Bahrain Work Visa 2023: A Guide to Bahrain’s Employment Permit

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Updated February 2023

In Bahrain, there is a favorable business atmosphere that allows for complete foreign ownership without limitations in free zones and no taxes on corporations, personal income, wealth, or capital gains. This liberal setting renders Bahrain one of the fastest-growing economies in the world which translates to abundant employment opportunities.

People wishing to live and work in Bahrain must first understand how to secure a Bahrain work visa and residency permit. We’ve compiled all of the necessary information for obtaining your Bahrain work visa below.

Bahrain work visa

A work visa for Bahrain is a permit for foreign workers who are between the ages of 21 and 60 and have received a job offer from a Bahraini company. The employer or a Bahraini national will act as the sponsor for the worker seeking to obtain a Bahrain work visa.

Additionally, the number of visas a company can sponsor depends on the physical size of its office and the foreign quotas established by national regulations.

Bahrain work visa required documents

The application process for a Bahrain work visa is primarily handled by the employer on behalf of the employee. To log in and apply for a work permit, the employer must have an ex-pat management system (EMS). The following documents must be submitted by the employer to apply for the Bahrain work visa:

• visa application form
• employee’s passport
• passport size photograph
• sponsorship Letter: a letter of employment indicating the employer’s name/organization, commercial registration number, employee’s capacity, salary, contract duration, employee’s name, birth date and nationality
• copy of the contract
• medical test report

Bahrain work visa application process

In order to obtain a Bahrain work visa, the employer has to follow these steps:

1. Log in to the LMRA EMS system and start the process of applying for a new work permit.
2. Print the application confirmation.
3. Check the application status by:
   • log in to the EMS system and use the application ID.
   • visiting the express Services section on LMRA’s website using the application ID, or the expat’s passport number or personal number
   • calling LMRA’s contact centre on +973 17506055 and giving the application ID to the service agents
4. After receiving the approval on the new work permit, pay the fees through the EMS system or visit one of the accredited banks.
5. Print the work permit from the EMS system.
6. Take the print to the immigration office in order to get the work permit sticker.

Bahrain work visa fee

The cost for a Bahrain work visa is BD 100 per applicant.

Bahrain work visa processing time