Government service
LMRA (Labour Market Regulatory Authority): Bahrain's work permit and expat labour authority
Bahrain's work permit and expat labour authority
What is LMRA (Labour Market Regulatory Authority)?
Who uses it
Expatriate employees (to check permit status, transfer jobs or file a grievance), employers (to apply for and renew permits on EMS), registered workers (through Labour Registration Centres), domestic employers and Golden Residency holders who want a work permit.
What you can do with LMRA (Labour Market Regulatory Authority)
- Check your work permit status and expiry online with your ID number, passport number and nationality, or in the MyGov app using eKey 2.0.
- Move to a new employer without cancelling your permit. After 12 months under your current permit, your employer cannot block the move.
- File an Intention to Transfer on the Expatriate Services System once half of your permit period has passed. This stops your current employer from renewing your permit at the end of its term.
- Apply for a Registered Worker permit and work card through an approved Labour Registration Centre (for eligible workers already in Bahrain).
- Get help, guidance and legal advice at the Expat Protection Centre, set up in 2015 as a one-stop hub for expatriate workers.
- The Wage Protection System (WPS) records salary payments into your bank account, and LMRA publishes guides for activating your IBAN.
Step by step
Open the LMRA permit check page
On lmra.gov.bh, go to Expatriate Employee services and choose View Expatriate Employee Data (Commercial Sector).
Enter your personal number
Type the personal number shown on your Bahrain ID card.
Add your country and passport number
Select your country of origin from the list and enter your passport number.
View your permit status
Submit to see whether your work permit is valid and when it expires. You can also check in the MyGov app with eKey 2.0 or call the LMRA contact centre on +973 17506055.
Sources:lmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhgdnonline.comgdnonline.comfragomen.com
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my LMRA work permit status?
Use the View Expatriate Employee Data service on lmra.gov.bh: enter your ID card number, choose your country and enter your passport number. It is also in the MyGov app (eKey 2.0), or call +973 17506055.
Can I transfer to another employer through LMRA without my sponsor's consent?
Yes, once you have completed one year in your current job. Your permit must be valid for at least 5 more days, and transfers in the last 3 months of the permit need your employer's consent. The new employer must pay the new permit fee within 30 days of approval.
What replaced the flexi permit in Bahrain?
The Labour Registration Program, set up by LMRA decision in October 2022. Workers apply for a Registered Worker permit through private, LMRA-approved Labour Registration Centres, which check their qualifications and keep their records up to date. It is limited to workers in Bahrain whose permits had ended or been cancelled, and former flexi permit holders. People with criminal records, absconding cases, visit visa holders and owners of a commercial registration cannot apply.
How do I check if I am eligible for a registered worker permit?
Use the eligibility check on the LMRA website, send an SMS with your ID (CPR) number to +973 33150150, or call the Expatriate Services call centre on +973 17103103.
How much is the LMRA registered worker permit fee?
A first one-year permit costs BHD 365 (permit BHD 105, health insurance BHD 90, residency BHD 15, a one-time BHD 150 return-ticket deposit and a BHD 5 work card), plus a BHD 5 admin fee paid when you apply. Renewal for one year is BHD 205. There is also a monthly fee of BHD 15.
Last reviewed: 17 Oct 2026. General information based on the official sources cited - not legal advice. Check with the relevant authority before acting.
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