Oman Revises Citizenship Permissions

The government of Oman has introduced stricter regulations on citizenship under the Nationality Law, outlining the conditions under which Omani citizenship may be lost, revoked, or withdrawn.

Key Changes

• Under Article 23, Omani nationals who obtain a foreign nationality in violation of the law will automatically lose their Omani citizenship.
• A foreigner who acquires Omani citizenship through marriage to an Omani woman will lose it if the marriage ends in divorce or desertion within five years.
  • However, the law clarifies that in such cases, the father’s loss of nationality does not affect the children, who will retain their Omani nationality.
• Similarly, a foreign woman who gains Omani citizenship through marriage to an Omani man will lose it if she divorces and subsequently marries a non-Omani. The loss takes effect from the date of the second marriage.
• Under Article 26, an individual may be stripped of their nationality if they insult the Sultan or the Sultanate, whether verbally or through actions. Membership in organizations or parties that promote ideologies harmful to Oman’s interests is also grounds for revocation.
• Omani nationals who work for a foreign government in a role that conflicts with the country’s interests and refuse to resign despite official requests may lose their citizenship. The same applies to those who work for hostile nations actively engaged against Oman.
  • While the law takes a firm stance on these issues, it allows for reinstatement of citizenship if the circumstances leading to revocation no longer apply.
    Citizenship withdrawal
• Oman has also introduced measures to withdraw citizenship from individuals who acquired it through fraudulent means or illegal methods.
• Individuals who remain outside the country for more than 24 consecutive months without a valid reason risk losing their nationality.

Erickson Insights & Analysis

Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.