GCC work visas

Visa & residency

Bahrain Work Visa (2026): Steps, Documents & CPR card (Bahrain ID)

How to get a work visa and residency in Bahrain: the sponsorship steps, documents, medical test, family sponsorship and the rules for changing jobs.

Quick answer

To work legally in Bahrain's private sector, your employer applies to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) for a work permit through its online Expat Management System (EMS). After the permit is approved and you arrive, LMRA records your biometrics, your residence permit is issued, and you complete a medical test in Bahrain before getting your ID card.

How to get a work visa in Bahrain

  1. Get a job offer and contract

    Your employment contract must be in writing and in Arabic (with an Arabic version if written in another language). The permit period your employer chooses should match the contract.

  2. Do the medical check at home

    Take a pre-employment medical exam at a Wafid-approved centre in your home country. The report must show you are fit and be no older than 2 months. If your country has no Wafid centre, use LMRA's Non Wafid medical form at any official medical centre.

  3. Employer applies on LMRA EMS

    Your employer submits a new work permit application on the LMRA Expat Management System and pays the BHD 5 admin fee plus a BHD 30 job advertisement fee for workers outside Bahrain. LMRA lists processing as 21 working days for applicants outside Bahrain.

  4. Permit fee paid and permit printed

    Once approved, your employer pays the permit fee (BHD 195 for one year or BHD 390 for two years) and prints the work permit from EMS.

  5. Biometrics on arrival

    On arrival, go to the LMRA office at Bahrain International Airport for photo, signature and fingerprints. Your residence permit is then issued and a Ministry of Health medical appointment is booked automatically.

  6. Medical test in Bahrain

    Attend the medical exam at the approved centre. Your employer is notified of the appointment by SMS and email and can reschedule it on the National Portal (bahrain.bh). A worker who fails the medical must be deported by the employer.

  7. Get your ID card

    With a valid passport and residence permit, apply to iGA for your Bahrain ID card. iGA lists the fee as BHD 10, and the card is valid for 5 years.

Documents you will usually need

  • Passport copy valid for at least 6 months (LMRA recommends 2 years), with full name and the page showing the old passport number. Indian and Pakistani nationals also add the page with the father's or spouse's name.
  • Pre-employment medical report from a Wafid-approved centre, showing fit, not older than 2 months (not needed if you already live in Bahrain).
  • Approval letter or no-objection certificate from the relevant authority for specialised jobs, such as teachers, doctors, engineers and banking roles.
  • For family members: marriage certificate in Arabic or English, and valid health insurance for each dependant.

Key rules

Permit
LMRA work permit + residence permit
Residence ID
CPR card (Bahrain ID)
Medical test
You need two medical checks: a pre-employment exam in your home country at a Wafid-approved centre, then a second exam at an approved centre after you enter Bahrain, booked automatically by the Ministry of Health. Some occupations on a Ministry of Health list also need a periodic medical exam every two years. Family members on dependant visas do not need a medical exam.
Processing time
LMRA lists 21 working days for a new work permit when the worker is outside Bahrain, and 3 working days when the worker is already in Bahrain.
Sponsoring family
To bring your spouse and children, your monthly net income, as registered with the Social Insurance Organization (SIO), must be at least BHD 400. Your employer applies through LMRA EMS, and each dependant permit costs BHD 90 plus a BHD 5 admin fee. Dependants need valid health insurance covering your residence period.
Changing jobs
Under Article 25 of the LMRA Law, you can move to a new employer without your current employer's consent once you have spent at least one year in your current job. The new employer files the transfer on EMS. After 12 months under your current permit, your employer can only choose a direct transfer or a transfer after notice (30 days, or up to 90 days if your contract says so). If the employer does nothing within 7 days, the transfer is approved automatically after 30 days. Before 12 months, your employer can refuse. Transfers in the last 3 months of the permit need your employer's consent, and you must keep working until the transfer is approved.

Other residency routes

  1. Golden Residency

    Long-term residency that allows you to work in Bahrain and covers your spouse, children and parents. Residents qualify with an average basic salary of BHD 2,000 or more over their last 5 years in Bahrain. Other routes: property worth BHD 200,000 or more, retirees with BHD 4,000 a month, and highly talented people. Fees are BHD 5 to apply and BHD 300 on issue per person. Apply through the NPRA.

  2. Registered Worker permit (Labour Registration Program)

    The replacement for the cancelled flexi permit. Eligible workers already in Bahrain apply through an LMRA-approved Labour Registration Centre for a permit to do a skilled activity in their own name and get a work card. It is not open to new arrivals or visit visa holders.

Official portals

Sources:lmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhlmra.gov.bhbahrain.bhbahrain.bhiga.gov.bhlloc.gov.bh

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Bahrain work permit take?

LMRA lists 21 working days for workers applying from outside Bahrain and 3 working days for workers already in the country, counted after the employer pays the admin fees.

How much does a Bahrain work permit cost?

The LMRA fee is BHD 195 for one year or BHD 390 for two years, plus a BHD 5 admin fee and a BHD 30 job advertisement fee for workers hired from abroad. The employer applies and pays through EMS.

What salary do I need to sponsor my family in Bahrain?

Your monthly net income, as registered with the SIO, must be BHD 400 or more. Each dependant also needs valid health insurance.

Can I change jobs in Bahrain without an NOC?

Yes, after one year in your current job. Your new employer applies on EMS and you attach a resignation letter sent to your employer by registered mail, with notice of 30 to 90 days as your contract says. Before one year, your employer can refuse the transfer.

Can I still get a flexi permit in Bahrain?

No. The flexi permit was cancelled in October 2022. It was replaced by the Registered Worker permit, issued through LMRA-approved Labour Registration Centres to eligible workers already in Bahrain.

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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