If you have just moved to Muscat then I hope some of the tips here can help you out...
Resident Permit:
All expatriates who come here to work for a long time, will need a Resident Permit (there are exceptions of course..) . The Resident Permit or ID card or Labour card is one of the most important documents you will need during your stay here. Always ensure you are carrying your ID card with you or at least a copy.
Moving:
The only point I can mention here is -- check the date/time of your move and try not to let it co-incide with the holy month of Ramadan here. During Ramadan, work hours for all government agencies and offices are reduced. Hence if you are bringing in your goods via sea, the port often has quite a backlog and you might end up having to pay demurrage charges as well.
Also if you are moving in from Qatar/UAE and are bringing in your car--you need to check with your shipper about customs. There is a rule that if your car is less than 2 years old then, you can avoid paying customs at Muscat port. However, for that you will need a document from the car company that shows they had paid the tax when bringing the car in for the first time and then that document needs to be attested by the Customs Authority (information on this is a little sketchy but your shipper should be able to help you out..).
General note: While going to the ROP for your license or for car registration, always make sure you have copies of your passport, ID card and colour photographs.
Driving License:
If you are from Qatar/UAE, and if you had a driving license in these countries, you can use that to convert it to an Omani driving license. Once you have your RP, then you need to go to the ROP office (Seeb or Qurm) with your GCC/Qatar driving license. You will be required to fill out a form (make sure you have copies of your passport, colour photographs) which is in Arabic (would help if your PRO or an Omani is with you). There is an eye test that is done. And then if all goes well, you will be given the new license on the spot.
Car:
If you are bringing in your car from either Qatar/UAE, then when your car comes in it will have Export number plates. First you need to get your car insurance sorted out (again you will need your RP for this). Once you have the insurance papers, you need to again go to the ROP (Seeb/Qurm). So first you need to get the car checked at the ROP. Make sure you have all the documents of the car (insurance papers, bill of lading, and there are some documents that your shipper will give you). They do a couple of tests to make sure the car is fine. If all goes well, you will be directed to the main building for your number plates. You need to go to the information counter in the middle and tell the person that you are there for number plates and car registration. You'll be given a token to one of the appropriate counters.
Number plates come in 3 sizes - small, medium, large. Looks like medium would work for most 4WDs.Your car will be registered and you will be given a blue card - called the "mulkiya card".. This is another important card, which you need to keep in your car at all times.
Once you get the plates with the new number, you have to take your car and go to a building right next to the main one (my point of reference being the Seeb ROP) and they will change your old plates and put in the new ones for you. And you are good to go!!
Resident Permit:
All expatriates who come here to work for a long time, will need a Resident Permit (there are exceptions of course..) . The Resident Permit or ID card or Labour card is one of the most important documents you will need during your stay here. Always ensure you are carrying your ID card with you or at least a copy.
Moving:
The only point I can mention here is -- check the date/time of your move and try not to let it co-incide with the holy month of Ramadan here. During Ramadan, work hours for all government agencies and offices are reduced. Hence if you are bringing in your goods via sea, the port often has quite a backlog and you might end up having to pay demurrage charges as well.
Also if you are moving in from Qatar/UAE and are bringing in your car--you need to check with your shipper about customs. There is a rule that if your car is less than 2 years old then, you can avoid paying customs at Muscat port. However, for that you will need a document from the car company that shows they had paid the tax when bringing the car in for the first time and then that document needs to be attested by the Customs Authority (information on this is a little sketchy but your shipper should be able to help you out..).
General note: While going to the ROP for your license or for car registration, always make sure you have copies of your passport, ID card and colour photographs.
Driving License:
If you are from Qatar/UAE, and if you had a driving license in these countries, you can use that to convert it to an Omani driving license. Once you have your RP, then you need to go to the ROP office (Seeb or Qurm) with your GCC/Qatar driving license. You will be required to fill out a form (make sure you have copies of your passport, colour photographs) which is in Arabic (would help if your PRO or an Omani is with you). There is an eye test that is done. And then if all goes well, you will be given the new license on the spot.
Car:
If you are bringing in your car from either Qatar/UAE, then when your car comes in it will have Export number plates. First you need to get your car insurance sorted out (again you will need your RP for this). Once you have the insurance papers, you need to again go to the ROP (Seeb/Qurm). So first you need to get the car checked at the ROP. Make sure you have all the documents of the car (insurance papers, bill of lading, and there are some documents that your shipper will give you). They do a couple of tests to make sure the car is fine. If all goes well, you will be directed to the main building for your number plates. You need to go to the information counter in the middle and tell the person that you are there for number plates and car registration. You'll be given a token to one of the appropriate counters.
Number plates come in 3 sizes - small, medium, large. Looks like medium would work for most 4WDs.Your car will be registered and you will be given a blue card - called the "mulkiya card".. This is another important card, which you need to keep in your car at all times.
Once you get the plates with the new number, you have to take your car and go to a building right next to the main one (my point of reference being the Seeb ROP) and they will change your old plates and put in the new ones for you. And you are good to go!!
No comments:
Post a Comment