Bahrain: New Long-Term Residence Visa Scheme Launched

Details of the Golden Residency Visa include the following:

• Current residents. In order to apply for a Golden Residency Visa, current residents of Bahrain must meet the following criteria:
  • Must have worked in Bahrain continuously for a minimum of five years with a monthly salary of at least BHD 2,000;
  • Must be retired in Bahrain, having lived in Bahrain for a minimum of five years with a monthly income of at least BHD 2,000;
  • Must own one or more properties in Bahrain with a total purchase value of at least BHD 200,000; or
  • Must be recognized by the relevant government authority in Bahrain (including an accredited business incubator) for having exceptional skills or talent in academics, entrepreneurship, science, or sports, among other fields.
• Prospective residents. In order to apply for a Golden Residency Visa, prospective residents of Bahrain must meet the following criteria:
  • Must be retired with a minimum monthly income of BHD 4,000 or the equivalent in another currency;
  • Must own one or more properties in Bahrain with a total purchase value of at least BHD 200,000;
  • Must be recognized by the relevant government authority in Bahrain (including an accredited business incubator) for having exceptional skills or talent in academics, entrepreneurship, science, or sports, among other fields.
• Minimum stay requirement. Individuals who obtain the Golden Residency Visa must reside in Bahrain for a minimum of 90 days per calendar year.
• Application process. Foreign nationals can file their visa application electronically through the e-Government Portal. The supporting documents required for the application vary depending on the applicant’s category, but generally include:
  • copies of previous residence permits for Bahrain;
  • certificate of good conduct;
  • proof of retirement (if applicable);
  • salary certificate;
  • valid health insurance;
  • title deed; and
  • bank statements.
• Application fee. The application fee for the Golden Residency Visa is BHD 304 (approximately USD 804.55).
• Work authorization and residence permits for dependents. According to the announcement, foreign nationals on Golden Residency Visas will have the right to work, upon obtaining work authorization, and will be able to sponsor residence permits for immediate family members. Under the current long-term residence scheme, there is no clear path for certain foreign nationals to obtain work authorization, and the eligibility to sponsor visas for family members depends on individual circumstances, including the applicant’s age and marital status.

The Golden Residency Visa will allow eligible categories of foreign nationals to reside in Bahrain for extended periods of time without having to renew their residence permit. Additionally, foreign nationals’ right to work and sponsor visas for immediate family members is now expected to be guaranteed by Bahraini law, which is attractive to individuals under other long-term visas who were previously ineligible for work authorization or the ability to sponsor visas for dependents due to personal or other circumstances (e.g., retirees). 

• Current practice. Currently, most foreign nationals in Bahrain are limited to two-year renewable residency terms. Though there is a self-sponsored residence permit for foreign nationals holding shares in a local business, owning property in a special zone or for those meeting specific retirement criteria, it does not offer all the benefits of the new Golden Residency Visa program. 
• Aligned with country objectives. The new Golden Residency Visa Program is aligned with Bahrain’s Economic Vision for 2030 to develop and diversify the economy.
• Regional trend. Other countries in the region have implemented similar long-term residence visa schemes to attract and retain foreign investors and highly-skilled foreign nationals, with some of the programs opening a path for citizenship. In April 2019, Qatar became the first Arab Gulf nation to introduce permanent residence for foreign nationals, followed by the UAE’s Golden Visa program and Saudi Arabia’s  Premium Residence Program. The latest addition is Oman’s Investment Residency Program, launched in 2021, which offers five- and 10-year renewable residence permits through investment.

As the eligibility requirements for the existing investment and retirement visas, including applicable financial thresholds, are significantly different from those introduced by the Golden Residency Visa program, it is likely that the current programs will be discontinued.

Additional details relating to the terms and conditions of the new Golden Residency Visa are expected to be published in the coming months. Fragomen will continue to report on any updates.