Driving licence to stay valid despite change in residency status

The Royal Oman Police (ROP) confirmed that the driving licence issued by the concerned authority in Oman is valid till its expiry period and any change in the residency status of the holder of the licence will not affect his/ her right to drive in Oman roads.

"Although the validity of a driving licence expires on its validity date, an expatriate can very well return to the Royal Oman Police Directorate of Traffic for renewal and to attach to the new residence permit. However, he or she need not take the driving test again," a highly placed source from ROP confirmed to the Observer.

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There was unconfirmed news taking round saying that the sponsor or company will be held responsible for all fines and violations resulting from the expatriate’s driving license if he leaves the country. "One cannot travel outside the country without clearing the fines and other dues owing to the departments and hence, the question of not paying doesn’t arise," he added.

If the expatriate stays away from the Sultanate of Oman for more than six months, the resident permit is automatically cancelled but not the Driving Licence

Oman's driving license is linked to the expatriate civil number and the commercial registry of the company or sponsor and if the expatriate stays away from the Sultanate of Oman for more than six months, the resident permit is automatically cancelled but not the Driving Licence. "The driving licence can easily be transferred to the new residence permit."

A person can renew an expired licence or a licence expiring within the next 30 days or affect change of residency permit in the license by first activating the electronic authentication (PKI) feature of Civil Status Cards through ROP Service Centers or by first activating Mobile PKI of Smartphone cards by electronic certification system through service providers (telecommunications companies).

The only conditions applicable for the renewal of the D/L are the license holder must not have any unpaid traffic offenses nor should he have an expired vehicle registration for more than one year. After completing the vision test from an approved test center, the licence holder can approach any of the ROP services departments to complete the renewal procedures in the next thirty days as the vision test results are valid only for 30 days from the recording date.