Work permit for a foreign domestic employee sponsored by a domestic employer.
Bahrain
Bahrain sits in Western Asia. Its immigration system runs 28 distinct routes — led by family, work and short stays and visits, each set out in official law. All 28 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.
- Immigration routes
- 28across 9 route categories, each set out in official law
- Source-cited routes
- 28 of 28cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
- Largest category
- Family8 of the 28 routes — see them under Family below
- Region
- Western Asia
- Capital
- Manama
- Population
- 1,600,366
- Official language
- Arabic
- Currency
- BHD
- Time zone
- UTC+03:00
Immigration routes
All 28 routes, grouped by purpose — 28 of 28 cite an official government source directly.
Work
5 routes
Residence permit for eligible foreign employees of companies based in GCC states operating in Bahrain.
Permit allowing an eligible worker already in Bahrain with a terminated work permit to work in their own name through the registered-worker programme.
LMRA work permit and associated residence for a foreign employee sponsored by an establishment employer.
Multiple-entry professional visa for eligible truck drivers.
Investment
3 routes
Ten-year renewable Golden Residency for a foreign owner of qualifying Bahraini real estate.
Self-sponsored residence for a foreign investor holding a qualifying ownership or partnership interest in a Bahraini enterprise.
Self-sponsored residence for a foreign owner of qualifying residential property in Bahrain.
Talent and merit
1 route
Ten-year renewable Golden Residency for a government-recognised talented individual.
Study
2 routes
One-year residence permit for an eligible student enrolled at a university or institute outside Bahrain.
Residence permit for a student enrolled at a university or institute inside Bahrain.
Family
8 routes
Residence for the father, mother, husband and children of a Bahraini citizen.
Renewable residence for children of Bahraini mothers married to foreign nationals.
Residence permit for the foreign wife of a Bahraini citizen.
Residence permit for the foreign wife of a GCC citizen residing under the applicable Bahrain rules.
Spouse, children and parents of a Golden Residency holder may enrol for Golden Residency.
Dependants residence permit linked to an eligible expatriate worker.
Residence for the parents, husband and children over 24 of an eligible foreign resident.
Residence for eligible dependants of a self-sponsored resident.
Living from your own income
3 routes
Golden Residency for a foreign retiree with qualifying Bahrain employment and pension history.
Ten-year renewable Golden Residency for a retired foreigner not residing in Bahrain with qualifying pension income.
Self-sponsored residence for a retired foreigner satisfying the published income and document requirements.
Long-term residence
1 route
Golden Residency for a foreign employee with the required Bahrain residence and salary history.
Culture, faith and volunteering
1 route
Temporary visa for approved foreign artistic performing groups.
Short stays and visits
4 routes
Temporary business-entry visa for foreign businesspeople and company representatives attending meetings or conducting transactions.
Electronic visa or visa-on-arrival access for travellers who satisfy the current nationality and residence-status rules.
Multiple-entry visit visa issued through the official online or appointment channels.
Temporary visit visa for family, relatives or personal purposes with a Bahraini resident or citizen guarantor.
Official sources
See which Bahrain routes you actually qualify for.
Take the free 3-minute check for your verdict, country by country — then unlock the full report.
