Oman Dual Citizenship Royal Decree: Can You Retain Omani Nationality?
The Oman dual citizenship Royal Decree exception is narrow and individualized. Under Oman’s current nationality law, an Omani may hold another nationality only when a Royal Decree expressly authorizes that combination following a recommendation from the Minister of Interior. The existence of this exception does not create a normal application program with published eligibility points, fees, or processing times.
Legal update: This guide reflects the Omani Nationality Law issued under Royal Decree 17/2025 and its 2026 Executive Regulation. The former law issued under Royal Decree 38/2014 is no longer the current legal baseline.
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information, not legal advice or a determination of anyone’s nationality. Nationality consequences can be irreversible. Obtain current, case-specific advice from the Oman Ministry of Interior and qualified counsel before completing a foreign naturalization, oath, registration, or passport process.
Key takeaways
- Article 5 of the nationality law issued under Royal Decree 17/2025 permits Omani and foreign nationality to be combined only by Royal Decree based on the Minister of Interior’s recommendation.
- A legal power to make an exception is not the same as a public right to apply. The current framework does not publish a dedicated dual-nationality form, fixed eligibility criteria, official fee, or promised processing period.
- Article 23 creates a serious risk: an Omani who acquires another nationality contrary to the law loses Omani nationality by operation of law. Do not assume approval can be obtained retroactively.
- Accurate translation can establish names, dates, family relationships, and the foreign-nationality timeline. It cannot create eligibility, secure a ministerial recommendation, or substitute for an actual Royal Decree.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for Omani citizens considering foreign naturalization, people who may be granted or restored to Omani nationality while holding another nationality, former Omanis evaluating restoration, and cross-national families trying to establish whether both nationalities may legally be retained.
A typical file may contain an Omani passport and identity card, a foreign passport or naturalization certificate, birth and marriage records, former-name evidence, prior renunciation or restoration documents, and records concerning minor children. Arabic–English is a practical working pair for many international files. Arabic–Russian, Arabic–French, Arabic–Portuguese, Arabic–Hindi/Urdu, and other language pairs may arise depending on the second country.
The recurring difficulty is usually not finding someone who can translate a certificate. It is proving exactly when and how the second nationality was acquired, matching multi-part Arabic names across foreign records, and distinguishing an individualized Royal Decree from an ordinary government application service.
Oman dual citizenship Royal Decree: the controlling rule
The current legal baseline is the Omani Nationality Law promulgated by Royal Decree 17/2025. It repealed the law issued under Royal Decree 38/2014, so articles that continue to present the 2014 law as current should be treated cautiously.
Article 5 uses the Arabic formulation الجمع بين الجنسية العمانية وأي جنسية أخرى—combining Omani nationality with another nationality. It provides that this may occur only بمرسوم سلطاني, by Royal Decree, based on the Minister’s recommendation.
This structure has two distinct elements. The Minister of Interior’s recommendation is part of the legal route, but the final authorization takes the form of a Royal Decree. Correspondence from a ministry, lawyer, consultant, or embassy is not a substitute for that instrument.
Article 4 is equally important because it excludes nationality matters and related disputes from the jurisdiction of Oman’s courts. A person cannot treat a civil or administrative lawsuit as an alternative way to obtain dual-nationality permission.
Article 23 addresses unauthorized acquisition. If an Omani acquires another nationality contrary to the nationality law, Omani nationality is lost by operation of law. The practical lesson is to resolve the Omani position before taking an irreversible foreign-nationality step—not after receiving the second passport.
Four provisions that should not be confused
| Provision | What it governs | Why the distinction matters |
|---|---|---|
| Article 5 | Authorization to hold Omani nationality together with another nationality | This is the provision governing the dual-nationality exception. |
| Article 6 | An Omani’s renunciation of Omani nationality to acquire another nationality | Renunciation produces a different outcome. Under the 2025 law, the Minister decides whether to approve it after the applicable obligations are satisfied. |
| Article 8 | Exceptional grant or restoration of Omani nationality without the ordinary conditions | Exceptional grant or restoration does not automatically authorize retention of an existing foreign nationality. Article 5 must also be addressed if two nationalities are to coexist. |
| Article 23 | Loss of Omani nationality after acquiring another nationality contrary to the law | This makes the sequence and effective dates legally consequential. |
For the separate renunciation procedure and its timing risks, see Omani citizenship renunciation and foreign-nationality timing.
