Visa policy of Bahrain

In October 2014, Bahrain implemented a new visa policy that makes it easier for incoming travelers to get Bahraini visas. Travelers must have a passport that is valid for at least six months and a visa to enter Bahrain.{{cite web | url=https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/bahrain.html | title=Bahrain | publisher=U.S. Passports & International Travel; United States Department of State | date=24 September 2014 | access-date=20 May 2015 | archive-date=5 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905123415/http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/bahrain.html | url-status=live }} However, travelers from approved countries can now get their visas online or when they arrive in the country. Bahrain has issued more visas since the policy was implemented than it did before.{{cite web | url=http://gulfnewsjournal.com/stories/510545844-new-visa-policy-in-bahrain-leads-to-sharp-rise-in-business-and-leisure-travelers | title=New visa policy in Bahrain leads to sharp rise in business and leisure travelers | publisher=Gulf News Journal | date=20 May 2015 | access-date=20 May 2015 | author=Smith-Teutsch, Amanda | archive-date=4 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000514/http://gulfnewsjournal.com/stories/510545844-new-visa-policy-in-bahrain-leads-to-sharp-rise-in-business-and-leisure-travelers | url-status=live }} Starting in April 2015, Bahrain began sending applicants confirmations of their application status by text messaging.{{cite web | url=http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/665595 | title=NPRA launches SMS visa service | publisher=Bahrain News Agency | date=25 April 2015 | access-date=20 May 2015 | archive-date=13 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713085306/http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/665595 | url-status=live}}

In November 2016, Bahrain adopted new visa policy rules defining a two-week allowed stay on a single entry visa and a 90-day stay on a multiple entry visa valid for one year. In addition, a multiple entry visa valid for three months allows stay for one month. Citizens of Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom may obtain a five-year multiple entry visa allowing a 90-day stay on each visit.{{Cite web|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2016/11/20/Bahrain-launches-two-new-visas-for-114-countries|title=Bahrain launches two new visas for 114 countries|date=November 20, 2016|website=Al Arabiya English}}

In October 2020, the United States and Bahrain introduced a reciprocal agreement for a 10-year multi-entry visa scheme for citizens of both countries which also unifies the processing fees and validity of the visa at 90-days per visit for a cost of 160 USD (60 Bahraini Dinars).{{Cite web|url=https://gulfbusiness.com/bahrain-launches-10-year-multiple-entry-visa-for-us-citizens/|title=Bahrain launches 10-year multiple-entry visa for US citizens|first=Varun|last=Godinho|date=October 12, 2020|access-date=November 22, 2020|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028152721/https://gulfbusiness.com/bahrain-launches-10-year-multiple-entry-visa-for-us-citizens/|url-status=live}}

[[File:Visa Policy of Bahrain.svg|alt=Map with legend for Bahrain's visa policy.|none|thumb|800px|Visa policy of Bahrain

{{Legend|#FF0000|Bahrain}}

{{Legend|#2a7fff|Freedom of movement; may enter with a national ID card}}

{{Legend|#5fd38d|Visa on arrival / eVisa}}

{{Legend|#ffdd55|eVisa}}

{{Legend|#cccccc|Visa required}}]]

Citizens of the following GCC countries may enter Bahrain without a visa and may use a national ID card:

In addition to countries whose citizens are visa-exempt, holders of diplomatic or official/service passports may enter Bahrain without a visa for the following period:

30 days

|}

Citizens of all countries may obtain a visa on arrival or online, except for the following countries whose citizens must have a guarantor (Bahraini commercial entity or a Bahraini individual) to obtain a visa:{{cite web | title=F1 visa procedures announced | url=http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=372197 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093959/http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=372197 | archive-date=2014-10-06 | access-date=2014-03-11}}

Visas may be either single entry or multiple entry, and must be used within 3 months from the date of approval. In case of a visa rejection, processing fee is non-refundable whereas visa fee is refundable under certain circumstances. However, the refund request must be initiated by the applicant.{{cite web | url=https://www.evisa.gov.bh | title=Bahrain eVisa}}

_{* - Citizens of some countries cannot get 5-year e-Visa.}

E-Visa applicants must supply scanned copies of following documents along with their visa application:{{cite web | title=Bahrain Electronic Visa Service | url=https://www.evisa.gov.bh/VisaBhr5En.html | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416040000/https://www.evisa.gov.bh/VisaBhr5En.html | archive-date=2022-04-16 | access-date=2022-03-07 | website=www.evisa.gov.bh}}

• Applicant's passport
• Confirmed return air ticket
• Hotel booking in Bahrain or ID card of relative/friend (in case of staying with them)
• Bank statement under the visitor's name covering the last 3 months with an ending balance of at least the equivalent of 1000 USD

Applications are processed in approximately 3 to 5 working days.{{cite web | url=https://www.evisa.gov.bh/VisaBhr3En.html | title=Bahrain Electronic Visa Service | website=www.evisa.gov.bh | access-date=2022-03-07|archive-date=2022-03-07 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307024351/https://www.evisa.gov.bh/VisaBhr3En.html | url-status=live}}

Legal residents of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, irrespective of their nationality and except Iranian citizens, may obtain a visa online or on arrival at any port of entry, subject to the following conditions:

• Have held a residence permit issued by their country of residence for more than 3 months.
• Residence permit is valid for at least another 3 months at the time of the visa application.
• Occupation as per their resident permit must not be labourer.

For a period of time, citizens of Qatar were banned from entering Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain unless they were married to a local person.{{Cite web |title=Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Bahrain cut ties to Qatar |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/6/5/saudi-arabia-uae-egypt-bahrain-cut-ties-to-qatar |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2017-06-06 |title=Qatar crisis: What you need to know |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40173757 |access-date=2024-10-10 |language=en-GB}}

{{Portal|Bahrain}}

{{Wikivoyage|Bahrain}}

• Visa requirements for Bahraini citizens

{{reflist|30em}}

• [https://www.evisa.gov.bh/ Bahrain Electronic Visa Service]

{{Visa policy by country}}

{{Visa Requirements}}

Bahrain

Category:Foreign relations of Bahrain