Bahrain Visa Application & Requirements

If you are interested in a trip to the Persian Gulf to explore its compelling beauty, what better option do you have than Bahrain? Not to mention Bahrain’s stunning natural beauty as it is located right next to the Persian Gulf shoreline! However, if you have never been to Bahrain, it is normal for you to be worried about needing a Bahrain visa! Rest assured, today we will answer all of your questions about how to get Bahrain visa and Bahrain visa application.

Guidelines for Bahrain Visa

Bahrain is known to be a welcoming country for tourists. Therefore, it offers a lot of opportunities for tourists. In this guideline, we will give you the right information about who is required to get a Bahrain tourist visa and who is not! Depending on your nationality, you may not need to get a visa for Bahrain at all! Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates citizens do not need a visa for Bahrain but that is not all there is to it! Bahrain offers Bahrain visa on arrival and Bahrain eVisa for many foreign citizens. In this guideline, we will be informing you about who needs a Bahrain visa, the Bahrain visa requirements, and how to apply for Bahrain visa.

Do you need a Bahrain visa?

According to the Bahrain visa policy, some foreign citizens are visa-exempt when entering Bahrain. However, other foreign nationals must apply for a Bahrain visa. So, if you are a citizen of Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, or the United Arab Emirates, you do not need to apply for Bahrain visa. If you are not a citizen of these countries, you have to make a Bahrain visa application. For this reason, it would be beneficial for you to know the requirements of a Bahrain visa on arrival, and a Bahrain visa online, so that you can easily get the visa you need! You can apply for long-stay Bahrain visas, a visa on arrival, or an online Bahrain visa depending on your need. Make sure you read the requirements carefully and choose the one that fits best for your needs.

Bahrain Visa on Arrival

Bahrain visa on arrival is a popular choice which you can choose if you are traveling to Bahrain as a tourist. The reason for it is that the Bahrain visa on arrival is issued for only a month. So, if you are looking to stay in Bahrain longer than 30 days, you probably should not apply for a Bahrain visa on arrival. Nevertheless, if you are certain about getting a visa on arrival, keep in mind that only if you are a citizen of the following countries, you are eligible for a Bahrain visa on arrival: EU Countries, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Georgia, Guyana, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Suriname, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, and Venezuela. 

Bahrain visa on arrival cost depends on how many days you would like your visa to be issued. If you get a visa for two weeks, you are required to pay around $67. On the other hand, if you would like to get your visa issued for a month, the Bahrain visa on arrival fee is roughly $80. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, Bahrain visa on arrival applications have been suspended until further notice. Therefore, we suggest you apply for a Bahrain visa online.

Bahrain eVisa

If you are a citizen of the following countries, you are eligible to apply for a Bahrain visa online: Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Barbados, British Overseas Territories, Cameroon, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Pakistan, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Taiwan, and, Trinidad and Tobago.

That being said, there are other requirements you need to satisfy to be eligible for a Bahrain e Visa. When you are making your visa application online, make sure you submit the following documents:

• A carefully filled Bahrain e visa application form
• Scan of your passport, flight tickets, and proof of accommodation
• Receipt of the Bahrain e visa fee

Keep in mind that additional documents proving your travel itinerary may be required. After making your Bahrain visa application online successfully, you can check your Bahrain visa status from the same portal. Your visa will be issued in a week.

Bahrain Visa Types

There are a number of visa types available for your needs. Be extra careful when choosing the right Bahrain visa type. These visa categories are tailored for your needs. They require different documents and the number of days issued for the visa or the entry type can differ depending on the visa type you have applied for. So, here are the most common Bahrain visa types:

• Bahrain tourist visa
• Bahrain business visa
• Bahrain work visa
• Bahrain family visa
• Bahrain student visa

If you are planning to travel to Bahrain as a tourist, you need to apply for a Bahrain tourist visa. This visa type allows you to stay in the territory of Bahrain for up to 30 days. If you are conducting business in Bahrain, or maybe you are going to attend a business meeting, then you need to apply for a Bahrain business visa. This visa type allows you to conduct your business activities within 30 days in Bahrain. However, do not confuse it with the Bahrain work visa, as a Bahrain business visa does not authorize you to work in Bahrain. If you are planning to stay longer than 30 days in Bahrain, then we suggest you apply for either a Bahrain work visa or a Bahrain student visa. These visa types allow you to stay in Bahrain for a longer period of time. Nevertheless, bear in mind that as soon as you enter the lands of Bahrain, you need to register yourself to the Bahrain Immigration Authorities. Also, apart from the short-term Bahrain visas, you may need to submit different documents such as a work permit from your sponsor and a letter of acceptance from the higher education institution.

