Is There an Oman Retirement Visa in 2026? How Retirees Can Live in Oman

Does Oman have a retirement visa in 2026?

Oman does not currently publish a stand-alone retirement visa. The official Golden Residency portal of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion offers one route, for investors, business owners and entrepreneurs, and the Royal Oman Police residence visa classes contain no retirement category. Retirees from abroad therefore settle long term through the Golden Residency or as property owners.

Retirees were not always outside the framework. When the Investor Residency Programme opened in 2021, the Ministry of Finance confirmed that retirees could also apply for long-term investor residency. The Golden Residency relaunched in 2025 publishes no retiree criteria, so Mirabello Consultancy confirms the current position with the authorities for each client and does not rely on figures repeated online.

Both routes open to retirees today rest on capital. The Golden Residency is a renewable 10-year permit from OMR 200,000 (about USD 520,000). Residence for property owners is granted without a sponsor to a foreigner who owns a registered real estate unit under Royal Oman Police Decision 87/2026, in force since 22 June 2026, and it ends if ownership of the unit is transferred. Foreign ownership is limited to designated areas, as explained below.

How can retirees qualify through the Oman Golden Residency?

Retirees can qualify for the Oman Golden Residency by making a qualifying investment of at least OMR 200,000 (about USD 520,000). The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion describes a minimum investment requirement of OMR 200,000 and a ten-year renewable residency, with family inclusion, full ownership rights and access to government e-services through a single platform.

The official Golden Residency Program portal lists who may qualify: people who start or invest in a business, own property in tourism zones, buy bonds or listed shares, hold a fixed-term deposit, employ 50 or more Omanis, or are nominated by an invested company. For a full breakdown of the routes, see our Oman Golden Visa programme page.

For most retirees, three routes stand out. Property suits those who want to own their home in Oman. Government bonds and a fixed-term deposit suit those who prefer to keep capital in lower-risk instruments. The exact holding period and documentary requirements for each route are confirmed at application, and our team checks them against the current rules before you commit funds. Our guide to Oman Golden Visa costs and requirements and our overview of Oman's new Golden Visa cover the programme in more depth.

Can retirees bring their family to Oman?

Retirees on the Golden Residency can bring their family to Oman. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion states that the programme offers family inclusion without restrictions on age or number, one of its most distinctive features compared with other residency programmes in the region.

For a retiree, this matters in two ways. Adult children can be included, which many residency programmes do not allow, and the family can settle together with access to healthcare, education and modern infrastructure. The ministry also lists special immigration lanes and the right to employ three domestic workers among the privileges of the programme. Each dependant still needs the standard supporting documents, and health insurance is required for residents.

How is retirement income taxed in Oman?

Oman does not levy personal income tax today, so pension and investment income received by individual residents is not taxed until the end of 2027. From 1 January 2028, Royal Decree No. 56/2025 introduces a personal income tax of 5% on total annual income above OMR 42,000 (about USD 109,000). The Oman Tax Authority confirms that pensions count towards that income and that a person who stays in Oman for more than 183 days in a year is a tax resident.

The Oman Tax Authority states that around 99% of the population will not be subject to the tax, and the law provides deductions and exemptions linked to matters such as education, healthcare, inheritance, zakat, donations and primary housing. Retirees with substantial pension or investment income should nevertheless plan for 2028 rather than treat Oman as permanently tax-free, and should take advice on how the rules apply to foreign pensions and on the tax position in their home country. Mirabello Consultancy coordinates with qualified tax advisers where a client's structure requires it.

What is it like to retire in Oman?

Retiring in Oman means a calm, safe and culturally authentic way of life, with a lower pace than the large Gulf cities. The country combines a long coastline on the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, the Al Hajar mountains, the Wahiba Sands desert and the green Dhofar region around Salalah, which is transformed each summer by the khareef monsoon.

Muscat offers mild, sunny winters, and many retirees spend the hottest summer months abroad and the winter season in Oman. Omani hospitality, traditional souqs and historic forts give daily life a distinctive character, while modern shopping, dining and golf are close at hand. Muscat International Airport connects the country with Europe, Asia and Africa, which makes Oman a practical base for retirees who travel often.

Where do retirees live in Oman?

• Al Mouj Muscat: a waterfront community with a marina, beach access, restaurants and a golf course, popular with international residents.
• Muscat Hills: a hillside community built around a golf course, with villas and views of the sea and mountains.
• Muscat Bay: a coastal development south of the capital with a resort atmosphere.
• Al Khuwair and Ghubrah: central Muscat neighbourhoods close to amenities and private hospitals.
• Salalah: the main city of the south, known for its cooler, greener khareef season.

