Work / Employment in Bahrain
2 documented routes of this kind in Bahrain, each with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
New Work Permit and linked Residence Permit (LMRA)
Standard employer-sponsored work permit issued by the LMRA that authorises an expatriate to live and work in Bahrain for a specific employer, with a linked residence permit printed via the National Portal. This is the main route by which most migrants enter and reside in Bahrain.
- Processing time
- 3 working days (applicant inside Bahrain); 21 working days (applicant outside Bahrain)
- Validity
- 6 months, 1 year, or 2 years (renewable)
- Language requirement
- No language certificate needed
- Permanent residence
- No automatic PR; can qualify for 10-year Golden Residency after 5 years of employment at BHD 2,000+ monthly basic salary with continuous social insurance
- Citizenship
- Only via discretionary naturalisation after 25 years lawful residence (15 for Arab nationals)
Requirements
- Job offer from a Bahraini employer registered with the LMRA
- Passport valid at least 6 months (2 years recommended)
- Employer holds valid Commercial Registration and active LMRA account
- Pass the medical fitness examination (Wafid-accredited centre if applying from abroad)
- Employer up to date on LMRA monthly fees and social insurance
Required Documents
- Valid passport (6+ months) with required name/details pages required
- Medical examination report (issued within 2 months; from a Wafid-accredited centre if applying from abroad) required
- Employment contract/agreement (in Arabic or bilingual) - optional but recommended
- Valid licence from the concerned authority (for certain non-commercial institutions/NGOs)
- No-objection/approval letter from the relevant authority for regulated occupations (e.g. teachers, doctors, engineers, banking)
Official fees
- New work permit service fee (1 year) 195 BHD
- New work permit service fee (2 years) 390 BHD
- New work permit service fee (6 months, cancelled permit, inside Bahrain) 97.5 BHD
- Admin fee 5 BHD
- Job advertisement fee (applicant outside Bahrain only) 30 BHD
- Dependant permit service fee (each) 90 BHD
Process Steps
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1
Secure employment
Receive a job offer from an LMRA-registered Bahraini employer.
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2
Employer applies
Employer submits the New Expatriate Permit application via the LMRA Expat Management System (EMS) and pays admin (and, if applicable, advertisement) fees.
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3
Approval and fees
On LMRA approval, the employer pays the service fee and prints the work permit from EMS.
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4
Medical and residence
Complete the medical fitness test (if from abroad); print the residence permit via the National Portal once the worker is in Bahrain.
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5
Maintain and renew
Employer pays monthly fees and renews the permit before expiry.
Official Sources
- LMRA - New Work Permit Official
- LMRA - Fees Official
- LMRA - Work Permit Renewal Official
Flexi Permit
The LMRA Flexi Permit allows eligible foreign nationals whose work permit has been cancelled or expired to live and work in Bahrain without a single sponsor, for one or two years (renewable). Holders may work simultaneously for multiple employers on a contractual basis, full-time or part-time, in non-specialized occupations. A separate Flexi Hospitality Permit variant covers restaurants, salons, and hotels. The permit was introduced under Resolution No. 108 of 2017 and remains active.
- Processing time
- Not officially published; standard LMRA work permit issuance is 1–3 working days
- Validity
- 1 or 2 years, renewable
- Language requirement
- None specified
- Permanent residence
- N/A — this permit does not lead to permanent residence
- Citizenship
- N/A — this permit does not lead to citizenship
Requirements
- Terminated or expired (and not renewed) work permit in Bahrain
- Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity
- Payment of BHD 449 application fee plus BHD 30/month ongoing fee
- Medical clearance required for Flexi Hospitality Permit variant only
Required Documents
- Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity) required
- Cancelled or expired work permit documentation required
- Medical fitness certificate (Flexi Hospitality Permit only)
Official fees
- Application / renewal fee (2-year cycle) 449 BHD
- Monthly ongoing fee 30 BHD
Process Steps
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1
Verify eligibility
Confirm your current work permit has been cancelled or has expired and was not renewed.
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2
Prepare documents
Gather your valid passport (6+ months validity) and cancelled/expired permit documentation. Obtain medical clearance if applying for the Hospitality variant.
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3
Submit application via LMRA EMS
Log in to the LMRA Expat Management System (EMS) or visit an LMRA service centre to submit your Flexi Permit application.
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4
Pay fees
Pay the BHD 449 application fee covering the 2-year permit (including health care component) via EMS or an accredited bank. The BHD 30 monthly fee is charged on an ongoing basis.
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5
Receive permit
Upon approval, your Flexi Permit (Blue Card) is issued, allowing you to work without a sponsor for the validity period.