker’s services move to the new employer after confirmation is received.

The Ministry’s electronic-services SLA distinguishes between immediate processing when the current employer approves and a one-working-day target without that approval. The public detailed service page, however, does not explain the eligibility rules or evidence for the no-approval route. Do not assume that it applies automatically. The new employer should check the case inside the official service or contact the Ministry before relying on it.

What the worker should check before the request

• The new job offer correctly identifies the employer, occupation, salary and agreed terms.
• The current contract’s notice and termination requirements have been reviewed.
• The civil number, date of birth and work-permit information are accurate.
• The new employer is ready and eligible to submit the request and use the appropriate permit.
• Any open complaint, report, fine or document problem has been disclosed to the relevant employer and checked through the official channel.
• The transfer shows as completed before work begins for the new employer.

The Ministry’s guidance for expatriate workers says a worker may work for another employer only after completing the legal procedures. A promise that “the transfer will be done later” is not a substitute for an approved record.

Does resignation complete the transfer?

No. Resignation addresses the ending of the employment relationship; transfer of services changes the employer recorded for the non-Omani worker. If you are planning to leave, review the correct resignation and notice process in Oman, but keep the transfer request as a separate administrative checklist.

A resignation date, last working day and transfer date should be coordinated. Starting with the new employer while the official record remains unchanged can expose both the worker and employers to problems.

What if the request is rejected or stalls?

First identify the stage shown in the Ministry portal: submission, current-employer action, payment, ROP confirmation or completion. The responsible party can then correct inaccurate data, settle an amount shown by the system or ask the Ministry about the appropriate route.

If the delay is part of a genuine labour dispute, keep copies of the contract, notices, payment records and relevant messages. The worker can review how to file a labour complaint in Oman. A complaint and a transfer request serve different purposes, so filing one should not be presented as an automatic approval of the other.

Fees, timing and records

The Ministry’s individual-employer service page lists an OMR 5 transfer fee and describes the service as self-service. It also says the current employer pays outstanding fees and fines shown during the approval step. Other costs or requirements may arise from the worker’s particular records or related procedures; use the amount displayed in the official transaction rather than an unofficial quote.

Save the request number, payment receipt and final confirmation. The SLA time is a service target and may exclude missing information or processing by another authority. It should not be treated as a guaranteed completion time for every case.

A safe decision checklist

1. Confirm the new offer and the employer’s legal identity.
2. Review the current contract and notice obligations.
3. Ask the new employer which valid permit will be used.
4. Follow the transfer status in the Ministry portal.
5. Do not begin the new job until the legal transfer is complete.
6. Keep official confirmations and seek Ministry guidance if the displayed route does not fit the case.

Official sources and updates

Procedures can change. Before acting, check the Ministry of Labour’s current transfer-service details, its electronic-services SLA and the consolidated Labour Law page. The Ministry call centre number displayed on its website is 80077000.