How does healthcare work for retirees?

Foreign residents generally use private healthcare, and health insurance is required for residency. Muscat has the widest choice of private hospitals, clinics and specialists, and the country's main public referral hospitals are also in the capital. Outside Muscat, facilities are more limited, so retirees with ongoing medical needs often choose to live in or near the capital. Premiums rise with age, so it is sensible to obtain insurance quotes before choosing a residency route.

Can foreign retirees buy property in Oman?

Foreign retirees can buy property in Oman within Integrated Tourism Complexes, such as Al Mouj Muscat, Muscat Bay and Muscat Hills. Golden Residency holders receive wider rights: the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion lists property ownership outside Integrated Tourism Complexes among the programme's privileges.

Property can therefore play two roles in a retirement plan: a home, and the qualifying investment for the Golden Residency when the purchase meets the programme minimum of OMR 200,000 (about USD 520,000). The market in Oman is smaller and less liquid than in Dubai, so we advise retirees to buy for use and long-term value rather than for short-term resale, and to have title and developer documents checked independently before signing.

How do you apply for residency in Oman as a retiree?

Retirees apply for the Golden Residency online through the official Oman Residence platform, after choosing a route and making or evidencing the qualifying investment. The process follows a clear sequence, and each step can be prepared in advance with the right documents.

1. Choose the route: the Golden Residency, from an investment of OMR 200,000, or residence as the owner of a registered property unit, and confirm the conditions in force with the authorities.
2. Make or evidence the investment or ownership: property purchase, deposit, bonds, shares or company meeting the OMR 200,000 Golden Residency minimum, or the title to a registered property unit.
3. Prepare documents: valid passport, proof of the investment or property ownership, police clearance certificate and, where applicable, marriage and birth certificates for dependants.
4. Submit online: apply through the official Oman Residence portal and pay the government fee in force at the time.
5. Medical fitness test: complete the test at an approved medical centre in Oman.
6. Security clearance: the Royal Oman Police carries out background checks.
7. Approval and residence card: receive the residence card, then arrange health insurance and register for local services.

No official processing time is published, and processing depends on the route and on how complete the file is. We give each client a realistic timeline at consultation, based on current practice, and prepare the file so that it can be assessed without requests for further information.

Considering Oman for your retirement? Book your free consultation with Mirabello Consultancy and we will confirm which route fits your income, savings and family.

How does Oman compare with other retirement residency options?

Oman compares well with other Gulf options for retirees who value a quieter pace, a strong sense of place and family inclusion without restrictions on age or number. The UAE Golden Visa suits those who want a larger international city and a deeper property market, while Saudi Premium Residency suits those with business or family ties to the Kingdom.

Outside the Gulf, retirees who want permanent status rather than a renewable visa sometimes compare Oman with Mexico's direct permanent residency, which is granted on proof of savings or a pension rather than an investment: an average savings or investment balance of MXN 5,378,663.50 (about USD 304,900) over the last 12 months, or a pension of MXN 133,733.40 a month (about USD 7,580) over the last six months. The USD figures are for illustration only, at the Banxico rate of MXN 17.6425 per US dollar on 24 September 2026; the peso amounts are the legal thresholds. Our guide to retiring in Mexico and how a foreign pension is taxed explains that route in detail, and our article on the Thailand Elite residency for retirees covers an option in Asia.

To compare every long-term residency option side by side, see our ranking of the best golden visa investment programmes. Retirees who would also like a second passport can explore the best citizenship by investment programmes.

What should you know before retiring in Oman?

Before retiring in Oman, plan for five practical points: the programme is still evolving, residency does not lead to citizenship by investment, personal income tax arrives in 2028, summers are very hot, and specialist healthcare is concentrated in Muscat. None of these is an obstacle, but each shapes the right plan.

• An evolving programme: the Golden Residency was relaunched in 2025, and conditions and procedures can be updated. We check the rules in force before each application.
• No citizenship by investment: Oman does not offer citizenship by investment. Naturalisation is a separate, demanding process that requires long residence and Arabic, and approvals are rare, so the Golden Residency should be seen as long-term residency rather than a path to a passport.
• Tax from 2028: the 5% personal income tax applies to annual income above OMR 42,000, pensions included, so retirees with large incomes should model its effect.
• Summer heat: many retirees spend the hottest months abroad and the mild winter season in Oman.
• Healthcare location: the widest choice of specialists is in Muscat, which often guides the choice of where to live.

With over 350 golden visa cases and a 99% approval rate, Mirabello Consultancy advises retirees from Zurich, Dubai and Hong Kong, in 11 languages, with the discretion and precision our clients expect.