Moving to Oman

Planning a move from the UK to Oman

Oman attracts professionals, business owners, investors and families looking for a stable base in the Gulf with strong regional connections and a more measured pace of life.

For somebody moving from the UK, however, the relocation involves more than obtaining a residence visa.

You may need to consider employment, family residence, UK tax, property, business interests, banking, healthcare and the position of any assets or commitments you retain in the UK.

Knightsbridge helps clients consider these issues as part of one coordinated international relocation plan.

Our role is to understand what you are trying to achieve, identify the areas that require attention and coordinate the appropriate immigration, tax, property and professional advice around the move.

Why are you moving to Oman?

The right relocation structure depends on the purpose of the move.

You may be relocating because you are:

• accepting employment in Oman;
• relocating with an international employer;
• establishing or expanding a business;
• investing in Oman;
• moving with your family;
• purchasing property;
• planning a longer-term residence strategy;
• managing business interests across the Gulf; or
• considering a permanent or semi-permanent move from the UK.

Each of these situations can create different immigration, tax and practical considerations. The starting point should therefore be the outcome you are trying to achieve rather than simply the visa category.

Oman residence and visa options

Foreign nationals can obtain residence in Oman through a number of routes depending on their circumstances. These may include arrangements connected with:

• employment;
• family residence;
• business activity;
• investment;
• property ownership; and
• other qualifying residence programmes.

For many professionals, residence remains closely connected with employment. For investors and business owners, the structure may instead depend on commercial activity, investment or property.

The appropriate route should be considered alongside your intended work, family position and longer-term plans.

Employment in Oman

Many people relocate from the UK to Oman because of an employment opportunity.

Employment-related relocation may involve sectors such as:

• energy;
• engineering;
• construction;
• healthcare;
• education;
• finance;
• professional services;
• logistics;
• tourism; and
• technology.

The employment package can be an important part of the overall relocation.

It may include:

• salary;
• accommodation;
• medical insurance;
• schooling allowances;
• flights;
• family sponsorship;
• end-of-service arrangements; and
• other benefits.

For senior employees and executives, these issues should be considered alongside UK tax residence, pensions, investments and any continuing business interests in the UK.

Moving to Oman with your family

Where a spouse, partner or children are relocating with you, their position should be considered from the outset. The family move may involve:

• residence status;
• dependant visas;
• documentation;
• schooling;
• healthcare;
• housing;
• employment rights; and
• the timing of arrival.

The residence route used by the principal applicant can affect the position available to accompanying family members.

It is therefore useful to consider the family as part of the original relocation plan rather than dealing with dependants only after the principal applicant has moved.

Property in Oman

Property can form part of an Oman relocation strategy.

Foreign nationals can own property within qualifying Integrated Tourism Complexes, and Oman’s legal framework specifically provides for non-Omani ownership within those developments.

You may be considering:

• renting initially;
• purchasing a family home;
• buying property within an Integrated Tourism Complex;
• acquiring property as an investment; or
• retaining UK property while living in Oman.

The right approach depends on your intended length of residence, financial position and wider objectives.

Property ownership and residence

Property ownership can also interact with residence. Oman provides a specific residence visa process for qualifying owners of residential units within Integrated Tourism Complexes. The government service currently describes this as a two-year residence visa for qualifying property owners.

That does not mean every property purchase automatically creates a right of residence. The development, property type and applicant’s circumstances should be checked before a purchase is made primarily for immigration reasons.

This is particularly important where property is being marketed as part of a residence strategy.

Renting before you buy

For many clients, renting first may provide useful flexibility. It gives time to understand:

• Muscat and surrounding areas;
• commuting patterns;
• schools;
• local services;
• property prices;
• family requirements; and
• whether Oman is likely to become a long-term base.

A property purchase can always be considered once the family or individual has a clearer understanding of the market and their longer-term plans.

Establishing a business in Oman

Business owners and entrepreneurs may be considering Oman as a base for commercial activity in the Gulf. A move may involve:

• establishing a local company;
• investing in an existing business;
• opening a branch;
• relocating management;
• expanding a UK company;
• operating across several GCC markets; or
• moving senior staff.

