Obtaining Permanent Residence In Bahrain: A Comprehensive Guide

Foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in Bahrain are required to have both a residency visa and a work permit. The quickest and simplest way to obtain a visa is to apply for a Bahrain investor work permit, which is valid for two years and available to shareholders in a local company. This allows the investor to obtain a residency visa from the General Directorate of Immigration and Passport (GDIP) and to sponsor residency visas for their family members. Alternatively, the Bahraini government has launched the Golden Residency Visa programme, which grants qualifying investors, retirees, and highly talented individuals a 10-year renewable residence permit, with the option to sponsor immediate family members for residence permits.

Foreign retirees, investors, and property owners can apply for self-sponsored residence permits online

Foreign retirees

Foreign retirees must submit the following documents:

• Copy of Identity Card
• Certificate of Good Conduct
• Valid health insurance certificate issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain
• Copy of lease agreement
• Certificate proving retirement after working in the government/private sector or in one of the GCC countries for a minimum of 15 years
• Bank certificate proving a minimum fixed deposit of BD 5000 in Bahrain. Applicants must submit proof of the continued existence of the deposit every six months with a bank/financial institution licensed to operate in Bahrain
• Proof of a legitimate and stable source of income sufficient to support themselves and their dependents
• Copy of the applicant or authorized person’s Identity Card
• Certified copy of the title deed or mortgage agreement
• Copy of the previous residence permit (for new applications)

Foreign investors

Foreign investors must submit the following documents:

• Copy of Identity Card
• Certificate of Good Conduct
• Copy of lease agreement
• Certified copy of the company’s articles of association and Commercial Registration, certifying that the applicant is a partner/ owner of an industrial, commercial, tourism, medical, educational, training, or other company. Applicant’s share must amount to a minimum of BD 100,000
• Valid health insurance certificate issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain
• Bank certificate proving a minimum fixed deposit of BD 15,000 in Bahrain. Applicants must submit proof of the continued existence of the deposit every six months with a bank/financial institution licensed to operate in Bahrain
• Proof of a legitimate and stable source of income sufficient to support themselves and their dependents (minimum of BD 500)
• Copy of the applicant’s Identity Card
• Certified copy of the title deed or mortgage agreement
• Copy of the previous residence permit (for new applications)
• Copy of the applicant’s share certificate

Foreign property owners

Foreign property owners must submit the following documents:

• Copy of Identity Card
• Certificate of Good Conduct
• Certified copy of the title deed stating that the value of the property owned by the foreigner is a minimum of BD 50,000
• Valid health insurance certificate issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain
• Bank certificate proving a minimum fixed deposit of BD 15,000 in Bahrain. Applicants must submit proof of the continued existence of the deposit every six months with a bank/financial institution licensed to operate in Bahrain
• Proof of a legitimate and stable source of income sufficient to support themselves and their dependents (minimum of BD 500)
• Copy of the applicant or authorized person’s Identity Card
• Certified copy of the title deed or mortgage agreement
• Copy of the previous residence permit (for new applications)

Dependants' residency permits are available for spouses and children up to the age of 24

Dependants Residency Permits are available for spouses and children up to the age of 24. This permit is issued to employees' dependants, with the employee acting as the sponsor. The expatriate employee must have a monthly net income of BHD 400 or more, as per the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO) registration. If the employee's family dependants are already in Bahrain on a visit or another type of permit, this permit must be valid.

To apply for a Dependant Residency Permit, the following documents are required:

• 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 First Name, Father or Family name, and any alterations or updates must be written on the first page of the passport. For Indian and Pakistani nationalities, the page containing the father or spouse's name must be included.
• Marriage certificate in Arabic or English: The certificate should be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) for Arab nationalities. For non-Arab nationals, if the spouse's name is not mentioned in the passport, this attestation is also required. For Indian and Pakistani passport holders, the spouse's name must be written in the passport.

Once the application is submitted, an application ID will be issued, and a notification will appear, informing the applicant of the need to pay the admin fees before the due date to avoid cancellation. The admin fees can be paid via the Expat Management System (EMS) or at accredited banks. After paying the fees, the application will automatically be transferred for verification.

The status of the application can be checked by logging into the Expat Management System (EMS) or by calling the LMRA Contact Centre. Once the new work permit is approved, the fees can be paid via the same channels as the admin fees. Finally, the work permit can be printed from the EMS system or the Kingdom of Bahrain's National Portal, depending on whether the employee is outside or inside Bahrain.

