New amendments in Civil Status Law come into effect in Oman

Muscat: It is now mandatory for any Omani who is above 10 years to have an ID card, but earlier it was mandatory for males above 15 years old and optional for females, according to the amendments stipulated by Royal Decree No. 59/2021 on amendment of some provisions of the Civil Status Law, released in the Official Gazette and applicable from the day following its publication.

His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik issued, last Sunday (August 29, 2021), Royal Decree No. 59/2021 amending some provisions of the Civil Status Law. Article 42 stated that “each Omani over 10 years shall obtain an ID card, while those aged 10 or under years may get ID cards with the consent of their parents. The foreigner residing in the Sultanate should also obtain a resident card. The regulation shall identify the sample card and the details therein, the validity of the card, the procedures for obtainment of the card and the required documents.

Prior to the amendment article (42) stipulated that “each Omani over 15 years shall apply for an ID card, which is mandatory for males and optional for females, while those under 15 years may obtain ID cards with the approval of their parents”.

According to Article (19) of the law any newly born child found unattended should be handed over to the nearest police station and following completion of necessary procedures he or she should be handed over to one of the institutions of the Ministry of Social Development along with all clothes wearing and other items found with him, The time when such a child is found, the place and the condition in which he or she was found should be reported to Royal Oman Police (ROP). ROP shall draft the minutes / report of the incident and shall hand him / her over to one of the institutions of the Ministry of Social Development. The child should be given a name immediately when received by the Ministry. The change applied to this article is the change of the name to the Ministry of Social Development instead of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour and Vocational Training.

Article (3) included the change of the names of the ministries as per the new names of ministries. Article (3) stated that “ a committee shall be formed by the Inspector General and chaired by the Director General and membership of representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Social Development.”

This committee shall eliminate all obstacles and difficulties in the civil register system and to contribute to development of the system. The system of the committee shall be issued by a decision from the inspector general in coordination with the aforementioned ministries.

On the other hand, the amendments issued by Royal Decree No. 60/2021 on the Foreigners Residence Law included replacement of Articles (14) and (40) with new texts. According to the amendments, the Royal Decree canceled the text stipulating that the term of the foreigners’ residence may not exceed two years. The amendments also cancelled the stipulation of article (40) which stated that the visa charges should not exceed OMR 25 . The amendment to Article (40) stated that the visa fee shall be fixed with the approval of the Ministry of Finance.

Article (14) of the Foreigners Residence Law stated that the Inspector General shall identify the types of residences of foreigners, the terms and conditions of issuance of each, the rules and procedures of renewal. The grant of residence to any spouse shall result in granting the same to the husband /wife and sons and daughters residing in the Sultanate and who are under 21 years old, unless any of them is granted his / her own residence. The term of residence of the foreigner shall not exceed two years and shall be renewed fifteen days prior to expiry. Granting a residence or renewal of the same may be rejected without serving any reason.

The new amendment to Article (14) of the Foreigners Residence Law stated that the Inspector General shall identify the types of residences of foreigners, the terms and conditions of issuance of each, the rules and procedures of renewal. The grant of residence to any spouse shall result in granting the same to the husband /wife and sons and daughters residing in the Sultanate, in accordance with the Executive Regulation of the Law, unless any of them is granted his / her own residence. The residence of the foreigner shall be renewed fifteen days prior to expiry. Granting a residence or renewal of the same may be rejected without serving any reason.

Article ( 40) stated that the fees for entry visa and transit permits and renewal of the same and all fees payable in implementation of the provisions of this law and its regulations shall be identified by a decision from the Inspector General, provided that any of the fee should not exceed OMR 25/-

The amended article (40) stated that the fees for entry visa and transit permits and renewal of the same and all fees payable in implementation of the provisions of this law and its regulations shall be identified by a decision from the Inspector General.