Would you like to live and work in Bahrain? Here is your guide to Bahrain visas and citizenship.

Bahrain is a small nation located in the heart of the Persian Gulf. It is only 760 Km2 in size with a population of over 1.5 million. Even though it is a small sovereign state, it is the fourth-most densely populated destination in the world.

Why live in Bahrain?

Bahrain locals are some of the friendliest in the world and speak enough English that Expats in Bahrain can get by pretty easily. As an Expat, raising children in Bahrain is great with the quality of education as well as the availability of childcare and education being highly rated. It doesn’t, however, come cheap!

In fact, according to a 2018 survey, Expats in Bahrain are apparently the happiest in the world. It is easy to settle into this Gulf State with one Expat in Bahrain summing it up “I don’t feel like an Expat. I feel at home.” Bahrain continues to do well in the annual survey.

As for working in Bahrain, working hours, job security and overall job satisfaction also rate highly. Expats in Bahrain have higher earnings than the worldwide average – that would definitely make you happy! The other big bonus is that there is no personal or income tax on your monthly income. There is only a 1% deduction for unemployment for Expats in Bahrain.

Bahrain Family Visas

Your spouse is a Bahrain citizen or permanent resident, you are eligible for residency.

Bahrain Work Visas

Most Bahrain Expats coming to work in the country are recruited from overseas and sponsored by their employer for the purpose of work and residence. See the Links and Resources section below for help on searching for jobs. The employer needs to show that no local person can fulfil the role before they recruit from overseas. Your employer will arrange for your entry visa before you arrive.

Bahrain has an E-Visa system which makes applying for visas a lot easier.

Bahrain Tourist Visa

A Bahrain tourist visa is valid for 1 month and can be extended by an additional two weeks. Please use the Visahq tool on the right to see if you need a Bahrain tourist visa.

Bahrain citizenship does not come easily. A Bahrain passport was recently ranked 63rd most powerful, and it offers visa-free access to 82 destinations.

Bahrain Citizenship through Family

If one or both of your parents were citizens when you were born, you are probably also a citizen.

If your paternal grandfather is a citizen of Bahrain at birth, you may be able to apply for citizenship of Bahrain.

Bahrain Citizenship through Marriage

If your husband is a citizen, you can apply for citizenship after being resident for a period of 5 years.

Bahrain Citizenship through Family

If you are a Bahrain Expat, you can become a naturalized citizen. You need to have lived in Bahrain for a period of at least twenty-five consecutive years or at least fifteen consecutive years if you are from an Arab country.

Bahrain does not offer a Citizenship by Investment or Residency by Investment option.

Expat in Bahrain

Do you have experience of being an Expat in Bahrain? We’d love to hear from you about why you chose to move to Bahrain and the pros and cons of living and working in Bahrain. We’d be very interested in your Expat experience with Bahrain visas and residency permits, Bahrain citizenship, Bahrain nationality, and Bahrain passports. Please contact us to share your Expat story here.