Visa Types

Visa Types & Categories to Apply for Bahrain

You can realize your planned trip to Bahrain by obtaining a Bahrain visa. Foreign nationals can apply to Bahrain visas for reasons tourism, work, study, and other purposes.

GCC nationals (Except Qatar) do not need a visa to enter the Kingdom of Bahrain. Visitors who have been resident in the GCC for a minimum of three months, and possess a return visa for the country of GCC residency valid for at least 3 months can enter, and this varies between different nationalities. Regulations should be checked before travelling.

Bahrain E-visa

Bahrain E-visa is an online way to obtain a visa to realize a trip to Bahrain. Bahrain E-visa is available to all countries except North Korea, Iran.

After completing the online application form and payment of the processing fee, you will receive your e-visa by email within 3-5 working days, depending on the visa processing status you have chosen. Bahrain E-visa is valid for 30 days after issued.

 

Required Documents for Bahrain E-visa

 

1. Passport

  • Copy of your passport’s bio page
  • Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date.

2. GCC Residency (if any)

  • The validity of GCC Residency must be valid for at least three months beyond the return date

        Attach these documents in either JPG or PDF format:

3. Scan of Your Passport

4. Copy of Your Return Flight Ticket

5. Copy of Your Hotel Reservation

  • Copy of their CPR Reader’s printout (If you will stay in your relatives)

 

Processing Time for Bahrain E-visa

The average processing time for a Bahrain E-visa is 2-4 Weeks.

 

Bahrain E-visa Fee

Bahrain E-visa fee is 19-77 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality. You can get exact information about fees here.

 

Where to Apply for Bahrain E-visa?

You can apply for Bahrain E-visa through this website.

Bahrain Visa on Arrival

 Some nationals obtain a Bahrain Visa on Arrival to realize your planned trip to Bahrain.

No sponsor is required. The applicant can stay in Bahrain for 3-7 days with Bahrain Visa on Arrival. An extension can be obtained for another 14 days or 30 days by visiting the General Directorate of Nationality, Passports, and Residence (NPRA) in Bahrain.  Visas are obtained on arrival at Bahrain International Airport or at King Fahd Causeway.

 

Nationals of the following countries can apply for the Bahrain Visa on Arrival:

Andorra

Greece

New Zealand

Thailand

Estonia

Guyana

Australia

Hong Kong

Netherlands

Turkey

Hungary

Brazil

Austria

Iceland

Norway

United Kingdom

Latvia

Paraguay

Belgium

Ireland

Portugal

United States of America

Poland

Chile

Brunei

Italy

Russia

Vatican

Romania

Ecuador

Canada

Japan

San Marino

Bulgaria

Slovakia

Uruguay

China

Kazakhstan

Singapore

Lithuania

Slovenia

Falkland Islands

Denmark

Lichtenstein

South Korea

Croatia

Mexico

Venezuela

Finland

Luxembourg

Spain

Malta

Argentina

 

France

Malaysia

Sweden

Cyprus

French Guyana

 

Germany

Monaco

Switzerland

Czech Republic

Bolivia

 

 

Required Documents for Bahrain Visa on Arrival

 

1.  Application Form

  • Duly completed and signed

2. Photo

  • The photo should be of passport format, a recent whole-face capture with a light background.
  • It must be in the size of 3.5 x 4.5 colored, and the head should take 70-80% of the photo.
  • You must be looking straight at the camera with a neutral facial expression (no smile and mouth closed).
  • Try to avoid uniforms or colors matching the background.

3. Passport

  • Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date.
  • It also must have at least two blank pages.

4. Flight Ticket

  • Return/onward ticket (Two-way ticket)

5. Proof of Accommodation

  • Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)
  • In case of staying at a private house, submit a copy of the house owner’s resident card (both front and backside) and fill out the address on the application form.

6. Proof of Financial Means

  • Personal bank statements

 

Bahrain Visa on Arrival Fee

Bahrain Visa on Arrival fee is 65-80 USD. Applicants will pay the fee at the Entry Posts of Immigration at Bahrain.

Bahrain Tourist Visa

If you are not eligible for Bahrain E- Visa or on Arrival Visa, you can obtain your visa from the nearest embassy/consulate of Bahrain. Even you will apply for a visa via the embassy, you must submit your online application via this website. You will provide your nationality and purpose of visit. After you provide your personal information, the consular staff will contact you and notify you about the further procedure. The visa that you obtain from the embassy of Bahrain is for multiple entries. With that, you can stay in Bahrain for up to 30 days within a three-month period. Bahrain Tourist visa is issued for applicants intending to visit Bahrain for tourism and sightseeing. You can apply for a Bahrain Tourist visa in order to realize your tourist activities. 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.

