Do you know which country's name means "two seas'' in Arabic? The answer is Bahrain. Bahrain is the smallest Arabic country in size. It covers only 765,3 square km. Despite its small size Bahrain is successful in attracting tourists. More than four million people travel to Bahrain per year. Considering that some of our readers can be interested in visiting Bahrain, we decided to talk about the Bahrain visa policy, Bahrain visa requirements, and more. In this blog, you will get answers to these questions: how to apply for Bahrain visa, what are Bahrain visa requirements, how much is Bahrain visa fee, what are Bahrain visa types, and more.
Bahrain Visa Types
Tourists from all parts of the world can travel to Bahrain after successfully completing the Bahrain visa application process. Foreign nationalities can visit Bahrain for various reasons such as tourism, education, work, and further. Keep in mind that GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) nationals (Except Qatar) do not need a visa to enter Bahrain. Guests who have been resident in the GCC for a minimum of three months and own a return visa for the country of GCC residency valid for at least three months can enter, and this varies between different nationalities. Bahrain visa types are: ● Bahrain E-visa ● Bahrain Visa on Arrival ● Bahrain Tourist Visa ● Bahrain Work Visa ● Bahrain Family Visa (Residence Permit) ● Bahrain Student Visa
Bahrain E-visa
Undoubtedly, Bahrain E-visa is the best way to get permission to visit the country. Almost all nationalities can apply for Bahrain visa online, except North Korea and Iran. After finishing the online Bahrain visa application process and paying the Bahrain visa fee, you will receive an e-visa by email within 3-5 working days (it depends on the visa processing status you have chosen). What about Bahrain online visa check? The applicant can Bahrain online visa check on the same website. The documents that the applicant will provide in the Bahrain visa application process are: ● Passport. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date, and you should provide a copy of your passport’s bio page ● GCC Residency (If the applicant has). The validity of GCC Residency must be valid for at least three months beyond the return date ● Scan of your passport ● Copy of your return flight ticket ● Copy of your hotel reservation. Copy of applicants CPR Reader’s printout (If the applicant will stay in his relatives) The applicant should attach the last three documents in either JPG or PDF format. Bahrain visa fee for online applications changes between 19-77 USD, and the average processing time for a Bahrain E-visa is 3-5 working days. The processing time and charge may vary depending on your nationality. How can I apply for Bahrain visa online? You can apply for an online visa at evisa.
Bahrain Visa on Arrival
Some nationalities can visit Bahrain via Visa on Arrival. There are 63 countries on that list. This type of visa gives a chance to stay in the country for 3-7 days, and the applicant can extend the duration if he(she) wants. An extension can be obtained for another 14 days or 30 days. Applicants can get an extension from the General Directorate of Nationality, Passports, and Residence (NPRA) in Bahrain. Where can I get the visa? Applicants can receive their permission at Bahrain International Airport or King Fahd Causeway. Bahrain Visa on Arrival fee is 65-80 USD. Applicants will pay the charge at the Entry Posts of Immigration at Bahrain. The required documents are: ● Application form Fully completed and signed by the applicant ● Photo Passport format, a recent whole-face capture with a light background, size of 3.5 x 4.5 coloured, and the head should take 70-80% of the photo, neutral facial expression. Also, try to avoid clothes or colours matching the background ● Passport The applicant's passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date and has two free pages ● Flight ticket Two-way ticket ● Proof of accommodation Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.). If the applicants will stay at a private house, they must submit a copy of the house owner's resident card and write the address on the application form ● Proof of financial means Personal bank statements
Bahrain Tourist Visa
I am not eligible for E- Visa or Arrival Visa. Then how to apply for Bahrain visa? You can go to the nearest embassy or consulate of Bahrain to apply for a visa. First of all, the applicant will provide nationality and purpose of visit. After that, the consular team will contact the applicant and notify him about the further procedure. The visa that the applicant will receive from the embassy is for multiple entries. A tourist visa allows you to stay in Bahrain for a maximum of 30 days within a three-month period. Who can apply? It is for people who want to visit the country for sightseeing and tourism activities. Tourist visas are issued for stays of 14 days to residents of the European Union, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, and the USA. The documents that you will need to collect are almost the same as a Visa on Arrival (check our website).
Validity of Bahrain Tourist Visa
● Single entry visa valid for two weeks per stay (can be extended for two weeks) ● Multiple entry visa valid for three months, a month for each stay (can be extended for two weeks) ● Multiple entry visa valid for a year, three months for each stay (can be extended for two weeks) ● Sponsored visa (Single entry) valid for a week per stay (can be extended for a week) ● Sponsored visa (Single entry) valid for two weeks per stay (can be extended for two weeks) ● Sponsored visa (Single entry) valid for a month per stay (can be extended for a month) ● Sponsored visa (Multiple entries) valid for a month and two weeks per stay (can be extended for two weeks)
Bahrain Work Visa
Is there a special visa for foreigners that want to work? Yes, there is a Bahrain Work Visa for people who want to stay in the country for a long period and work. It will allow you to work until the validity of the visa ends. Employers should arrange and gather necessary documents for the Labour Bahrain Market Regulatory Authority before the coming of their workers. If the Labour Market Regulatory Authority accepts your work permit application, you receive the right to work and live in Bahrain for a maximum of two years. Furthermore, applicants who get permission to work can bring their families, but the family members didn't have permission to work. When it comes to required documents, it is almost the same with tourist and arrival visas. Some additional documents are: ● Sponsorship letter. The letter should include the name of the employer and organization, commercial registration number, salary, contract duration, worker's name, birth date, and birthplace ● Proof of professional status. Employment contract and certificate, extract from the trade and companies' registration ● Health certificate. Health record from the authorized clinic ● Academic and personal qualifications. CV, certificates, diplomas, and other papers related to career and skills Bahrain Work Visa fee is 40-266 USD and the average processing time for a Bahrain Work Visa is 3-14 working days. The fee and processing time may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.
Bahrain Family Visa
.jpg)
As we said above, if one member of the family has permission to work in Bahrain, other members also get a chance to live in the country. The name of the visa that they can apply for is Bahrain Family Visa or Residence Permit. What is the fee for a Bahrain Family Visa? Of course, it can change depending on the country, but the average price is 59 USD. When it comes to the processing time, it changes between 1-10 working days. The documents to provide are: ● Application form ● Employee’s and family’s passport copies ● Copy of ID card of family members ● Copy of residence permit/visa ● Proof of kinship ● Employee’s sponsorship letter ● Employee’s contract ● Medical certificate ● Some documents for minors Also, there are some extra requirements in the Bahrain visa policy ● The monthly salary of the foreign employee must be 1062 USD or more ● Family members can not work until they get a work license
Bahrain Student Visa
The last type of visa that I want to mention in this topic is Bahrain Student Visa. Foreign nationals who visit Bahrain for study, training, and research can apply for Bahrain Student Visa. The student visa is issued to individuals who enrolled in a University or Institute in the Kingdom of Bahrain for more than one year. There are just four public universities in Bahrain. They are the Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain Polytechnic, College of Health Sciences, and the University of Bahrain. Bahrain Student Visa fee is 91 USD and the processing time is almost two months (it may vary depending on the country). Required documents are: ● Application form ● Copy of ID Card ● Passport’s copy of the main page ● Letter from University ● Copy of residence permit and visa
