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Visas are required by all visitors to Bahrain except passport holders of the GCC States. All other visitors require one of the following visas:

Visiting and Tourist Visas

Two Weeks Tourist Visas

Tourist visas are issued for stays of two weeks to citizens of the European Union (EU), Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and the USA. Applicants must possess valid, up-to-date passports and a return or onward ticket. A visa fee of BD5 ($12) is applied and can be obtained at entry at the Bahrain International Airport.  Tourist visas don’t allow visitors to engage in any employment.

72 hour/7 day Visas

Obtained on arrival at the Bahrain International Airport or at the King Fahad Causeway. In addition to a passport, the passenger must have a confirmed return/onward journey ticket for the visa application to be processed.

Current requirements to live and work in Bahrain
Anyone wishing to live and legally work in Bahrain will need to apply for the following visas and permits. Employers are advised to arrange and process necessary documents to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority prior to the arrival of their employees and dependents. 

Work Visa. Submitted to and issued by Labour Market Regulatory Authority. Requirements:
-Visa application form
-Employee’s passport
-Passport size photograph
-Sponsorship Letter: a letter of employment indicating employer’s name/organization, commercial registration number, employee’s capacity, salary, contract duration, employee’s name, birth date and nationality
-Copy of the contract
-Health record from an authorised clinic
-BD100 fee

Residency Permit (Family Visa), Submitted to Labour Market Regulatory Authority and issued by General Department for Nationality & Passport Residence. Requirements:
-Application form
-Employee & family’s passport copies
-Employee’s sponsorship letter
-Employee’s contract
-Family health record from an authorised clinic
-BD22 fee per applicant

CPR Card (Identification Card). Submitted to and issued by Central Informatics Organization. Requirements:
-Employee (or spouse) passport
-Sponsorship letter stating names of dependents
-Marriage certificate (for spouse) and birth certificate (for children)
-BD1 fee per applicant

Getting Started

Bahrain's Economic Development Board offers an investor facilitation service to first-time investors who are interested in setting up a business in Bahrain. This service includes acting as the first point of contact to the Kingdom, understanding the objectives of investors, providing them with information regarding the relevant procedures for setting up business, and helping them to form a network of contacts in Bahrain.

Working across Government Ministries and bodies, we can facilitate easy entry to the Bahrain market, ensuring you can make it happen for your business in the Kingdom.

Contact Us 

If you are seeking more information on Bahrain or want to explore setting up a business in Bahrain, contact:

Robert Edge
Business Development Manager – Europe
Economic Development Board – UK Office
26 Carsons Drive
Great Cornard
Suffolk , CO10 0NE , United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)7534 286116
E-Mail: robert.edge@bahrainedb.com

Antony E. Keenan
Business Development Manager – Hong Kong
Bahrain Economic Development Board - Hong Kong Office
15th Floor Chevalier House
45 Chatham Road,Tsim Sha Tsui,Hong Kong

Tel: +852 3171 1199
Fax: +852 2368 2399
E-Mail: antony.keenan@bahrainedb.com 

Kazuo Imahira
Business Development Manager –Japan
Economic Development Board
C/O Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain
1-11-36 Akasaka, Minato-ku
Tokyo, Japan 107-0052

Tel: +81 3 3584 8001 (Ext.52)
Fax: +81 3 3584 8002
E-Mail:  kimahira@bahrain-embassy.or.jp