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Chapter One
Preliminary Provisions |
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Article 1: |
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In the application of this Law, the following words and
terms shall have the meaning stated against each, unless
the context otherwise stipulates: |
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Inspector General: The Inspector General of Police and
Customs.
Directorate General: The Directorate General of Civil
Status, Royal Oman
Police.
Director General: Director General of the Directorate
General of Civil Status
Directorate / Section: The Directorate / section of the
Civil Register at the
Directorate General.
Omani Missions: The Sultanate’s accredited eembassies,
general
consulates, honorary consulates, commercial offices
Operating abroad or any acting body.
Civil Register: The Register where events of Civil Status
are entered.
Registrar: The official who is entrusted with Civil Status
works
within the scope of his responsibilities.
Event: Any Civil Status event of birth, death, marriage,
divorce, citizenship, residence and any other event
therefrom.
Entry: Registration of an event on the relevant records.
Card: The identity card of Omanis and the residence card of
foreigners.
Document: Any official paper that acts as evidence for or
supports an application in relation to Civil Status.
Registration Certificate: A document that confirms entry of
an event in the Civil Register.
Live born: A newborn who shows signs of life after the
mother is delivered of it, irrespective of the period of
pregnancy.
Stillborn: A newborn who does not show any signs of life
after the mother is delivered of it, provided that the
period of pregnancy is not less than twenty eight weeks.
Death: permanent seizing up of all vital functions of the
body at anytime of life. However, this shall not include
the stillbirth.
Resident: A foreigner who is permitted to reside in the
Sultanate in accordance with the Foreigners’ Residence Law.
Live birth Document: The document issued by an authority
named by the Minister of Health.
Stillbirth Document: The document issued by an authority
named by the Minister of Health.
Death Document: The document issued by an authority named
by the Minister of Health.
Marriage Document: The document issued by an authority
named by the Minister of Justice.
Divorce Document: The document issued by an authority named
by the Minister of Justice.
Records: Paper records or computer records whether they are
in electronic, magnetic or any other form.
Regulations: The Implementing Regulations of the Civil
Status Law. |
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Article 2: |
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directorate general named the “Directorate General of Civil
Status “shall be established at Royal Oman Police with the
following functions and responsibilities: |
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1. Enter Civil Status events of Omani citizens in the Civil
Register, and issue Identity Cards and certificates
pertaining to the event.
2. Enter on records the births and deaths of foreigners who
are residing in the Sultanate and also their marriage and
divorce events if one party of the event is an Omani
national, and issue Residence Cards and certificates
pertaining to such events.
3. Verify the authenticity of the particulars stated in the
applications for licences for Omani nationals to get
married to foreigners, and certification of such marriages.
4. Verify the authenticity of particulars of applicants for
recognition or restoration of the Omani citizenship and
also particulars of applicants for naturalization.
5. Hold records as necessary for entering the Civil Status
events. The Regulations shall determine the format of these
records. |
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Article 3: |
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A Committee to be chaired by the Director General and
comprising members representing the following ministries
shall be constituted by the Inspector General’s decision:
- Ministry of National Economy.
- Ministry of Interior.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Ministry of Health.
- Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour and Vocational
Training.
- Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Education.
The Committee shall act to streamline the course of work in
the Civil Register and contribute to its development.
A decision on the Committee’s work system shall be issued
by the Inspector General in coordination with the aforesaid
ministries. |
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Chapter Two
Entry in the Civil Register |
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Article 4: |
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A Civil Register system shall be established for entering
the Civil Status events of Omani citizens inside the
Sultanate and abroad, and also of the foreigners who are
residing in Oman in accordance with provision of this Law.
Registration of persons in the Civil Register shall be by
their names, nationalities and addresses. Every person who
is entered in the Civil Register shall be given a fixed
number known as the “Civil Number “.
The Regulations shall explain the contents of the name,
address and components of the Civil Number. |
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Article 5: |
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person shall be entered at the directorates and sections of
the Directorate General as designated by the Regulations in
the wilayas of the governorates and regions, and at the
Omani Missions in respect of Omanis who are resident
abroad. |
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Article 6: |
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In all transactions which require confirmation of an
individual’s address the address entered in the civil
Register shall be relied on.
The address of a minor, absent or missing person or person
placed under guardianship shall be the address of his legal
representative. |
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Article 7: |
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Any person registered wit h Civil Register shall notify the
Registrar of any change in his particulars within thirty
days from the date of occurrence of the change and on the
purpose-prepared form.