Why this is not a standard public application route
The strongest indicator is the structure of the legislation itself. Article 5 identifies the required constitutional instrument and ministerial recommendation, but it does not provide a list of conditions that creates an entitlement to approval once satisfied.
The 2026 Executive Regulation of the Omani Nationality Law defines nationality applications as applications concerning recognition of original Omani nationality, restoration, grant, and renunciation. It does not define a separately standardized application for authorization to combine Omani and foreign nationality.
Accordingly, applicants should not expect the features of an ordinary public service:
- a dedicated online dual-citizenship application;
- a published qualifying investment or contribution threshold;
- a points system or nationality-specific preference;
- a fixed government application fee;
- a guaranteed review period or expedited-service tariff; or
- approval merely because another country permits dual citizenship.
This does not mean the Ministry can never receive correspondence or supporting evidence in an individual matter. It means there is no published standard route under which a person can satisfy advertised criteria and demand a Royal-Decree exception. Anyone selling a fixed-price “Royal Decree application” should be required to identify the exact government service, legal authority, official fee schedule, and government payment channel.
What published Royal Decrees show—and what they do not
Published decrees confirm that Article 5 exceptions are real. They also show why those exceptions cannot be generalized: the decrees identify particular individuals and expressly address the particular foreign nationality they may retain.
For example, Royal Decree 82/2025 granted Omani nationality to a named person and authorized the combination of Omani and British nationality. Other published decrees have addressed named individuals holding UAE or Russian nationality.
These texts do not establish that British, Russian, or UAE nationals receive a general exemption. They do not reveal an investment threshold, approval probability, unpublished quota, or the reasons a specific person was selected. A decree issued for one named person cannot be reused as precedent or evidence that another applicant qualifies.
This is the counterintuitive point at the center of the process: a law that permits a sovereign exception does not necessarily create a public application right.
The practical path before acquiring or retaining another nationality
- Identify the exact foreign-nationality event. Determine whether the other country treats nationality as acquired at birth, registration, approval, oath, certificate issuance, or another event. Record the expected effective date rather than relying on the passport issue date alone.
- Pause irreversible steps. If an oath, registration, or final approval would cause acquisition of the foreign nationality, obtain advice on Article 23 before completing it. A plan to seek Omani approval later is not equivalent to existing authorization.
- Apply the two-country test. Oman must authorize the combined status, and the other country must independently permit retention of its nationality. An Omani Royal Decree cannot prevent the other country’s law from causing automatic loss or imposing a notification requirement.
- Ask the Ministry focused questions. The Ministry of Interior’s published contacts include the Directorate General of Nationality at [email protected], the Public Service Department at [email protected], and telephone +968 24686000. Ask which current procedure, document format, and translation credentials apply to the case. Avoid asking only, “Can I have two passports?”
- Build an evidence timeline. Organize documents by issue date and legal effect. Separate proof of identity, current citizenship, prospective acquisition, prior renunciation, restoration, and family relationships.
- Confirm translation and attestation requirements before ordering final versions. The Ministry, counsel, or the other country’s nationality authority should specify the required language, translator credentials, originals, certified copies, and authentication sequence.
- Verify the authorization itself. A lawyer’s letter, intermediary’s receipt, or Ministry correspondence is not a Royal Decree. Verify the decree’s number, date, named person, authorized nationality combination, and publication.