How can you apply for a Bahrain Visa

There are three ways to apply for Bahrain visa, any of which is easy if you know what the requirements are. You can apply for a Bahrain visa on arrival at the airport, you can apply for a Bahrain visa online before you travel to Bahrain, and lastly, you can apply for a Bahrain visa at the embassy/consulate. There are perks and downsides to each of these options. For example, you can see your Bahrain visa application status when you make your Bahrain visa application online. If you are not eligible for a Bahrain visa online or a Bahrain visa on arrival, you need to make an appointment at the Bahrain embassy/consulate and apply for your visa in person. The perks of it are that you can get a multiple-entry Bahrain visa with it. Keep in mind that to make your application at the Bahrain embassy, you still need to start making your Bahrain visa application online. After submitting your personal information to the government system, you will be notified about when you can go to your Bahrain visa interview and which consulate you should go to.

Bahrain Visa Requirements

Before applying for a Bahrain visa, it is always good to know the Bahrain visa requirements that are expected from you. Any failure with providing the necessary documents may result in the rejection of your Bahrain visa application. To prevent any situation from happening to you, we have listed every Bahar visa requirement below:

• A valid passport that has at least 6 months to its expiration date and 2 blank pages.
• Bahrain visa photos
• Proof of accommodation in Bahrain, such as a hotel reservation.
• Proof of financial means (a bank statement for the last 3 months)
• A confirmed airline ticket (Round-trip)

Keep in mind that the ones listed above are general requirements for Bahrain visa. Additional documents may be asked from you.

Bahrain Visa Photo Requirements

As the Bahrain visa photo has a different set of requirements and size, we have listed all the Bahrain visa photo requirements you should know of:

• The background should be white or off-white. Any other color is not acceptable.
• Bahrain visa photo must be in color.
• When getting a Bahrain visa photo, your facial expression should be neutral.
• Bahrain visa photo size is 40 mm (0,4 cm), and the height of the photo is 60 mm (0,6 cm)
• Casual clothing is highly recommended. Extravagant outfits or uniforms may cause your Bahrain visa to be rejected. 
• Excessive make-up may lead your Bahrain visa to be rejected. Your face should be recognizable.
• You should directly look into the camera with your full face in view.

Duration of Bahrain Visa

Bahrain visa processing time depends on many factors such as the number of applicants at a given time, the type of visa you applied for, and if you applied for a Bahrain visa online or at the embassy. Either way, you should expect to get your visa within a week or two. On the other hand, the duration of your Bahrain visa depends on the entry type that is stated on your visa.

Single-entry Bahrain eVisa is issued for a month as it expires a month after its issuance. The same duration applies to the Bahrain visa on arrival. On the other hand, a multiple-entry Bahrain visa is issued for a year and a multiple-entry Bahrain eVisa is issued for a month within the period of 3 months after its issuance.

How to extend your Bahrain Visa

Bahrain visa extension is not too complicated as it may sound. If you currently have a Bahrain visa but you would like to extend your stay in Bahrain, you need to go to the Residence Affairs office in Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior. After the procedures of Bahrain visa check, you will be asked for the reason for your visa extension. If your visa extension purpose is a valid ground, then you will be directed to pay the visa extension fee. Depending on your circumstances, your Bahrain visa can be extended for another two weeks, or a month.

Bahrain Visa Fees

Bahrain visa extension is not too complicated as it may sound. If you currently have a Bahrain visa, but you would like to extend your stay in Bahrain, you need to go to the Residence Affairs office in Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior. After the procedures of the Bahrain visa check, you will be asked for the reason for your visa extension. If your visa extension purpose is valid ground, then you will be directed to pay the visa extension fee. Depending on your circumstances, your Bahrain visa can be extended for another two weeks or a month.

Bahrain Visa for US Citizens

Bahrain visa requirements for US citizens are the same as for anyone else. As an American, even if you intend to stay less than 30 days in Bahrain, you do not need to apply for a Bahrain visa at the embassy. Keep in mind that you can also apply for a Bahrain visa extension to explore Bahrain more. We suggest you evaluate your expectations before you travel to Bahrain and apply for a Bahrain visa depending on your needs.