Sponsorship Options For Husbands In Bahrain: Can A Wife Sponsor?

In the Kingdom of Bahrain, female expatriate employees can sponsor their husbands on a dependant visa. The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) is responsible for processing the residence permits of the employee's dependents. The wife must coordinate with her employer to request the residence permits. The employer then logs into the LMRA's Expat Management System (EMS) to begin the application process. Once the residence permits are approved, the fees must be paid, and the permits printed from the EMS. Finally, a visit to the immigration office is required to obtain the residence permit stickers.

Sponsoring husband criteria

In Bahrain, wives can sponsor their husbands as their direct dependents if they are female expatriate employees. The criteria for sponsoring a husband in Bahrain are similar to the criteria in other countries in the region, such as Qatar. Here are the key requirements for a wife to sponsor her husband in Bahrain:

• Valid Residence Permit: The wife must have a valid Bahrain Residence Permit. This usually means she should be legally employed by a Bahrain-based employer.
• Eligible Profession: The wife should be employed in specific professions and meet certain income criteria. The eligible professions are typically those that contribute to the development of Bahrain's society, such as doctors, engineers, nurses, and teachers.
• Income Requirements: The wife's monthly salary should meet a specified threshold. This threshold is set by the relevant authorities and may vary, but it ensures that the sponsor can financially support their family.
• Marriage Certificate: The wife will need to provide a marriage certificate attested by the competent authorities. If the certificate is not in English or Arabic, it should be translated.
• Employer's No-Objection Certificate (NOC): The wife's profession and salary should be confirmed by an official letter from her employer or sponsor.
• Bank Statement: Private sector employees must provide proof of salary by submitting bank statements for at least six months from an accredited bank in Bahrain.
• Educational Certificate: The wife's profession should be confirmed by an attested educational certificate.
• Passport: A clear copy of the husband's passport is required during the application process.
• Accommodation Proof: In some cases, the wife may need to provide proof of accommodation, such as a tenancy contract or a similar document registered under her name.
• Security Deposit: Depending on the case, the wife may be required to pay a security deposit. This decision is made by the authorities on a case-by-case basis.

It is important to note that the specific criteria and requirements may vary, and it is always best to refer to the official website of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) in Bahrain for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

Documents required

• A copy of the wife's passport.
• A copy of the husband's passport.
• A copy of the husband's birth certificate, attested by the embassy of his home country in Bahrain and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain.
• A copy of the marriage certificate in Arabic or English, attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the wife's home country and by the Bahrain Embassy in her home country.
• A copy of the latest paid electricity bill.
• Proof of the wife's employment, such as a labour contract.
• Proof of the wife's income, such as salary certificates or bank statements.
• Proof of accommodation, such as a tenancy contract or a copy of the husband's entry permit or residence visa.
• A clear copy of the husband's passport photo with a white background.
• An attested marriage certificate translated into Arabic.
• An International Bank Account Number (IBAN) for the husband.

Employer's role

Employers' Role in Sponsoring an Expatriate Employee's Family in Bahrain

In Bahrain, employers play a crucial role in facilitating the process of sponsoring an expatriate employee's family, including their spouse and children. Here is a detailed overview of the steps employers need to take:

Document Collection:

Firstly, the employer should work closely with the employee to ensure all the necessary documents are collected. These typically include:

• A copy of the employee's passport.
• Copies of the dependents' passports (spouse and children).
• Copies of the dependents' birth certificates, attested by the home country's embassy in Bahrain and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain.
• A copy of the marriage certificate in Arabic or English, attested by the home country's embassy and the Bahrain Embassy in the home country.
• A copy of the employee's latest paid electricity bill.

Application Submission:

Once the documents are gathered, the employer can initiate the process by logging into the Labour Market Regulatory Authority's (LMRA) Expat Management System (EMS). They will then apply for residence permits for the employee's dependents. After submitting the application, the employer should print the application confirmation for future reference.