 

Stay Period of Bahrain Tourist Visa:
  • Single entry visa valid for 2 weeks per stay (can be extended for 2 weeks)
  • Multiple entry visa which is valid for 3 months, 1 month for each stay (can be extended for 2 weeks).
  • Multiple entry visa which is valid for 1 year, 3 months for each stay (can be extended for 2 weeks).
  • Sponsored visa (Single entry) valid for 1 week per stay (can be extended for 1 week).
  • Sponsored visa (Single entry) valid for 2 weeks per stay (can be extended for 2 weeks).
  • Sponsored visa (Single entry) valid for 1 month per stay (can be extended for 1 month).
  • Sponsored visa (Multiple entry) valid for 1 month and 2 weeks per stay (can be extended for 2 weeks).

 

Required Documents for Bahrain Tourist Visa

 

1.  Application Form

  • Duly completed and signed

2. Photo

  • The photo should be of passport format, a recent whole-face capture with a light background.
  • It must be in the size of 3.5 x 4.5 colored, and the head should take 70-80% of the photo.
  • You must be looking straight at the camera with a neutral facial expression (no smile and mouth closed).
  • Try to avoid uniforms or colors matching the background.

3. Passport and Copy of the Main Page

  • Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date.
  • It also must have at least two blank pages.

4. Copy of ID Card

5. Copy of Residence Permit/Visa

  • If your country of residence and citizenship are different

6. Flight Reservation

  • Two-way ticket

7. Proof of Financial Means

  • Personal bank statements 

8. Proof of Accommodation

  • Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)
  • In case of staying at a private house, submit a copy of the house owner’s resident card (both front and backside) and fill out the address on the application form.

*Additional documents may be required by the embassy.

 

Processing Time for Bahrain Tourist Visa

The average processing time for a Bahrain Tourist visa is 3-7 working days. It depends on your visa application country.

 

Bahrain Tourist Visa Fee

Bahrain Tourist visa fee is 12-77 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.

 

Where to Apply for Bahrain Tourist Visa?

You will apply for a Bahrain Tourist visa in Bahrain visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.

Bahrain Work Visa

Bahrain Work visa is intended to permit foreign nationals to obtain a long-term visa, allowing them to stay in Bahrain for a longer period. This visa applies to those who want to work within the legal frame of employment upon taking an employment permit and the work permit as per appointed procedure from competent regional authorities. Employers are advised to arrange and gather necessary documents to the Labour Bahrain Market Regulatory Authority before the arrival of their employees. If the Labour Market Regulatory Authority approves your work permit application, you get the right to work and live in Bahrain for up to two years. You are also allowed to bring your family members with you, but they are not allowed to work. The Bahrain work permit along with the residence permit make up the so-called Bahrain work visa.

 

Required Documents for Bahrain Work Visa

 

1. Application Form

  • Duly completed and signed

2. Photo

  • The photo should be of passport format, a recent whole-face capture with a light background.
  • It must be in the size of 3.5 x 4.5 colored, and the head should take 70-80% of the photo.
  • You must be looking straight at the camera with a neutral facial expression (no smile and mouth closed).
  • Try to avoid uniforms or colors matching the background.

3. Passport and Copy of the Main Page

  • Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date.
  • It also must have at least two blank pages.

4. Copy of ID Card

5. Copy of Residence Permit/Visa

  • If your country of residence and citizenship are different

6. Sponsorship Letter

  • Letter of employment indicating:
    • Employer’s name/organization,
    • Commercial registration number,
    • Employee’s capacity, salary, contract duration, employee’s name, birth date, and nationality

7. Proof of Professional Status

  • Employment contract
  • Certificate of employment
  • Extract from the trade and companies’ register etc.

8. Health Certificate

  • Health record from the authorized clinic

9. Academic/Personal Qualifications of the Applicant

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) of professional career, specifying the certificates, diplomas, and qualifications you have obtained

*Additional documents may be required.

 

Processing Time for Bahrain Work Visa

The average processing time for a Bahrain Work visa is 3-14 working days. It depends on your visa application country.

 

Bahrain Work Visa Fee

Bahrain Work visa fee is 40-266 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.

 

Where to Apply for Bahrain Work Visa?

Bahrain Work Visa will be issued by Bahrain Labor Market Regulatory Authority. Your employers will arrange and process the required documents to the Labor Market Regulatory Authority.

