Obtaining A Bahrain Passport: A Comprehensive Guide

The Bahraini passport is issued to citizens of Bahrain for international travel. The passport is issued by the Ministry of Interior and has been issued as a Biometric passport since 20 March 2023. There are four types of Bahraini passports: ordinary, diplomatic, special, and travel documents. To obtain a Bahraini passport, one must be a citizen of Bahrain, and there are several routes to citizenship. Foreigners are often granted citizenship, and a foreign woman who marries a Bahraini man can apply for citizenship, although the reverse is not true. An applicant for citizenship must present themselves in person and meet several requirements, including length of residency, language proficiency, and moral character.

Who is eligible for a Bahraini passport?

The Bahraini passport is issued to Bahraini citizens for international travel. The passport is issued by the Ministry of Interior and has been biometric since 20 March 2023. There are four types of Bahraini passports: ordinary, diplomatic, special, and travel documents.

According to Bahraini nationality law, a person must meet specific requirements to be eligible for Bahraini citizenship and, by extension, a Bahraini passport. Here are the eligibility criteria:

• Foreigners: Foreigners can be granted Bahraini citizenship. However, Bahrain does not permit dual citizenship. If a Bahraini citizen acquires foreign citizenship, they will lose their Bahraini citizenship. It is possible to renounce Bahraini citizenship.
• Children of Bahraini citizens: A child born in Bahrain to unknown parents automatically acquires Bahraini citizenship by birth. A child born to a Bahraini father acquires citizenship by descent, regardless of the mother's nationality or the child's place of birth. However, a child born to a Bahraini mother and a foreign father is not entitled to Bahraini citizenship. If the father is unknown, the child of a Bahraini mother acquires citizenship by descent.
• Spouses of Bahraini citizens: A foreign woman who marries a Bahraini man can apply for Bahraini citizenship. However, if a Bahraini woman marries a foreign man, she will lose her Bahraini citizenship upon acquiring her husband's nationality. She can, however, apply to retain her Bahraini citizenship. The non-Bahraini husband cannot acquire Bahraini citizenship by marriage.
• Residence and language: An Arab applicant must have legally resided in Bahrain for at least 10 consecutive years, while for non-Arabs, the required period is 20 years. The applicant must be conversant in the Arabic language.
• Property ownership: The applicant must own property registered under their name in the Survey and Land Registration Bureau.
• Moral character and mental competence: The applicant must be a person of moral conduct and mentally competent.
• Application process: The applicant must submit a letter to His Majesty the King expressing their desire to obtain Bahraini nationality. They must also provide various documents, including their ID card, current passport or travel document, birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable), and proof of property ownership. The application should be sent to the Directorate of Nationality, Passports, and Residence Affairs.

What documents do you need to apply for a Bahraini passport?

To apply for a Bahraini passport, you must be a Bahraini citizen. Bahraini citizenship laws are governed by the Bahraini Nationality Law of 16 September 1963.

There are several routes to citizenship. If you are a foreigner, you may be granted citizenship. If you are an Arab applicant, you must have legally and consecutively lived in Bahrain for 10 years. For non-Arabs, the time period is 20 years. You must also be conversant in Arabic, own property in Bahrain, be of moral character, and be mentally competent.

If you are a foreign woman who marries a Bahraini man, you can apply for Bahraini citizenship. If you are a Bahraini woman who marries a foreign man, you will lose your citizenship if you acquire your husband's nationality, but you can apply to keep it.

A child born in Bahrain to unknown parents is a Bahraini citizen by birth. A child born to a Bahraini father acquires Bahraini citizenship by descent, irrespective of the nationality of the mother or the place of birth. A child born to a Bahraini mother and a foreign father is not entitled to citizenship. If the father is unknown, the child acquires Bahraini citizenship by descent from the mother.

To apply for a Bahraini passport, you must present yourself in person and provide the following documents:

• A letter addressed to His Majesty, the King, expressing the desire to obtain Bahraini nationality.
• Your ID card.
• Your current passport or travel document, along with a copy.
• Your birth certificate, along with a copy.
• Your marriage certificate, if it was issued in Bahrain, along with a copy. If the marriage certificate was issued abroad, an "affidavit conjugal" is required from a court in Bahrain, to be submitted along with the foreign marriage certificate.
• Your wife and children's ID cards.
• A certificate from your embassy, if your name is written in the passport in a dual or triple form, authenticating your full name.
• Your nationality certificate, along with a copy.
• A certificate from the Survey & Land Registration Bureau, stating that you own property in Bahrain.
• A health fitness certificate.
• A certificate from the Commercial Registration office stating your trade, if you are a businessman.
• All education certificates or a letter and copy from the Ministry of Education.
• All previous passports, as proof of the continuity of your residency.
• An employment certificate from your workplace and the Social Insurance Organisation, stating your job title, salary, and joining date. This should have been issued no more than three months before the date of application for nationality.
• Two recent photos with a white background. The size should be 6 cm x 4 cm.