These decisions can involve questions around:

• company formation;
• ownership;
• licensing;
• investment rules;
• employment;
• taxation;
• banking;
• premises; and
• personal residence.

The business structure and personal relocation should therefore be planned together.

Retaining a UK business while living in Oman

Some clients intend to live in Oman while continuing to own or manage a UK business. This can create additional considerations around:

• company management;
• directorships;
• salary;
• dividends;
• business travel;
• employees;
• UK tax;
• overseas operations; and
• transactions between UK and Omani entities.

Moving personally does not automatically move the tax or legal residence of a company. Where substantial business interests are involved, the company position should be reviewed alongside the individual’s move.

Tax when moving from the UK to Oman

Tax planning should be considered before departure rather than after the move has already taken place.

Your UK tax residence may continue to depend on factors including:

• your departure date;
• days spent in the UK;
• available accommodation;
• family connections;
• employment;
• UK property;
• business interests; and
• other continuing ties.

The tax position in Oman must then be considered separately. For somebody relocating from the UK, the key issue is how the two positions interact and what needs to be dealt with before residence changes.

Your UK property

Many people moving to Oman retain property in the UK. You may decide to:

• sell before departure;
• rent the property;
• retain it for future use;
• allow family members to remain there; or
• maintain homes in both countries.

That decision can affect:

• tax;
• rental income;
• capital gains;
• mortgage arrangements;
• insurance; and
• your continuing UK connections.

The UK property position should therefore form part of the wider relocation review.

Schools and education

For families, schooling can significantly influence where and when they move. Oman has international and private schools serving expatriate families, including schools offering British and international curricula.

Families may need to consider:

• curriculum;
• admissions;
• school fees;
• availability;
• term dates;
• transport; and
• proximity to the family home.

Schooling can also influence whether the family relocates together or follows a staged move.

Healthcare and insurance

Healthcare arrangements should be understood before relocation. Depending on the employment package and residence status, medical insurance may be provided through an employer or require separate arrangements.

Families should consider:

• medical insurance;
• dependant cover;
• existing medical conditions;
• ongoing medication;
• specialist treatment; and
• emergency cover.

Healthcare can be particularly important where the principal applicant’s employment package only covers the employee.

Banking and moving money

An international move can also involve new banking arrangements. You may need to consider:

• opening an Omani bank account;
• retaining UK accounts;
• receiving salary;
• moving savings;
• funding a property purchase;
• business banking;
• international payments; and
• source-of-funds requirements.

Where substantial sums are being moved for property or business purposes, supporting documentation should be prepared in advance.

Investments and pensions

Changing residence may affect existing financial arrangements. Clients moving to Oman may already hold:

• pensions;
• ISAs;
• investment portfolios;
• company shares;
• UK property;
• private businesses; and
• other financial assets.

Some providers may apply different rules once an individual becomes resident overseas. Where regulated investment or pension advice is required, this should be provided by an appropriately authorised professional.

Knightsbridge can help identify the issues that need attention and coordinate the relevant advisers.

Leaving the UK properly organised

The Oman side of the move is only part of the relocation. Before departure, you may also need to consider:

• UK tax residence;
• property;
• employment;
• business interests;
• investments;
• pensions;
• banking;
• insurance; and
• existing UK immigration status where relevant.

These decisions should ideally be considered before the move becomes irreversible.

How Knightsbridge helps

We approach a move to Oman as a wider international relocation rather than simply a residence application.

We can help you:

Assess

Understand why you are moving and which residence options may fit your circumstances.

Plan

Identify the immigration, tax, property, family and business issues involved.

Prepare

Coordinate the residence and documentation process within the appropriate professional framework.

Coordinate

Work alongside Oman-based professionals where local legal, tax, property or business expertise is required.

Review

Consider how your Oman arrangements interact with the UK position you are leaving behind.

Before you move to Oman

Oman can offer a strong base for professionals, families, investors and businesses looking to establish themselves in the Gulf.

But the success of the move depends on more than obtaining residence. The immigration route, family arrangements, property decisions, tax position and UK interests should all support the same longer-term objective.

If you are considering moving from the UK to Oman, tell us what you are trying to achieve, who will be moving with you and what UK property, business or financial interests you intend to retain.

We can help identify the areas that require attention and build the next steps around your proposed relocation.