Bahrain Work Visa (Permit) Transfer: How to Transfer Your Work Permit to a New Employer?

Last updated: Apr 28, 2026

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Can you transfer your work permit to a new employer?

Yes, it is possible to transfer your Bahrain work permit to a new employer without having to cancel and reapply for it. This can be done with or without the consent of your current employer.

If an expatriate employee wants to transfer their work permit to a new employer, both the employee and the current and new employers must adhere to specific rules and conditions.

Rules for expatriate employees

The transfer is only available if your work permit is valid for at least 5 days at the time of application.
If the transfer request is made within the last 3 months of the work permit’s validity, the transfer will not be allowed unless the current employer consents.
If your work permit has expired, you must apply for a new work permit rather than a transfer.
Once the transfer is processed, the previous employer will receive a credit note in the Expat Management System (EMS) for the unused period of the work permit.
If you have not completed 12 months under your current work permit, the employer can approve the transfer directly, approve it after the notice period (30 days, or as specified in your contract, not exceeding 90 days), or reject it. If the employer takes no action within 7 days, the application is automatically cancelled.
If you have completed 12 months under your current work permit, the employer can only approve the transfer (immediately or after the notice period). If the employer takes no action within 7 days, the system automatically approves the transfer after the notice period (30 days from the date of notifying the previous employer).
You must continue working for your current employer, and they must keep paying the monthly fees, until the transfer is approved and the new employer pays the new work permit fees.
You must not have any final criminal judgments for a felony or crimes related to honour or honesty.
The transfer will not be allowed if you have violated the conditions under which your work permit was issued, or have any other violation that prevents transfer.

Rules for employers

Until the transfer is completed and the new employer pays for the work permit, the current employer remains responsible for paying the employee’s salary and monthly LMRA fees.
The new employer must pay the work permit fees within 30 days of transfer approval, or the approval will be revoked.
If the new employer has committed violations or does not meet the required Bahrainisation quota, the transfer will not be approved.
If the expatriate has already left Bahrain after the cancellation of a previous work permit, the new employer can only apply for a new work permit once that previous permit has been expired for over 30 days from the date of departure.

How to transfer your work permit?

As mentioned earlier, your work permit can be transferred either with or without your current employer’s consent. Each method requires different documents and procedures for the transfer. Below is a detailed breakdown of both processes.

With the employer’s consent

If your employer agrees to your transfer to a new employer, you will need to gather the following documents and follow the steps for applying.

Required documents

Copy of the expatriate employee’s and dependants’ passports (mandatory):

The passport copy must include all updates, the first name and the father or family name on the first page.
For Indian and Bangladeshi nationals, the page that includes the name of the father or husband/wife, as well as the page with the previous passport number, must also be included.
The passport should be valid for at least 6 months. However, it’s strongly recommended to have it valid for at least 2 years before applying.

Copy of work contract between the expatriate employee and employer (optional):

According to the LMRA, the work contract is optional, but it can support your application.
If submitted, the contract must be in Arabic or bilingual (Arabic and another language).
It should include the commercial registration name or unit number, the contract duration, the employee’s information (full name and passport or personal number), the profession, salary, employment terms, notice period, and the signatures of both parties with the employer’s stamp.

Copy of approval letter/No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for specialised occupations:

For certain specialised occupations, a letter of approval or NOC from the relevant authority is required.
The approval must be recent and should not be older than 6 months.

Application procedure

Log in to the Expat Management System (EMS) and complete the electronic transfer application form.
Ensure that all the required documents are in order and that the information entered matches your passport and other documents.
After submitting the application, an application ID will be generated.
You can then proceed to pay the admin fees either through the EMS or by visiting any accredited bank. If the fees are not paid by the invoice due date, your application will be cancelled.
Once the admin fees are paid, the application will automatically move forward for verification.
After your request is approved, you can pay the fees for the service and print the permit from the EMS.

Without the employer’s consent

If you wish to transfer your work permit to a new employer without your current employer’s consent, you’ll need to collect the necessary documents listed below and follow the application process.

Required documents

In addition to the passport copy (mandatory), work contract (optional) and any NOC for specialised occupations, you must attach one of the following supporting documents:

A no-objection letter from your current employer, or
A termination letter from your current employer, or
A letter accepting your resignation from your current employer, or
A resignation and notice letter addressed to your current employer, in accordance with the Labour Law.

The LMRA notes the following about these letters:

All letters must be official, stamped and signed.
If you send your resignation by mail, attach the receipt from registered mail (or the registered mail/pink card) as proof.
The letter must be sent to the commercial registry address registered with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC). More details can be found on MOIC’s Sijilat platform.
The notice period must be within the legal time frame of 30 to 90 days, as stated in your current employment contract.

Application procedure

If using a resignation route, notify your current employer by submitting the resignation via Bahrain Post to the commercial registration address, observing the notice period in your contract and labour law.
The new employer must file the transfer application with the LMRA at least one month before the intended transfer date, with all required documents attached.
The new employer pays the admin fees via the Expat Management System (EMS) or through one of the accredited banks.
Once paid, the application moves automatically to the verification stage.
After approval, the new employer pays the work permit service fees via EMS or an accredited bank, and the new permit can then be printed from the EMS.
Following the transfer, the former employer receives a credit note in the EMS for the unused period of the previous work permit.

Processing time

According to the LMRA, the work permit transfer service has a processing time of 3 working days, in addition to any notice period that may apply when transferring without your current employer’s consent.

Fees

As outlined in the procedure section, there are two fees associated with transferring your work permit:

Admin Fee: BHD 5
Service Fees:
- BHD 97.5 for six months
- BHD 195 for one year
- BHD 390 for two years
- BHD 90 for dependants

The admin fee is paid before your transfer request is verified, while the service fee is due once your transfer is officially approved.

Sources

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