Oman to resume work visas for Bangladeshis

Oman has assured that it will reopen work visas for Bangladeshi nationals within the next two months, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment announced on Tuesday (January 27).

The assurance came during a meeting between Oman’s Labour Minister Mahad bin Said bin Ali Bawain and Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul on the sidelines of the Global Labour Market Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Nazrul lauded Oman’s initiative to legalise undocumented Bangladeshi workers without fines and sought greater access for skilled Bangladeshi professionals, including engineers, doctors, and nurses, in the Omani labour market.

He also requested reconsideration of the temporary suspension on visas for semi-skilled and unskilled workers.

Responding, the Omani labour minister said the suspension, implemented in 2023, prioritised legalisation of undocumented workers. However, work visas for Bangladeshis will be reinstated within two months.

Dr. Nazrul highlighted Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the migration process, including skill verification, pre-departure training on language, culture, and labour laws, and the use of technology in migration management.

He also proposed convening the next session of the Joint Technical Committee in Muscat in the first half of 2026 and invited Oman to sign a final memorandum of understanding to strengthen bilateral labour cooperation.