India’s Union Cabinet on 12 December approved a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Oman, paving the way for duty-free access on 95 % of tariff lines and a dedicated chapter on temporary movement of natural persons. cite turn4news12 Officials said the pact—India’s first full FTA with a Gulf Cooperation Council member—includes streamlined business-visa commitments for intra-corporate transferees, independent professionals and contractual service suppliers.
Oman has agreed to issue five-year multiple-entry ‘India Business Card’ visas within 15 days for executives of firms with investments above US $5 million. Indian EPC contractors in oil-and-gas and port projects will benefit from fast-track work permits capped at ten working days. Reciprocal provisions allow Omani engineers and ship-repair specialists to obtain project visas for Indian yards under a single-window mechanism.
Amid these developments, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) can assist companies and traveling professionals in navigating the new CEPA-driven visa categories, submitting applications electronically, and tracking processing in real time—helping them capitalize on fast-track business cards, work permits and project visas while staying compliant with documentation requirements.
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In addition, the CEPA establishes a Joint Mobility Committee to monitor visa timelines and recognise select professional qualifications in engineering, architecture and accountancy, reducing onboarding friction for short-term assignments.
Industry groups such as FICCI welcomed the agreement, noting that Indian companies already execute contracts worth over US $2 billion annually in Oman but face unpredictable permit processing. With Gulf economies diversifying away from hydrocarbons, the mobility chapter is expected to unlock new opportunities in renewable energy, logistics and digital services.
Corporates should begin mapping roles eligible under the pact and prepare documentation templates that match the agreement’s definitions of skilled workers and service suppliers. The CEPA is slated to enter into force on 1 March 2026, after legal scrubbing and parliamentary ratification.
Oman has agreed to issue five-year multiple-entry ‘India Business Card’ visas within 15 days for executives of firms with investments above US $5 million. Indian EPC contractors in oil-and-gas and port projects will benefit from fast-track work permits capped at ten working days. Reciprocal provisions allow Omani engineers and ship-repair specialists to obtain project visas for Indian yards under a single-window mechanism.
Amid these developments, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) can assist companies and traveling professionals in navigating the new CEPA-driven visa categories, submitting applications electronically, and tracking processing in real time—helping them capitalize on fast-track business cards, work permits and project visas while staying compliant with documentation requirements.
In addition, the CEPA establishes a Joint Mobility Committee to monitor visa timelines and recognise select professional qualifications in engineering, architecture and accountancy, reducing onboarding friction for short-term assignments.
Industry groups such as FICCI welcomed the agreement, noting that Indian companies already execute contracts worth over US $2 billion annually in Oman but face unpredictable permit processing. With Gulf economies diversifying away from hydrocarbons, the mobility chapter is expected to unlock new opportunities in renewable energy, logistics and digital services.
Corporates should begin mapping roles eligible under the pact and prepare documentation templates that match the agreement’s definitions of skilled workers and service suppliers. The CEPA is slated to enter into force on 1 March 2026, after legal scrubbing and parliamentary ratification.
