Bahrain Work Visa-How to Get Your Work Permit in 2024

Bahrain, officially famous as the Kingdom of Bahrain, is on the priority list of people seeking employment abroad. The world’s highest employment rate, business-friendly environment, high salaries, and tax relaxation make Bahrain one of the favorite destinations for expats. However, you must have a valid Bahrain work visa if you are not a resident of the member states of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC). Therefore, if you are planning to relocate to this open economy, you must know what a Bahrain work permit is, what its requirements are, and how to get your employment visa.

What is a Bahrain Work Visa?

A Bahrain work visa, also known as a Bahrain work permit, is a legal document or license issued by the Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) that permits expatriates between the ages of 21 and 60 to live and work in the Kingdom. Usually, it is applied by the Employer or Sponsor and includes residence entitlement for the employees arriving in Bahrain.

Bahrain always remains receptive to expatriate workers, especially from Asian countries like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. There are notable employment opportunities in finance, healthcare, construction, and information technology sectors.

Bahrain Work Visa Benefits

Due to its work-friendly conditions, Bahrain is the favorite destination of many people around the world. Some of the work visa benefits include:

Legal Right to Live and Work

Obtaining a Bahrain work permit gives you peace of mind because it gives you the right to live and work in the Kingdom. It relieves you of the tension of violating Bahrain residency laws.

Employment Options

Securing a Bahrain visa means you are entering one of the best markets with diverse employment opportunities. As a work visa holder, you can explore various jobs in finance, banking, oil and gas, healthcare, and education sectors and select the one that meets your requirements.

Financial Support

Holding a Bahrain work visa makes you eligible for social security benefits. You can access priority services in the healthcare sector, take part in pension schemes, and be part of various social welfare programs.

Sponsorship Facility

If you have a work permit in Bahrain, you can sponsor your family members and close relatives to obtain a Bahrain visa. It means that your spouse, children, parents, and close relatives can join you and enjoy the rich culture in this part of the world.

Opportunities for Travel

Bahrain visa offers multiple travel opportunities to visa holders. You can travel to all GCC countries without any issues and explore their cultures.

Bahrain Work Visa Requirements

Like all other Gulf countries, Bahrain also requires certain documents to issue work permits. Remember that your employer or sponsor will always initiate the process through the Expat Management System (EMS). You cannot apply for a Bahrain work visa directly. Usually, the documents required to apply for a work permit in Bahrain are as follows:

A Visa application form complete in all respects
Passport of the Employee hired (Valid for at least 6 months)
Passport Size Photographs
Employment or Sponsorship Letter clearly showing all the details like the employer’s name or Organisation, Registration number, capacity, the salary of the employee being hired, period of the contract, employee’s name, birthdate/age, and nationality.
Employment letter or Copy of the contract
Educational documents, if required
Health Certificate
Work visa fee payment receipt/proof

Apart from these requirements, the employer or the organization must also fulfill the below requirements to sponsor the foreign workers.

A Valid license from the concerned authority in case of a non-commercial or non-governmental organization.
Latest paid electricity bills for the private sector. If it’s not the employer’s responsibility, then he will provide the lease contract as proof.

How to Apply for a Bahrain Work Visa?

Remember that you cannot apply for a Bahrain work visa directly. It’s your employer who will initiate the process. The step-by-step process is as follows:

Contract Signing

No one outside GCC countries can apply for a Bahrain work visa unless he gets a job there. Therefore, contract signing is the first and foremost step for applying work visa online. The applicant receives a job offer from an Employer or an Organization. The candidate accepts the offer and enters into the contract. Usually, the process takes one week. However, it can be more quick and streamlined with the help of better communication.

Work Visa Application

After signing a contract, the employer applies for a work visa for the selected candidate. He will ask the applicant for a Copy of a valid passport and passport-size photographs. The employer or the organization will follow the below-given process:

Go to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority website https://lmra.gov.bh/ and log in to their EMS system to initiate the application process for issuance of a new work permit.
Click on the New Permit folder and navigate to New Expatriate Permit. Here, the employer will choose a work visa type and fill out the data in specific fields. He will also fill in the duration for which the visa is being applied. Remember that your visa duration should always match your contract period.
Now, the employer or sponsor will apply. Once the application is submitted, an application ID is issued, and a pop-up notification appears saying your application has been submitted successfully.
The next comes the fee payment stage. Remember to pay the admin fees instantly to avoid application cancellation. You can pay the fee via the Expat Management System (EMS) or in accredited bank branches.
Upon the payment of the admin fee, the work visa application is forwarded for verification.

The whole process takes about two weeks. You can check your Bahrain work visa application status in different ways:

Expat Management System (EMS) Portal
By calling LMRA’s contact No. +973-17506055

Document Verification and Medical Tests

After preliminary approval of a Bahrain work visa, the applicant has to submit documents to the Embassy and undergo basic medical tests in their country of residence. The verification of documents and vetting of medical reports in the Embassy of Consulate takes almost one week.

Arrival in Bahrain

When the Embassy or Consulate approves your documents, you can schedule your travel to Bahrain. However, the process does not end here because the applicant has to apply for a residence permit and undergo another medical examination in Bahrain.

Processing Time for Bahrain Work Visa

The processing time for a Bahrain work visa varies with the applicant being in Bahrain or living out of the Kingdom. If the applicant has already arrived in Bahrain, the work permit process takes 3-10 days. However, the process is prolonged to 20-25 days if the applicant is living out of the country. Once the visa is processed, the employer can print it from LMRA’s website and share its Copy with the applicant. The employee can now arrange for their travel abroad.

Work Visa Renewal

The renewal of my Bahrain work visa was a time-consuming process a few years back. But, the Interior Ministry has revolutionized the visa renewal process by introducing a new service. It allows expatriates to apply for visa renewal while sitting outside Bahrain. The Ministry is working in collaboration with LMRA to provide this service.

The expatriates can apply for their work visa renewal through LMRA’s portal. They can use the Expatriate Management System (EMS) for applying for work permit renewal process.

Bahrain Work Visa Fee

Like other GCC countries, Bahrain also takes nominal fees for the issuance of a work visa. You have to pay BD 100 to obtain a work visa.

Bahrain Work Visa Validity

Usually, a Bahrain work visa is valid for one or two years. However, its validity can change depending on your employment contract and the will of your employer. Bahrain offers work visas to Indian and Pakistani people for the following durations.

Six-Month Work Visa
One-Year Work Permit
Two Years Work Visa