How to apply for a Bahraini passport

Who Can Apply?

According to Bahraini nationality law, the following people are eligible for citizenship and a Bahraini passport:

• Foreigners—a large proportion of the Bahraini population are foreign-born.
• Arab applicants who have legally and consecutively lived in Bahrain for 10 years. For non-Arabs, the time period is 20 years.
• A foreign woman who marries a Bahraini man.
• A Bahraini woman who has married a foreign man and has since divorced can apply to regain her citizenship if she returns to Bahrain.
• Children born in Bahrain to unknown parents automatically receive Bahraini citizenship.
• Children born to a Bahraini father acquire Bahraini citizenship by descent, regardless of the mother's nationality or the place of birth.

The Application Process

To apply for a Bahraini passport, you must submit your application to the Directorate of the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs. You will need to provide:

• A letter addressed to His Majesty, the King, expressing your desire to obtain Bahraini nationality.
• A document containing your ID card data.
• Your original and a copy of your current passport or travel document.
• Your original and a copy of your birth certificate.
• Your original and a copy of your marriage certificate, if it was issued in Bahrain. If it was issued abroad, you will need to submit an "affidavit conjugal" from a court in Bahrain, along with the foreign marriage certificate.
• A document containing the data of the ID cards of your wife and children.
• A certificate from your embassy if your name is written in the passport in a dual or triple form.
• Your original and a copy of your nationality certificate.
• A certificate from the Survey & Land Registration Bureau, stating that you own property in Bahrain.
• A health fitness certificate.
• A certificate from the Commercial Registration Office stating your trade, if you are a businessman.
• All education certificates or a letter and copy from the Ministry of Education.
• Originals and copies of all passports held by you as proof of the continuity of your residency.
• An employment certificate from your workplace and the Social Insurance Organisation, stating your job title, salary and joining date. This should have been issued no more than three months before your application.
• Two recent photos with a white background, sized 6 cm x 4 cm.

After Applying

If your application is accepted, you will need to collect your passport during business hours.

How long does it take to get a Bahraini passport?

The time it takes to get a Bahraini passport depends on several factors, including the type of passport, eligibility, and application process. Here is an overview of the process and factors that can influence the timeline:

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for a Bahraini passport, one must be a Bahraini citizen. According to Bahraini nationality law, there are various routes to acquiring citizenship, including:

• Birth: A child born in Bahrain to unknown parents automatically becomes a Bahraini citizen.
• Descent: If a child is born to a Bahraini father, they acquire Bahraini citizenship, regardless of the mother's nationality or the place of birth.
• Marriage: A foreign woman who marries a Bahraini man can apply for citizenship. However, if a Bahraini woman marries a foreigner, she will lose her citizenship if she acquires her husband's nationality.
• Naturalization: Applicants must meet specific requirements, such as residing in Bahrain for a minimum of 10 years for Arabs and 20 years for non-Arabs, being conversant in Arabic, owning property, and demonstrating good moral character.

Application Process:

The application process for a Bahraini passport can vary depending on the individual's circumstances and the type of passport required (ordinary, diplomatic, or special). Here are some key steps:

• Applicants must submit various documents, including ID cards, passports or travel documents, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and proof of residence.
• The application form should be completed and submitted to the Directorate of Nationality, Passports, and Residence Affairs, along with the required documents.
• If the application is accepted, the applicant can collect their passport during business hours.

Processing Time:

The processing time for a Bahraini passport is not explicitly stated. However, considering the multiple steps involved in the application process and the potential for document verification and background checks, it is reasonable to expect that obtaining a Bahraini passport could take several weeks or even months, especially for more specialized passport types.

In summary, the time it takes to get a Bahraini passport depends on various factors, including eligibility, the type of passport, and the complexity of the application process. Applicants should ensure they meet all the requirements and submit complete and accurate documentation to avoid potential delays.

Can you lose your Bahraini citizenship?

Yes, it is possible to lose your Bahraini citizenship. Firstly, it is important to note that Bahrain does not permit dual citizenship. If a Bahraini citizen acquires a foreign citizenship, they will lose their Bahraini citizenship. However, since 2016, it has been possible to apply to maintain dual nationality, with each scenario decided on a case-by-case basis by the Interior Ministry.

Bahraini citizenship can also be renounced. A naturalized Bahraini citizen may lose their citizenship if they acquired it under false pretenses or committed a crime relating to honor or honesty within 10 years of acquiring citizenship. Additionally, a Bahraini citizen may be denaturalized if they:

• Enter the military service of another nation, even if told not to.
• Enter the service of an enemy nation.
• Cause harm to the Bahraini state.

Marriage

A Bahraini woman who marries a foreign man will lose her Bahraini citizenship if and when she acquires her husband's nationality. However, she can apply to keep it, and if the couple divorces, she can apply to regain her Bahraini citizenship upon returning to Bahrain.

Frequently asked questions