Bahrain Visa Policy

Visa Policy for Bahrain

The visa policy of the Kingdom of Bahrain outlines the laws, regulations, and restrictions that all foreign national who wish to travel to, enter, and remain in the country have to meet.

The visa requirements to enter Bahrain differ depending on the traveler’s nationality, the purpose of the visit, and the expected amount of time they will remain in the country.

Visitors are advised to familiarize themselves with Bahrain’s visa policy in order to apply for the correct visa, which may be either an electronic visa (eVisa) or an embassy visa.

The electronic visa for Bahrain is regarded as the most convenient option. It can be obtained through a quick and easy online application form. This eliminates the need to apply for a visa in person from a government diplomatic office. It is valid for tourism or business purposes for short periods of stay.

Visitors not eligible for the Bahrain eVisa must obtain an embassy visa, which can be granted for a range of different purposes, including work and study, and for different periods of permitted stay. Applicants are recommended to apply well in advance of the expected arrival date to allow sufficient time for the visa to be approved.

There are only a few visa-exempt territories for Bahrain. Nationals of all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries can enter the territory without a visa by simply presenting a valid ID Card.

Check the boxes below to find more information about the visa policy and requirements for all nationalities to travel to Bahrain.

Tourist Visa Policy for Bahrain

If you are planning a holiday to Bahrain, you will need to meet certain visa requirements. These may vary according to your nationality, in line with the tourist visa policy of Bahrain.

Foreign visitors from around 120 countries are able to travel to Bahrain for tourism or business by obtaining an electronic visa (eVisa).

This can be obtained from the comfort of your own home thanks to the easy online application. You will then receive an approved Bahrain tourist Visa by email. It is also electronically linked to your passport.

Tourists not eligible for the eVisa need to apply for a traditional embassy visa for Bahrain. This type of visa must be obtained from a Bahraini diplomatic government office well before the intended date of arrival in the country.

In order to apply for a tourist embassy visa, applicants will need to attend a consular appointment and provide a range of supporting documents.

Below you will find a comprehensive list of Bahrain travel regulations for visitors of countries across the globe.

Kingdom of Bahrain eVisa

Around 120 nationalities can take advantage of the online visa service to apply for a Bahrain eVisa. This system permits eligible travelers to obtain a visa through a quick and easy electronic form before departure.

An eVisa for Bahrain can be issued for tourism or business purposes. Depending on the applicant’s nationality, it may be approved as a single or multiple-entry permit.

The single entry eVisa permits a stay which can vary between 2 weeks and 3 months, depending on the traveler’s individual needs. Applicants are required to select the desired length of stay while completing the online form.

The Bahrain eVisa for multiple entries permits the holder to stay up to 1 month per entry to the country.

A Bahrain electronic visa is valid from the moment it is approved and travelers have a total of 90 days to enter the Kingdom of Bahrain from the date of issue. Once they enter the country, they cannot overstay the allowed period of time they previously selected.

Applicants are advised to apply for the eVisa at least 5 business day before the expected date of arrival in the country, keeping in mind that Friday and Saturday are not considered business days in Bahrain.

Once approved, the eVisa is automatically linked to the applicant’s passport. The eVisa holder is also recommended to print a paper copy to present alongside the same passport used to complete the application form upon arrival in Bahrain.

Citizens that need to travel to Bahrain for longer periods of time or for purposes other than tourism or business, are required to submit for a consular visa.

See below a complete list of the nationalities eligible for the Bahrain electronic visa.

Andorra
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Bolivia
Bonaire
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Cameroon
Canada
Cayman Islands
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cuba
Curacao
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Falkland Islands
Finland
France
French Guiana
Gabon
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guyana
Haiti
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Malaysia
Malta
Martinique
Mauritius
Mexico
Monaco
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Pakistan
Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Republic of Cyprus
Romania
Russian Federation
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
San Marino
Senegal
Seychelles
Singapore
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Turks and Caicos Islands
United Kingdom
United States
United States Virgin Islands
Uruguay
Vatican City
Venezuela

Bahrain eVisa Info

Apply Online

Requirements to Enter Bahrain with an eVisa

Eligible applicants need to meet the following requirements in order to submit a Bahrain electronic visa application form:

Have a valid passport with validity covering the period of time the traveler will spend in the country, or the validity period of the eVisa, whichever is longer
Upload an image of the biographical page of the passport
Upload an image of the last page of the passport (Indian passport holders only)
A copy of an arrival and departure air ticket
A copy of the GCC residence card (if applicable).

Additionally, depending on the nationality of the visitor, it may also be necessary to submit some additional supporting documents, which can include:

Proof of accomodation, such as hotel reservations or a copy of a relative’s CPR Reader’s printout (for those staying with relatives in Bahrain)
Copy of a stamped bank statement under the visitor’s name that shows the last 3 months, with a total balance of BD300 or more.

Holders of an approved eVisa can enter the country via Bahrain International Airport or by land through the King Fahd Causeway. Land entry is not permitted for GCC eVisa holders.

Embassy or Consular Visa Required

Foreign citizens who need a visa to travel to Bahrain, but are not eligible for an electronic visa, are required to obtain a traditional embassy or consular visa before departure.

Nationals of over 120 countries currently need to apply for a Bahrain embassy visa from their nearest government diplomatic office of Bahrain, regardless of the purpose of the visit or the amount of time they wish to spend in the Kingdom.

In order to obtain a Bahrain consular visa, applicants need to make a visa appointment at the diplomatic office and print and complete an embassy visa application form.

While completing the application form with personal and passport information, travelers will also be required to select the type of visa they need, whether a tourist visa, business visa, work visa, transit visa, study visa, or other visa option.

It may also be necessary to present additional supporting documents, depending on the type of Bahrain visa the applicant requires.

Travelers are recommended to apply for an embassy visa well in advance of the expected date of arrival in Bahrain, as it may take up to 2 weeks or more to be approved.

Check the list below to find out if you need to apply for an embassy visa to gain entry to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Angola
Antarctica
Armenia
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
British Indian Ocean Territory
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Faroe Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
French Polynesia
Gambia
Gibraltar
Greenland
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Honduras
Iran
Iraq
Jersey
Kiribati
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Maldives
Mali
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mayotte
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
New Caledonia
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Palau
Palestinian Territory
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Reunion
Rwanda
Saint Helena
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Samoa
Sao Tome and Principe
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Swaziland
Syrian Arab Republic
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Timor Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

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Visa Not Required

The visa policy of Bahrain currently states that nationals of 5 sovereign states can enter the country visa-free. Like Bahrain, all 5 countries belong to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The states that form the GCC are Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE (United Arab Emirates).

Nationals of these countries can visit the Kingdom of Bahrain by simply presenting a valid National ID Card at a border checkpoint, whether they are entering the country by air or through the King Fahd Causeway.

Bahrain visa law establishes that visa-exemption also currently applies to holders of Chinese and Indian diplomatic and special passports.

See below for a full list of the countries whose citizens do not require a visa to travel to Bahrain.