With regard to Omanis who are abroad changes in the
particulars shall be notified to the Omani Missions.
In all cases the notification shall be made by the person
himself or his representative. |
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Article 8: |
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The Omani Missions shall hold records for entering the
Civil Status events, and Identity Cards of Omanis who are
within their jurisdiction, and shall inform the Directorate
General of these records periodically and on the
purpose-prepared forms. |
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Article 9: |
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Any entry of a Civil Status event that may occur to an
Omani citizen in the territories of foreign country shall
be deemed valid if it is made in accordance with the
provisions of that country’s laws, duly approved by its
official authorities, and certified by the competent
authorities in Oman. |
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Article 10: |
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The Registrar shall enter an event in the relevant record
once notified of the same and after verifying the identity
of the informant or applicant and their relationship to the
event within three days from the date of the notification.
If the Registrar deems not to enter the event, he must
submit the matter within seven days to the Directorate
General in a note indicating the reasons for that. Within
thirty days from the date of submission the Directorate
General shall state its opinion in a decision to be
communicated by registered letter to the person concerned.
If the entry is refused, the person concerned may complain
to the Inspector General within two weeks from the date of
being informed of the decision. The Inspector General’s
decision on the complaint shall be final.
Civil Status events which are not notified within one year
from the date of their occurrence shall only be entered in
accordance with procedures stated in the Regulations. |
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Article 11: |
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Neither the Registrar nor any other employee shall enter
any event in or practice any Civil Status work if the
matter is in relation to himself or his spouse, relative or
an in-law up to the fourth degree. In such event his
senior or his head shall enter the event. |
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Article 12: |
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The Registrar shall not enter any event in the Civil
Register except in accordance with documents supporting the
application.
The Registrar shall be prohibited from making any erasure,
cancellation, insertion, or addition in the records and
documents, or accept any certificate, form or document
altered unless it is authenticated by the issuing authority
or by those who are concerned as the case may be. |
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Chapter Three
Births |
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Article 13: |
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All births which take place in the Sultanate and births of
Omani citizens which take place abroad shall have to be
reported. |
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Article 14: |
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Reporting of births in the Sultanate to the Registrar shall
be made within two weeks from the date of birth on the
purpose-prepared form supported by a live-born form.
The Registrar shall enter the particulars of the newborn
and give it a Civil Number within seven days from the date
of the reporting. |
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Article 15: |
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For Omani citizens, if the birth takes place during a
travel abroad, it shall be reported on the prescribed form
within three months from the date of birth to the Omani
Mission in the country where it has taken place or which is
the destination of the traveler.
If the period of stay in the country where the birth takes
place is less than thirty days, the birth may be reported
to the Registrar in the Sultanate within not more than
fifteen days from the date of return. However, the
reporting shall be supported by a birth certificate or a
document issued by the competent authority in that country.
In reporting and entering, the rules and procedures as
stated in this Law must be followed. |
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Article 16: |
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Informants with a legal responsibility to report the birth:
1. the father if he was present.
2. one of the adult closest relatives of the newborn who
was present at the delivery.
3. an adult occupant of the same house as the mother of the
newborn.
4. the doctor or any authorized person who delivered the
baby.
5. directors of institutions like hospitals, maternity
centers, prisons. quarantines or other places where the
birth takes place.
6. the headman or chief of a district.
7. mother
Responsibility of reporting shall not rest on anyone of the
above informants except in the absence of the preceding
one. Reporting shall not be accepted from any person not
legally responsible for that. |
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Article 17: |
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The notification shall contain the following particulars:
1. the day and date of birth in Hijri and Gregorian
calendars in figures and in words, and also the time and
place of birth.
2. sex and name of the newborn.
3. name, civil number, tribe or family name if there is no
tribe, nationality, religion, address and occupation of
each one of the parents.
In case of giving birth to more than one child, each child
shall be reported individually.