Foreign nationals require a residency visa and a work permit to live and work in Bahrain

Foreign nationals who want to live and work in Bahrain will need both a residency visa and a work permit. The simplest way to obtain a visa is to apply for a Bahrain investor work permit. This is a two-year permit available to shareholders in a local company. With this permit, the investor can obtain a residency visa from the General Directorate of Immigration and Passport (GDIP) by presenting a "No Objection Certificate". The investor work permit also allows the holder to sponsor their family members' residency visas.

To apply for a work visa, the following documents are required:

• A completed visa application form
• The employee's passport
• A copy of the contract with the employee's name, birth date, and nationality
• A health record from an authorized clinic
• Academic or professional qualifications for the position

The Bahrain Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) processes and issues all visas before international workers arrive in the country. Bahrain typically processes work visa applications in around 5 business days, but delays can sometimes result in a wait of up to 2 weeks.

Upon obtaining a work permit, employees are automatically granted the right to live in Bahrain. All family members will need a family visa, but this does not extend to extended family members. When applying for a family visa, employees will need to apostille their documents, including their birth certificate, marriage certificate, and educational degree certificate.

The Golden Residency Visa is a 10-year renewable residence permit for qualifying investors, retirees, and talented individuals

The Golden Residency Visa is a 10-year residence permit for Bahrain, which can be renewed indefinitely as long as the eligibility criteria continue to be met. It is available to qualifying investors, retirees, and talented individuals. The visa grants the right to work in Bahrain and allows for multiple entry and exit from the country. Holders can also sponsor residence permits for immediate family members.

Who is eligible for the Golden Residency Visa?

The Golden Residency Visa is available to both residents and non-residents of Bahrain. There are several categories of eligibility:

• Retirees: Applicants must be retired and earning a minimum monthly income of BD 4,000 (approximately $10,600).
• Property owners: Applicants must own one or more properties in Bahrain with a total value of at least BD 200,000 (about $530,000) at the time of purchase.
• Talented individuals: Applicants must be designated as talented individuals by a government agency or counterpart. This could include academics, athletes, entrepreneurs, inventors, award-winning artists, or authors.
• Employees: Applicants must have been residing and working in Bahrain for a minimum of five years with an average salary exceeding BD 2,000 (about $5,300) per month over that period.
• Retired foreigners: Applicants must have worked in the government or private sector for 15 or more years, with an average retirement pension exceeding BD 2,000 over the last five years of residency.

The specific documents required will depend on the category of eligibility. However, some general documents that may be needed include:

• A valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining
• An ID card
• A certificate of good conduct
• A valid health insurance certificate in Bahrain
• A six-month bank statement
• Proof of residence in Bahrain (if applicable)
• A medical report indicating the applicant is free from contagious diseases, issued within three months of the application date

The Bahrain investor work permit is a two-year permit available to shareholders in a local company

Foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in Bahrain need a residency visa and a work permit. The fastest route to obtaining a visa is through the Bahrain investor work permit. This two-year permit is available to shareholders in a local company.

The investor work permit allows the holder to obtain a residency visa from the General Directorate of Immigration and Passport (GDIP) through a "No Objection Certificate". It also enables the holder to act as the sponsor for residency visas for their family members.

To obtain the investor work permit, an individual has two options: company registration or share purchase. Company registration involves registering a new company in Bahrain, while share purchase involves buying shares in an existing company.

Regardless of the option chosen, all foreign investors who own any business in Bahrain are eligible for an LMRA investor visa. There is no minimum investment amount required to obtain the visa, allowing investors to choose the amount they wish to invest.

The requirements for obtaining the investor visa include providing a copy of the applicant's passport, a copy of the Commercial Registration Certificate, and a copy of the previous resident permit (if applicable). Additionally, individuals applying from outside Bahrain must provide a copy of their GAMCA Medical Certificate, and all applicants must provide a copy of their office electricity bill as proof of the business's physical location.

The investor visa offers several benefits, including businessman status in Bahrain, multiple entries without restrictions, and a 1-year multi-entry eVisa for Saudi Arabia. It also provides access to business and investment opportunities, a strategic location, business-friendly policies, and a skilled workforce.

Frequently asked questions