Obtaining a residence permit in Bahrain. Service offer

Manager of a Bahrain company who is a foreign citizen must obtain a residence permit (Bahrain ID) within 3 months after their appointment to the position of manager.

To be able to employ workers, a local company must register in the online portal of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and obtain the status of Visa Registered User. In order to get such a status, the company must provide the LMRA with a special application and a copy of the certificate of commercial registration containing its CR number.

When an employer company has the status of Visa Registered User, it can apply online for a visa for a new employee (work visa). Such an application must be accompanied by the result of medical examination of the employee and their employment contract. It is also important to understand that to obtain a work visa and Bahrain ID, the employee must have a place of residence in Bahrain.

An employee must:

• undergo medical examination;
• give biometric data (fingerprints);
• take 2 photographs against blue background (like a passport photo);
• prove that they have a place of residence in Bahrain.

An employee gets a Bahrain ID for a period of 1 to 2 years and may extend it thereafter.

On 7 February 2022, Bahrain introduced the Golden Residency Visa for wealthy foreigners that is issued for 10 years and may be extended. The holder of a visa can work in the country, enter and leave the country multiple times and obtain residence permits for close relatives.

The residence permit of golden visa holders will be renewed indefinitely once every 10 years provided that they continue to meet the qualification criteria, one of which is staying in the Kingdom during 90 days within any 12-month period.

A golden visa in Bahrain may be obtained on 4 grounds:

1. Golden visa for professionals / qualified workers;
2. Golden visa for real estate owners;
3. Golden visa for retirees;
4. Golden visa for special talents.

General requirements regarding documents for all applicants:

1. Copy of a passport valid for at least 6 months;
2. Copy of a bank statement for the last 6 months;
3. Copy of a valid certificate of health insurance in the Kingdom of Bahrain;
4. Proof of the previous place of residence (if any).

The applicant must be a resident of the Kingdom, have lived in the country 5 years and have a salary of at least 2 000 BHD (Bahrain dinars; ~ 5 300 USD) per month during the whole period of stay.

The following must be enclosed with the application for a golden visa of a qualified worker:

1. Copy of a valid Bahrain ID;
2. Copy of a document proving the basic salary of the applicant provided that it is not less than 2 000 BHD per month.

Purchasing real estate in Bahrain worth at least 200 000 BHD (~ 530 500 USD) is grounds for getting a visa.

The following documents must be provided to obtain a golden visa:

1. Copy of a valid Bahrain ID and a copy of a previously issued residence permit (if any);
2. Copy of a no-criminal-record certificate;
3. Copy of a title document proving the value of the property provided that it is not less than 200 000 BHD (~ 530 500 USD);
4. Copy of a medical report proving that the applicant has no infectious diseases (within 3 months of the date of filing the application).

A foreigner can be a candidate for a golden visa of retiree if they worked in the public or private sector 15 or more years and their average salary during the last 5 years of living in the country was not less than 2 000 BHD (~ 5 300 USD); the basic retirement income of the applicant must be at least 4 000 BHD (~ 10 600 USD).

The following documents will have to be provided:

1. Copy of a valid Bahrain ID and a copy of a previously issued residence permit (if any);
2. Copy of a no-criminal-record certificate;
3. Copy of a document proving the retiree status and basic retirement income;
4. Copy of a medical report proving that the applicant has no infectious diseases (within 3 months of the date of filing the application).

Candidates for a golden visa of talent must be recognized by the relevant state authority of Bahrain (including accredited business incubators) as persons having exclusive skills or gifts in different fields, including academics, business, science or sports.

To confirm the status, one must get admitted by the commission and prove qualifications with diplomas and certificates.

The following must be enclosed with the application:

1. Copy of a no-criminal-record certificate;
2. Document proving that the applicant is a talented person (for example, a scientist, sportsperson, entrepreneur, inventor, artist or award-winning author);
3. Approval of an accredited business incubator in Bahrain (for entrepreneurs);
4. Document proving an academic degree (for scientists);
5. Document proving higher education in one of the priority specialties determined by the Higher Education Council of Bahrain (for scientists);
6. Copy of a patent (only for patent holders);
7. Copy of a medical report proving that the applicant has no infectious diseases (within 3 months of the date of filing the application).

[1] The cost of services is effective as of July 2024.