Bahrain Visa Policy

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

There are only a few visa-exempt territories for Bahrain. Nationals of all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to enter the territory without a visa, by simply presenting a valid ID Card, with the exception of citizens of Qatar who are required to obtain a visa.

The visa requirements for citizens of other countries differ depending on their nationality, the purpose of the visit, and the expected amount of time they will remain in Bahrain.

Visitors are advised to familiarize themselves with the Bahrain visa requirements in order to apply for the correct travel authorization, which may be either an electronic visa or an embassy visa.

Electronic visa can be submitted through an easy and quick electronic application form, which eliminates the need to apply for a visa in person from a government diplomatic office. It will be valid for tourism or business purposes and 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 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.

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

Those planning a trip to Bahrain for tourism will need to meet different visa requirements according to their nationality and 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), if they are arriving by air and for short periods of stay.

Eligible applicants can complete an easy online application to receive an approved Bahrain tourist Visa electronically linked to their passport.

Tourist travelers 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.

In 2016 the Bahraini government implemented an online application program that allows around 120 nationalities 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 applicants nationality, it may be approved as a single or multiple entry entry permit.

The single entry eVisa permits a stay that can vary between 14 to 90 days, 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 30 days per entry to the country.

A Bahrain electronic visa is valid from the moment it is approved and travelers have a total of 30 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 must 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 isl be 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 period 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.

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 an 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.

The visa policy of Bahrain currently states that nationals of 4 sovereign states can enter the country visa-free. Like Bahrain, all 4 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 Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE 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 via the King Fahd Causeway.

However, citizens of Qatar are not currently granted visa-free access to Bahrain and can only gain entry to the country by first obtaining a visa.

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.