Bahrain Family Visa (Residence Permit)

Bahrain Family visa (Residence Permit) is issued to family members of employees who work in Bahrain. This visa allows family members to reside in Bahrain.

 

Required Documents for Bahrain Family Visa

 

1.  Application Form

  • Duly completed and signed.

2. Employee’s and Family’s Passport Copies

  • The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date. But it is highly recommended to have it valid for at least 2 years before applying
  • It also must have at least two blank pages.

3. Copy of ID Card of Family Members

  • Dependants Identity Card (If available)

4. Copy of Residence Permit/Visa

  • If their country of residence and citizenship are different

5. Proof of Kinship

  • Proof of relationship between Bahraini resident and applicants: (in Arabic or English)
    • Marriage Certificate
    • Birth Certificate etc.
  • The Certificate should be ratified by the embassy of the employee’s country in Bahrain and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain (MOFA)

6. Employee’s Sponsorship Letter

  • Sponsorship Letter which confirms that the employee is the sponsor for family members

7. Employee’s Contract

  • The employment contract between the employee and employer

8. Medical Certificate

  • Family Health Record from an authorized clinic

9. For Minors:

  • For children accompanying their working mother/ father:
    • No objection letter (NOC) from the dependant’s father/mother
    • Or Divorce Certificate and a statement proving the mother’s/ father custody of the dependants
    • Or Death Certificate if the father/mother is dead

*Additional documents may be required.

Note:

  • The monthly net income of the foreign employee (as per SIO registration) must be 400 BD (1.062 USD) or more.
  • Wives and grown-up children (above 18 years old) who are on a family visa are not supposed to work in Bahrain unless they change from family visa to work permit.

 

Processing Time for Bahrain Family Visa

The average processing time for a Bahrain Family visa is 1-10 working days. It depends on your visa application country.

 

Bahrain Family Visa Fee

Bahrain Family visa fee is 59 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.

 

Where to Apply for Bahrain Family Visa?

Bahrain Family Visa will be submitted to Bahrain Labor Market Regulatory Authority and will be issued by the General Department for Nationality & Passport Residence.

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. The legal representative must attend in-person to implement the service.

 

Required Documents for Bahrain Student Visa

 

1.  Application Form

  • Duly completed and signed

2. Copy of ID Card

  • A copy of the applicant's ID or his legal representative ID

3. Passport’s Copy of the Main Page

  • Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date.
  • It also must have at least two blank pages.

4. Letter from University

  • Official Letter from the University/Institute the student has been enrolled
  • Must state that the applicant is the full-time student

5. Copy of Residence Permit/Visa

  • If your country of residence and citizenship are different.

*Additional documents may be required.

Note: The applicant should be a full-time student. 

 

Processing Time for Bahrain Student Visa

The average processing time for a Bahrain Student visa is 2 months or longer. It depends on your visa application country.

 

Bahrain Student Visa Fee

Bahrain Student visa fee is 91 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.

 

Where to Apply for Bahrain Student Visa?

Bahrain Student Visa will be issued by Nationality, Passports, and Residence Affairs. The granting of the Visa is at the discretion of the General Directorate of Nationality, Passport, and Residence (GDNPR) of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

FAQ

What should I do if my application is not approved?

In case of your application is not approved, a notification will be sent to your email and it will mention who to contact (either NPRA (Bahrain Nationality, Passport and Residence Affairs) or the embassy).

Can I extend the validity of my Bahrain E-visa?

Yes, you can extend your Bahrain E-visa once you are in Bahrain by visiting the main office of NPRA.

If I lose my application Reference Number, what can I do?

In this case, you can contact NPRA and provide your name, nationality and passport number. You must send the details using the same email which you used when applying for E-visa.

If I stay in the Kingdom of Bahrain Airport for a few hours, do I need to get a Bahrain transit visa?

If your stay in airport is less than 8 hours, you don’t need to obtain a Bahrain Transit visa and you should not leave the airport.

Is it possible to cancel my Bahrain E-visa?

Yes, it is. In this case, you should send a visa cancelation request using your e-mail which you used to register and include your visa reference number. Then you will receive a notification when your visa has been cancelled.

What is the required validity of passport to travel to Bahrain?

The minimum validity of the passport should be 6 months in order to travel to Bahrain.

What is the local currency of Bahrain?

Bahraini Dinar is the local currency of Bahrain. 1 BD equals 2,65 USD.

How long is Bahrain E-visa valid?

Bahrain E-visa is valid for 30 months from the issuance date.