Oman Removes NOC, Allows Expats to Switch Jobs
Expat workers in Oman can now switch jobs from one company to another, if they furnish proof of the end of work contract or its termination, according to a new decision issued by the Royal Oman Police on Sunday.
Until now, expats who wanted to change jobs required the NOC (No Objection Certificate), a letter from their current sponsor (employer) to authorities that they have ‘no objection’ to the move. This will no longer be required.
The decision will be published in the Official Gazette and implemented starting January 2021.
Lt.Gen Hassan Bin Mohsin Al Shraiqi, Inspector-General of Police and Customs, issued the decision.
Article No 1 says: “Article 24 of the executive regulations of the Law on the Residence of Foreigners is replaced by the following text: “It is permissible for a foreigner to transfer from one employer to another, provided the employer has a licence to recruit workers, on condition that they provide proof of the end of work contract or termination of it. They must also provide evidence of the approval of the competent government authority on allowing the signed contract with the second employer and it must be in accordance with the controls set by the competent authority.“The transfer of an expat’s residency shall result in the transfer of the residence of his family members to the second employer if the conditions necessary for his residency are met.”
He added that until the procedures for transferring the residence are completed, the responsibility of the first employer remains with regards to everything related to the residence of the expats.
