ID CARD DOESN’T NEED HOME ADDRESS – YET

Home address will help in improving security and better delivery of services

Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Residents without an official home address can still renew ID and resident cards by giving their company details, the Royal Oman Police has confirmed.

The force clarified the process after an announcement on Sunday that a home address would be required to renew or apply for the cards in Oman. A police spokesman said: “Expats entering the country who are not yet sure of their permanent address may provide the closest address that they can be reached on, like their sponsor’s address or company address. For those who do not have a personal P.O. Box for their address, that information won’t be necessary. “

He said the force would prefer a home address, adding: “Updating your information and providing more details would benefit all aspects of government procedure and work. There is no doubt that this step would be an advantage for the population, and government agencies. “With regards to efficiency in areas of service, providing this information would make transactions easier, as information is already in the system for easy access.

“This direction also serves aspects of security, with regards to reaching individuals or also with regards to travelling out of country, and making sure a person’s details are verified and accurate.”

A single unified address system may be just around the corner for Oman, but tens of thousands of residents currently live in homes that do not have a designated fixed address.

Newly arrived expat workers, who account for almost half the population, are also of No Fixed Abode until they can find accommodation. They can’t however, sign a rental deal without a resident card.