Further particulars may be added by a decision to be issued
by the Inspector General in coordination with competent
authorities. |
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Article 18: |
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If a newborn dies before registration of its birth, the
Registrar shall first enter its birth, then enter its
death. However, if the newborn is born dead, it shall be
registered as stillborn. |
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Article 19: |
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Anybody who finds a recently born child shall be required
to hand it over to the nearest police station or police
post together with its clothes and any items found
therewith, and shall state the time, place and the
circumstances in which he found the child. The Police
shall make a record to document the incidence including the
newborn’s age as it appears from the circumstances and its
distinguishing features, and also the name; occupation; and
address of the person who found the child. The Police shall
hand over the child and the record to one of the social
organisations of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour and
Vocational Training. In this case , once receiving the
child the organisation shall give the child a name and
shall inform the Registrar accordingly within the period
prescribed by the Law. |
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Article 20: |
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Registration of an illegitimate child shall be made
according to the procedures stated in the Regulations and
in conformity with the provisions of the Islamic Sharia. |
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Article 21: |
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birth certificate shall be issued on the prescribed form
signed by the Registrar and shall be given to the applicant
after verification of his identity. |
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Chapter Four
Marriage and Divorce |
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Article 22: |
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An event of marriage or divorce shall be reported if both
parties involved or one of them is an Omani citizen.
The reporting of the event to the Registrar shall be made
on the prescribed form and accompanied by the marriage or
divorce document, as the case may be, within thirty days
from the date of occurrence of the marriage or divorce.
The responsibility for reporting shall rest with the
husband, wife, husband’s father or wife’s father. |
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Article 23: |
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Authorities concerned with marriage contracts, divorce
certificates or their authentication shall add thereon the
Civil Numbers of both of the husband and the wife, and
shall provide the Registrar with an official copy of these
documents within thirty days from the date of their
issuance, in accordance with the circumstances stated in
the Regulations.
The Registrar shall record in the Register their receipt
after stamping them or marking on them the rregistration
number, and shall retain copies of them as a reference
where necessary. |
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Article 24: |
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The competent courts shall inform the Registrar of the
final judgments passed by them on any event of marriage,
void marriage, divorce, divorcing or divorce sought by the
wife or any aspect of separation between the couple, or
establishment of the blood relationship within seven days
from the date of passing such judgment and on the
prescribed form and in accordance with procedures and
conditions as stated in the Regulations.
The Registrar shall enter every event in the relevant
register. |
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Article 25: |
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Before issuing licences for marriage of Omani citizens to
aliens or requests for certification of the marriage, the
authorities concerned shall refer to the in order to
ascertain the data included in the application.
The competent authorities shall provide the Directorate
General with an official copy of the license or certificate
within two weeks form the date of issuing. |
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Chapter Five
Deaths |
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Article 26: |
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All deaths that occur in the Sultanate and deaths of Omani
citizens that occur abroad must be reported. |
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Article 27: |
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Deaths which occur in the Sultanate shall be reported to
the Registrar within two weeks from the date of death and
on the form prescribed for this purpose accompanied with
the death document.
The Card, if available, shall also be enclosed with the
death document, otherwise the informant shall confirm that
it is not available. |
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Article 28: |
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Deaths which occur outside the Sultanate shall be reported
on the form designed for this purpose and accompanied with
the death document, to the Omani Mission in the country
where the death takes place or in the country of
destination of the traveller within one month from the date
of death.
The death may be reported to the Registrar in the Sultanate
on the prescribed form accompanied by the death certificate
or a document issued by the competent authority in the
country where the death takes place.
Rules and procedures as stated in this Law shall be
followed in respect of the reporting and registration of
the event. |
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Article 29: |
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The Registrar shall verify the identity of the deceased
before registration of the event if the informant has not
provided the identity card or residence card of the
deceased. The Regulations indicate the procedures of the
verification. If the Registrar is not able to conduct such
verification within seven days from the date of being
reported of the death, he shall submit the matter to the
Directorate General to take whatever it deems appropriate
with regard to the registration within thirty days from the
date the matter was submitted thereto. |
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Article 30: |
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Informants with a legal responsibility to report the death
are:
1. The ascendants, descendants or spouses of the descessed.
2. An adult who is the closest relative of the deceased and
who was present at the death.
3. An adult who shared the same accommodation with the
deceased if the death occurs in that accommodation.
4. The sheikh or chief of the district.
5. The doctor who checked the deceased.
6. Directors of institutions like hospitals, prisons,
quarantines or other places
where the death takes place.
The responsibility for reporting the death shall not rest
on anyone of the above informants except in the absence of
the preceding one. Reporting shall not be accepted from any
person not legally responsible for that. |
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Article 31: |
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The reporting shall contain the following particulars:
1. The place, time, day and date of death in Hijri and
Gregorian calendars written in figure and in words.
2. Name, tribe, sex (male or female), nationality,
religion, address and
Occupation of the deceased.
3. Age of the deceased, his place and date of birth and
civil number, if any.
