January 20, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has issued a strong advisory, following a notice from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman, cautioning against the use of tourist visas for employment purposes in Oman.
This warning comes in response to a recent announcement from the Royal Oman Police, which clarified that individuals entering Oman on a tourist visa are prohibited from converting it to an employment visa.
The SLBFE stressed that it is illegal to work in Oman on a tourist visa, and anyone found attempting to do so may face serious consequences.
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Muscat has reiterated the importance of adhering strictly to the official guidelines set forth by the SLBFE when pursuing legal employment opportunities in Oman.
In the notice, the Embassy highlighted a worrying trend of Sri Lankans being stranded in Oman after entering the country on tourist visas, despite clear regulations in place by both Omani and Sri Lankan authorities.
These individuals, who sought employment without proper documentation, now find themselves in difficult situations due to the strict enforcement of visa regulations.
The Royal Oman Police’s directive, effective from October 31, 2023, strictly prohibits the conversion of tourist visas into employment visas.
The authorities have also called on job seekers to refrain from entering Oman under a tourist visa with the intention of finding work, stressing that doing so is against the law.
In addition, the Sri Lankan Embassy has urged Sri Lankan nationals who are already in Oman under tourist visas to leave the country before their visa expiry.
The Embassy warned that overstaying a visa will incur substantial fines imposed by Omani authorities, and those who fail to comply will face additional costs and complications before being allowed to depart the country.