Application Status Check:

It is essential to periodically check the status of the application. This can be done in several ways:

• Logging into the EMS using the application ID.
• Visiting the LMRA website's Express Services section and using either the application ID or the employee's passport number/personal number.
• Contacting the LMRA Contact Centre via their phone number, +973 1750 6055, and providing the application ID. Please note that their phone service hours are from 7:30 am to 7:00 pm.

Residence Permit Approval:

Once the residence permits for the employee's family have been approved by the LMRA, the employer or employee can proceed to pay the associated fees through the EMS or any accredited banks in Bahrain.

Residence Permit Collection:

After paying the fees, the employer or employee can print the permits from the EMS. The final step is to visit the immigration office to obtain the residence permit stickers and complete the process.

It is important to note that the employee must meet certain income requirements to qualify for family sponsorship. They should earn a minimum of BHD 400 per month. Additionally, the dependents' passports must be valid for at least six months, although it is recommended to have a validity of two years or more before initiating the process.

Residence permits

Dependants Residency Permit (Wife/Husband)

Through this service, employers can request the issuance of residence permits for their employees' dependants (spouse and children up to the age of 24). The monthly net income of the expatriate employee must be BHD 400 or more.

Required Documents for the Residence Permit

• The dependant's passport: The passport must be valid for at least 6 months, but it is recommended to have it valid for at least 2 years before applying. The passport should include all the necessary information and updates, with the first name, father's name, or family name written on the first page.
• Marriage certificate in Arabic or English: The certificate should be attested by the relevant authorities. If the certificate is not in English or Arabic, it must be translated.

Residence Permit for the Foreign Wife of a Bahraini Citizen

The Kingdom of Bahrain offers a residence permit for the foreign wife of a Bahraini citizen. This permit allows the wife of a Bahraini citizen to reside in the country with her spouse.

Residence Permit for Children of Bahraini Mothers Married to Foreigners

Bahrain also provides a residence permit for the children of Bahraini mothers who are married to foreigners. This permit ensures that the children can live in Bahrain with their mother and her foreign spouse.

Residence Permit for Bahraini Citizen's Direct Family Members (Father, Mother, Husband, and Children)

Bahrain offers a residence permit for the direct family members of a Bahraini citizen, including the father, mother, husband, and children. This permit allows the family members to reside in Bahrain with the Bahraini citizen.

Additional reminders

• To sponsor your family in Bahrain, you will need to coordinate with your employer, who is actually the one who will request residence permits for your dependents through the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).
• Before anything else, be sure to prepare the following:
• Copy of your passport
• Copy of your dependents' passports
• Copy of your dependents' birth certificates (attested by the embassy of your home country in Bahrain and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain)
• Copy of your marriage certificate in Arabic or English (attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your home country and by the Bahrain Embassy in your home country)
• Copy of your latest paid electricity bill
• Once these documents have been gathered, the next step is for the employer to:
• Log in to LMRA's Expat Management System (EMS) and begin the process of applying for the residence permits of the employee's dependents.
• Print the application confirmation.
• Check the application by:
• Logging into the EMS using the application ID
• Visiting the LMRA website's Express Services section and using the application ID or employee's passport number/personal number
• Calling the LMRA Contact Centre via +973 1 750 6055 and stating the application ID. (Note: Phone service hours are from 7:30 am to 7:00 pm).
• Once the residence permits have been approved, pay the fees through the EMS or any of the accredited banks.
• Print the permits from the EMS and go to the immigration office to get the residence permit stickers.
• To qualify for family sponsorship, the employee must be earning at least BHD 400 per month.
• The applicants' passports must be valid for at least six months, though it is highly recommended that these be valid for at least two years before applying.
• If a dependent is older than 18 years of age, the process for issuing their residence permit should be done directly through the Nationality Passports and Residency Affairs.
• For children born in Bahrain or issued new passports in Bahrain, they should have a new file opened (or updated) at the Nationality Passports and Residency Affairs.

Frequently asked questions