4. Name and tribe of the father and the mother if that is
known to the informant.
5. The place of registration of the deceased if these are
known to the informant, and the former’s card number, if
available.
6. Name and place of residence of the informant, and his
relation to the deceased. |
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Article 32: |
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Royal Oman Police shall notify the Registrar of the deaths
of unidentified persons in a report giving the age, sex,
description and cause of death of the deceased. |
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Article 33: |
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The General Prosecution shall notify the Registrar of the
death of a person who has been executed within twenty four
hours from time of the execution. |
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Article 34: |
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Subject to procedures as stated in the Regulations,
security and defense divisions shall notify the Directorate
General of their military men and civilians, as well as
volunteers who die or martyr in or outside Oman’s
territories. |
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Article 35: |
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If the death is criminal or suspected to be so, the
deceased shall not be buried before the Public Prosecution
is notified and a permission for burial is obtained
therefrom. |
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Article 36: |
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Death certificate shall be issued free of charge signed by
the Registrar on the prescribed form, but shall not be
given to the applicant until his identity is verified. |
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Chapter Six
Citizenship and Residence |
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Article 37: |
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Subject to the rules and procedures as stated in the
Regulations recognition of the Omani citizenship for
applicants thereof shall be made according to the
particulars and information entered in the Civil Register.
Applications for naturalization to and re-acquiring of the
Omani citizenship shall also be considered according to the
aforesaid particulars and information. |
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Article 38: |
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Competent authorities shall provide the Directorate General
with an official copy of the decrees and decisions, issued
with regard to the grant, disenfranchisement, withdrawal,
re-acquiring or loss of the citizenship within two weeks
from the date of their issuing. |
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Article 39: |
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The competent authorities shall provide the Directorate
General on the prescribed form with cases of granting a
residence permit and those of its expiry within two weeks
from the date thereof.
The Regulations shall state the requirements and procedures
in this regard. |
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Chapter Seven
Rectification of Civil Status Entries |
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Article 40: |
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Without a decision by a committee to be established by the
Inspector General’s decision no rectification or alteration
whatsoever shall be made to the entries of the Civil Status
events which are already registered in the Civil Register.
The Regulations shall state the procedures with regard to
such applications and decisions thereon. |
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Article 41: |
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As an exception from Article 40 of this law any alteration
or rectification in the citizenship, religion, occupation
or in the Civil Status entries of marriage, void marriage,
divorce, divorcing, separation between the two spouses,
divorce sought by wife or establishment of blood relation
shall be made in accordance with rulings or documents given
by competent authorities without the need for a decision to
be issued by the aforesaid committee.
The Regulations shall indicate the manner of rectification
of mistakes. |
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Chapter Eight
Identity Card and Residence Card |
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Article 42: |
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Any Omani who is above 15 years of age shall make an
application for an identity card. This shall be obligatory
for males and optional for females. Those who are below 15
years of age may obtain an Identity Card subject to
approval of their guardians. Every foreigner who is
resident in Oman shall obtain a Residence Card.
The Regulations shall specify the format of the card, the
particulars included therein, the period of its validity,
the procedures and documents necessary for obtaining it. |
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Article 43: |
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The Card shall be an evidence of the truth of the
particulars contained therein. No government or other
bodies shall refuse to accept it as an identification of
its holder. |
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Article 44: |
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Nobody shall possess more than one card, and it is
obligatory for the holder to carry it and give it to public
authorities whenever he is requested to do so, and if such
authorities deem it necessary to keep the card, they shall
give the holder a Receipt. |
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Article 45: |
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Subject to the provisions of Article 42 hereinbefore,
anybody who has acquired the Omani citizenship shall apply
within sixty days from the date of his acquiring the
citizenship for obtaining an Identity Card according to the
form specified by the Regulations. |
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Article 46: |
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Anybody who loses the Omani citizenship shall return his
identity card and card of anyone of his family members who
subsequently loses their citizenship, and anybody whose
residence permit expires for any reason whatsoever shall
return his Residence Card within thirty days from the date
of loss of the citizenship or expiry of the residence
permit.
