India-Oman trade pact allows longer stays, higher transfer quotas for Indian professionals

.

The India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed on December 18, introduces specific mobility provisions that expand market access for Indian professionals, executives and service suppliers seeking temporary entry and employment in Oman.

Under the CEPA, Oman has agreed to raise the quota for Intra-Corporate Transferees (ICTs) from 20% to 50%, allowing Indian companies operating in Oman to deploy a much larger share of senior executives, managers and specialists for overseas assignments.

The pact also marks a major shift for Contractual Service Suppliers (CSS). Indian professionals providing services under contracts in Oman will now be allowed to stay for up to two years, with the option of a two-year extension, compared with a much shorter 90-day limit earlier. Commerce ministry officials said this change would particularly benefit project-based work and long-term service delivery by Indian firms.

"The agreement enhances Mode-4 market access, which covers the temporary movement of individual professionals such as executives, specialists, service suppliers and business visitors, by easing entry conditions and extending permitted stays for Indian professionals in Oman," India's commerce ministry said in a statement.

In addition, the CEPA liberalises temporary entry for business visitors, independent professionals and service suppliers across a range of sectors, including accountancy, taxation, architecture, engineering, medical and allied services. These provisions are expected to support Indian companies in executing contracts, setting up operations and delivering specialised services in Oman.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the mobility chapter of the CEPA creates a fair and predictable visa regime for Indian skilled professionals, while fully respecting Oman’s sovereign employment and labour policies.

In a social media post, Goyal described the mobility commitments as a key outcome of the agreement, aimed at enabling smoother movement of talent and strengthening services trade between the two countries.

The commerce ministry said the mobility framework aligns with Oman’s Vision 2040, which seeks to attract skilled professionals and global expertise, while offering Indian talent longer tenures and greater certainty in one of the Gulf region’s key markets.

The mobility provisions are being seen as one of the most tangible gains of the India–Oman CEPA, going beyond traditional trade concessions to directly facilitate cross-border movement of professionals and skilled manpower.

On the tariff front, the CEPA mentions that Oman will offer zero-duty access on about 98% of its tariff lines, covering over 99% of India’s exports by value, giving Indian goods near-complete duty-free entry into the Omani market.

India, in turn, has committed to reducing or eliminating duties on around 78% of its tariff lines, accounting for roughly 95% of imports from Oman, while keeping sensitive sectors such as dairy, certain agricultural products and gold outside the scope of tariff concessions. Officials said the tariff commitments are expected to significantly enhance price competitiveness and boost bilateral trade flows.