Documents that may be relevant
There is no published universal checklist for the Royal-Decree exception. The following records are best understood as documents that may establish relevant facts, not as a guaranteed official filing list.
| Document group | Possible records | Translation risk |
|---|---|---|
| Omani identity | Passport, identity card, nationality evidence | Differences in Arabic name order, patronymics, tribal names, or Latin transliteration |
| Foreign nationality | Passport, naturalization approval or certificate, nationality confirmation | The legal acquisition date may differ from the document’s printing or passport date |
| Civil status | Full birth certificate, marriage or divorce record, name-change document | Marginal annotations and former names may be omitted in an abbreviated translation |
| Prior Omani status | Renunciation approval, restoration decree, Ministry correspondence | Confusing restoration of Omani nationality with permission to retain another nationality |
| Family effects | Children’s birth records, passports, custody or parentage documents | Assuming a parent’s outcome automatically determines every child’s status |
| Foreign-law evidence | Official letter about retention, notification, or loss rules | Using an informal website summary instead of an authority-issued record or legal opinion |
Where certified translation fits in the Oman process
In this context, “certified translation” is a useful international bridge term. The more locally relevant expression may be Arabic legal translation or translation issued by a licensed legal translation office. Oman has a licensing system for legal translation offices, but the existence of that system does not prove that every document in every nationality inquiry must carry the same local stamp.
Before commissioning a final version, ask the receiving authority:
- whether the particular foreign record must be translated into Arabic;
- whether an Oman-licensed legal translation office must issue or stamp it;
- whether a foreign sworn or official translation will be accepted;
- whether the original, a certified copy, or an authenticated document must accompany it; and
- whether authentication must be completed before the final translation so that every endorsement is included.
The 2026 Executive Regulation states that foreign-issued documents submitted for the nationality applications defined by the regulation must be attested by Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Because the regulation does not separately define an Article 5 dual-nationality application, applicants should confirm how that rule is applied to an individualized dual-nationality file rather than assuming a universal checklist.
When attestation is required, Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that services are provided electronically and through selected Oman Post branches rather than directly at Ministry attestation offices. Check the current MOFA attestation instructions for eligible locations, document categories, and fees.
A useful translation packet should preserve the complete document rather than only its headline data. Pay particular attention to seals, reverse-side entries, apostille or legalization pages where applicable, marginal civil-status annotations, the issuing authority’s title, and the date on which nationality became effective.
Name consistency deserves its own review. The translator should not silently “correct” a foreign record to match an Omani passport. Instead, the translation should reproduce the source accurately, while a separate name-variation note or supporting civil record explains why two spellings refer to the same person.
For a detailed treatment of these document stages, use the separate guide to Oman nationality document attestation and Arabic legal translation. The broader distinctions between authentication and translation are covered in certified versus notarized translation.
Commercial document and legal support
| Provider type | Appropriate role | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| CertOf certified translation | Digital preparation of foreign passports, naturalization records, civil records, name evidence, and consistently formatted document packets | Confirm whether the final Arabic submission must instead be issued or stamped by an Oman-licensed office. CertOf does not obtain Royal Decrees or ministerial recommendations. |
| Oman-licensed legal translation office | Local Arabic legal translation where the receiving Omani authority specifically requires locally licensed output | Ask for current licence details, the approved language pair, treatment of seals and authentication pages, revision policy, and confidentiality terms. |
| Oman-licensed lawyer | Advice on legal status, Article 23 exposure, the other country’s acquisition date, and the appropriate form of Ministry correspondence | No lawyer can guarantee a Royal Decree. Verify the lawyer’s licence and obtain a written scope and fee agreement. |
| Foreign-country official or sworn translator | Translation required by the other country’s nationality authority | Acceptance by the foreign authority does not automatically establish acceptance in Oman. |
This guide does not rank named local translation firms because a reliable current directory combining licence status, approved language pairs, office details, and verified nationality-case experience is not publicly available. Public star ratings should not be treated as evidence that a provider can secure a nationality outcome.
