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Employment Visa Types

All employment and work permit categories available in Bahrain.

IMMIGRATIONMarch 2026 · 5 min read

Visa Categories

Standard Work Permit

MOST COMMON

Employer-sponsored. LMRA approval required. Valid for 1-2 years. Employer pays BD 200 annual fee per expat employee. Quota restrictions may apply based on Bahrainisation ratios.

Flexi Permit

Self-sponsored work permit. No employer needed. Valid for 2 years (renewable). BD 558 total cost. Holder can work for any employer. Ideal for freelancers and contractors.

Golden Residency Visa

10-year renewable visa for high-net-worth individuals, retired professionals, and talented individuals. Property investment of BD 200,000+ or salary of BD 2,000+/month qualifies.

Investor Visa

For business owners and shareholders. Self-sponsored through your company CR. Must hold at least 51% ownership in a WLL or 100% in a sole proprietorship.

Key Costs

BD 200

Annual work permit fee

BD 558

Flexi permit (2 years)

BD 10

Monthly LMRA levy per expat

Visa & Permit Support

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