The situation
The Ministry of Interior has issued a decision extending the validity of residence permits obtained under personal sponsorship in Bahrain for up to five or ten years, depending on the foreign national’s circumstances.
Background
Foreign nationals in Bahrain can obtain a residence permit through personal sponsorship under the following circumstances:
- If the foreign national has worked in private or government sector in Bahrain or in another Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country for at least 15 years; or
- If a foreign national owns real estate in Bahrain with a minimum value of BHD 50,000; or
- If a foreign national invests in a business in one of the approved sectors in Bahrain, with a minimum share of BHD 100,000.
Impact
Foreign nationals eligible for residence permits through personal sponsorship will benefit from longer residence permit validity, reducing the need for renewal applications, which involve additional administrative steps and costs.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
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