Govt. introduces new procedure to curb irregular migration to Oman

• Makes No Objection Certificate mandatory to obtain employment visa
• Restrictions to apply exclusively to female migrant workers 

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Sultanate of Oman has introduced a new procedure in coordination with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) and the Omani authorities concerned to curb irregular migration of female domestic workers into Oman, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement yesterday. 

According to the new procedure, the Directorate General of Passports and Residence of Royal Oman Police will issue employment visas to Sri Lankan female domestic workers only if the recruitment agencies or individual sponsors submit the ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) issued by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat together with the employment contract of each Sri Lankan female domestic worker.

Therefore, the recruitment agencies and individual sponsors are mandated to obtain a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat to recruit Sri Lankan female domestic workers into the Sultanate of Oman.

Accordingly, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat hereby advises all the recruitment agencies and individual sponsors who wish to recruit Sri Lanka female domestic workers for employment in the Sultanate of Oman, to abide by the following procedure:



1. To submit the employment contract of each Sri Lankan female domestic worker to the Ministry of Manpower as well as to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman for necessary attestations.

2. To submit the employment contract attested by the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat for authentication.

3. To take necessary actions to register the Sri Lankan female domestic worker with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), which is the statutory body of the Government of Sri Lanka for regulating foreign employment of Sri Lankans by sending the employment contract authenticated by the Sri Lanka Embassy.

4. To then submit a request letter to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat, for the issuance of ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC), after registration of the female domestic worker with the SLBFE.

5. The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat will issue the ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) after verification of the mandatory registration of each Sri Lankan female domestic worker with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE)

6. To then submit the employment contracts together with the ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) issued by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat, to the Directorate General of Passports and Residence of the Royal Oman Police, for the issuance of necessary employment visa for Sri Lankan female domestic workers to work in the Sultanate of Oman.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat wishes to further inform that the Embassy will issue the ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) free of charge for this purpose.  The new procedure of the issuance of ‘No Objection Certificate’ by the Embassy of Sri Lanka is being implemented with effect from 1 October 2020.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat requests Sri Lankan female domestic workers who wish to seek employment in the Sultanate of Oman to be aware of this new procedure and to request their recruitment agencies or individual sponsors to follow the steps referred to above.

The Embassy advises the prospective Sri Lankan female domestic workers not to fall victim to unscrupulous agencies/individuals who promise employment opportunities in the Sultanate of Oman under the category of visit/tourist visa through any third country.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat also requests all foreign and local recruitment agencies and individual sponsors who wish to recruit Sri Lankan female domestic workers in the Sultanate of Oman, to strictly abide by the procedure referred to above and to cooperate with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat to curb irregular migration/trafficking of Sri Lankan female domestic workers.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Sultanate of Oman O.L. Ameer Ajwad extended his sincere appreciation to all the stakeholders in the Sultanate of Oman and Sri Lanka for their kind cooperation and unwavering support in introducing this new procedure to curb irregular migration/trafficking of Sri Lankan female domestic workers.