The Regulations shall indicate the procedures for returning
the card. |
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Article 47: |
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If the card is lost or damaged, the holder thereof shall
report within twenty five days of the card being lost or
damaged to the Registrar, the nearest police station,
police post, or the Omani Mission if the loss or damage
occurs abroad, and shall apply for a substitute card. |
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Chapter Nine
General Provisions |
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Article 48: |
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Ministries, government bodies, public and private juristic
persons and individuals shall not accept or employ or keep
in their employment any Omani citizen or foreigner as an
employee or hired unless he is holding a card in accordance
with the provisions of this Law. |
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Article 49: |
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Managers of hotels and similar furnished places prepared
for lodging of the general public shall enter in their
records the particulars included in the card of anybody who
lodges at such places. |
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Article 50: |
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Records, documents and certificates as stated in this Law
shall be determined by the Inspector General’s decision,
and the Directorate General shall create the forms as
necessary for application of the provisions of this Law. |
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Article 51: |
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The originals of the Civil Register records and documents
shall not be transferred to any other authority. The data
included in these records and documents are treated as
confidential. Courts, the Public Prosecution and
investigating bodies may have access to these originals,
provided that the judge, the Public Prosecution member or
the investigator shall come for perusal of the same at the
Directorate General’s offices. |
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Article 52: |
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The records, the data and information included therein and
official copies thereof shall be deemed evidence of their
authenticity unless proved to be otherwise or declared by a
ruling to be invalid or forged. Accordingly, government
authorities and others shall rely on the data entered on
these records in respect of Civil Status matters. |
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Article 53: |
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Any person has the right to apply for obtaining an official
duplicate of the entries and documents in relation to
himself or to his ascendants, descendants or spouses.
Such copy may be given to any party which the Director
General or whom he may authorize ascertain that they are of
interest to that party.
If the application is rejected, the applicant shall be
informed in writing.
The party concerned may complain to the Inspector General
within two weeks of being notified of the rejection, and
the Inspector General’s decision on the complaint shall be
final.
Anybody who has obtained an official copy as mentioned
hereinabove shall be prohibited from using it for any
purpose other than that for which it was issued. |
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Article 54: |
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With the exception of data of security nature, government
organizations may obtain from the Civil Register any data
they may require in relation to their work.
The Regulations shall indicate the manner of obtaining
these data. |
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Article 55: |
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In order to verify the truth of or to complete any
particulars, the Directorate General may whenever necessary
request the person concerned to appear before the Registrar |
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Chapter Ten
Fees |
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Article 56: |
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Subject to the provisions of Article 36 hereinbefore the
Card shall be issued and replaced, and certificates, forms
and particulars given against a fee to be determined by the
Inspector General’s decision after approval of the
Minister-in-Charge of the Ministry of Finance, provided
that the fee shall not exceed RO20. |
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Chapter Eleven
Penalties |
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Article 57: |
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Without prejudice to any more severe punishment stated in
any other law a sentence of imprisonment and a fine of not
more than five hundred Omani Rials or by one of these two
punishments shall be imposed on anyone who:
a. has knowingly given incorrect information or submitted
false documents or certificates in order to obtain a card
or to enter a Civil Status event.
b. has given his card to another person to use it or has
facilitated for that person to use it or pawn it.
c. has deliberately damaged his card or maliciously alleged
that it is lost.
d. has forged a card or certificate issued by the
Directorate General or the Omani Missions.
e. has by impersonation possessed a card illegally and
claimed it to be his own. |
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Article 58: |
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Anyone who violates the provisions of Articles 7, 13, 19,
22, 26, 35, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 53 hereinbefore
shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than one year
and a fine of not more than two hundred Omani Rials or by
one of these two punishments. |
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Article 59: |
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Except for crimes stated in Articles 57 and 58
hereinbefore, anyone who violates the provisions of this
Law or its Regulations shall be subject to a fine of not
more than two hundred Rials. |
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Article 60: |
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The Inspector General of Police and Customs or whom he may
authorize may not proceed with the proceedings in the
crimes stated in Articles 58 and 59 hereinbefore prior to a
final verdict passed therein if the violator has paid in
cash an amount to be determined according to denominations
provided for in a decision by the Inspector General,
provided the amount shall not exceed in each individual
case the maximum fine stated for the crime which is the
subject of reconciliation. |
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Chapter Twelve
Transitional Provisions |
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Article 61: |
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Anyone who is subject to the provisions of this Law shall
apply to the Registrar for entering the Civil Status events
of himself and of his family members or those who are under
his guardianship in accordance with the procedures and in
the time as determined by the Inspector General in a
decision issued by him.
The Identity Cards issued in accordance with the aforesaid
Identity Card Law shall remain valid until they are
replaced in accordance with procedures and in time as
determined by the Inspector General by decision issued by
him. |
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