Official and public resources
| Resource | Use it for | Important boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Interior, Directorate General of Nationality | Current procedure, nationality-status questions, document format, and applicable translation requirements | General correspondence is not itself Royal-Decree authorization. |
| Oman Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Oman Post | Attestation logistics when a foreign document must be authenticated for use in Oman | Attestation verifies document origin or official signatures; it does not approve dual nationality. |
| Official Gazette and published legal-text databases | Checking the governing law and whether a claimed individualized decree exists | Another person’s decree is not a reusable approval route. |
| Consumer Protection Authority | Complaints about a commercial intermediary or translation provider operating in Oman | The authority handles consumer-service issues, not the merits of nationality decisions. |
Cost, waiting time, and submission reality
There is no published standard government fee or promised processing time for an Oman dual-citizenship Royal-Decree exception. That absence is important: a private provider quoting an “official Royal Decree fee,” approval percentage, or guaranteed completion date should be asked for the current legal source and government payment channel.
Translation, legal advice, foreign document issuance, and any required attestation are separate costs. Their timing depends on the countries, document types, and acceptance rules involved. Obtain itemized quotations distinguishing translation from authentication, courier, legal-advice, and government charges.
For nationality questions, the Ministry of Interior is the national administrative contact. Readers who need document-preparation details in the capital can use the separate Muscat nationality and Arabic translation guide.
Fraud warnings and complaint routes
Warning signs include a claim that a property purchase automatically qualifies someone for dual citizenship, a demand for a personal-account payment described as a “Royal Decree fee,” a guarantee of ministerial recommendation, or a document that cannot be matched to a published decree number and named beneficiary.
For a service or procedural complaint involving the Ministry of Interior, use the Ministry’s official complaint channels, including its website, [email protected], telephone +968 24686000, or the Tajawob government-interaction platform. The policy describes complaints as concerns about a service, employee, or procedure. Such a complaint does not create a judicial appeal or entitlement to dual nationality.
For misleading sales, non-performance, or commercial fraud involving a service supplied within Oman, the Consumer Protection Authority complaint service is the relevant consumer channel. Suspected forged decrees, impersonation of officials, or criminal fraud should be reported through official Royal Oman Police channels.
Frequently asked questions
Can an Omani citizen legally hold two nationalities?
Yes, but only as an exception authorized by Royal Decree on the recommendation of the Minister of Interior under Article 5. Another country’s acceptance of dual nationality is not enough.
Can I directly apply for an Oman dual citizenship Royal Decree?
The current law and 2026 regulation do not publish a standardized dual-nationality application with eligibility criteria, a dedicated form, fee, or processing time. The Ministry may provide guidance for an individual matter, but that is different from a public entitlement to apply.
Can I acquire the foreign nationality first and request permission later?
That is legally dangerous. Article 23 provides for loss of Omani nationality when another nationality is acquired contrary to the law. Obtain case-specific advice before the foreign nationality becomes effective.
Is Article 8 the dual-citizenship exception?
No. Article 8 concerns exceptional grant or restoration of Omani nationality. Article 5 separately governs authorization to combine Omani nationality with another nationality.
Does a British or Russian example mean those nationalities are generally permitted?
No. Published decrees name particular people and nationality combinations. They do not establish a country-wide exemption or predictable qualification rule.
Can an Omani court grant dual citizenship or overturn a nationality decision?
Article 4 excludes nationality matters and related disputes from court jurisdiction. A normal court application is therefore not an alternative route to a Royal Decree.
Must every foreign document have an Arabic certified translation?
Do not assume one rule applies to every record. Ask the Ministry or responsible authority which documents require Arabic translation and whether the final version must come from an Oman-licensed legal translation office.
How can I verify a claimed approval?
Request the Royal Decree number and publication date, then confirm that the published text names the person and the authorized foreign nationality. A consultant’s letter, receipt, or verbal assurance is not equivalent.
Prepare the document file after confirming the legal route
Once the Ministry of Interior, your lawyer, or the other country’s nationality authority confirms the records and translation format required, CertOf can help prepare complete translations of foreign passports, naturalization certificates, birth and marriage records, and name-change evidence. Our role is document translation and formatting—not legal representation, government filing, or Royal-Decree procurement.
Submit documents for a translation quote, contact CertOf about a complex multilingual packet, or review how CertOf handles certified translations. Before final submission in Oman, confirm whether a locally licensed legal translation office must issue or stamp the Arabic version. You can also learn who signs a CertOf translation certificate and review the broader dual-citizenship document translation guide.