Kristina Markovic 
07.10.2025 You need a residency permit if you want to remain in Bahrain for longer than a short visit. This is what makes you a resident instead of just a tourist. You may rent a property without any problems, establish a bank account in your new country, and even bring your family with you if you have a residence permit. There are a number of different methods to obtain one, and choosing the appropriate one early on saves a lot of trouble with the authorities.
What Is a Residence Permit in Bahrain and How Can You Get It?
A residence permit in Bahrain is basically your permission slip to stay in the country legally. It comes from the Nationality, Passports & Residence Affairs (NPRA), and it can be linked to work, business ownership, buying property, or family sponsorship.
There’s no single route that works for everyone. Some people set up a company and get their visa through that. Others buy property in areas like the Amwaj Islands or Juffair to qualify. And for those who meet the income or investment thresholds, Bahrain’s Golden Residence Visa is an option too. Different paths, same result — you get to live, invest, and settle here without worrying about tourist visa limits.
Residency Through Investment or Company Formation
One of the most straightforward ways to get Bahrain residency is by opening a company. It doesn’t have to be big — plenty of people set up a small consultancy or trading firm just to qualify. Once the business is registered, you apply for your own permit and can usually sponsor your family, too. This route is common for entrepreneurs who want a Gulf base but don’t plan to live in an office every day.
Residency Through Property Ownership
Buying a home in Bahrain is one of the simplest ways to get residency — but the government sets a few clear rules. You can only buy in freehold zones open to foreign buyers. Think Amwaj Islands, Reef Island, Juffair, Durrat Al Bahrain — these are the most popular.
Your share of the property must be worth at least BHD 50,000, fully registered under your name, and not tied up in disputes or unfinished payments. Along with the title deed, you’ll need proof that you earn at least BHD 500 a month and have valid health insurance that works in Bahrain.
Once you’re approved, you pick how long you want the permit for — 2, 5, or 10 years — and pay the government fee (BHD 200, 400, or 600). From there, you’re free to come and go without worrying about visa runs, and you can usually sponsor your spouse and kids as long as you keep meeting the income rule.
Golden Residence Visa in Bahrain
If you want a longer horizon and fewer renewals, Bahrain’s Golden Residency Visa is the next step. This is a 10-year renewable visa built for investors, property owners, and professionals who want Bahrain as a permanent base.
There are three main ways to qualify:
- Property route: Own one or more properties worth BHD 200,000 or more in total.
- Business route: Invest BHD 100,000 or more in a Bahraini company and keep that investment running.
- Other categories: Certain professionals and retirees with a stable income can also apply if they meet NPRA’s requirements.
What makes the Golden Visa attractive is the freedom it gives you: you can include your family on the same file, stay outside Bahrain for long periods without losing status, and stop worrying about renewals every couple of years.
Since the criteria can shift, it’s always smart to check the official NPRA Golden Residency page or talk to a consultant before you commit funds.
What Are the Benefits of Bahrain Residency?
A residence permit in Bahrain doesn’t just let you stay longer — it makes life a lot easier. You can open a bank account without begging the bank manager for an exception. You can rent an apartment for a year instead of bouncing between short-term stays.
If you’re an investor, it’s even better. You get to put your name on a company license, hire staff legally, and take on contracts that are off-limits to non-residents. Families get peace of mind too — kids can enroll in local schools, health insurance is easier to arrange, and there’s no more last-minute trips just to renew a tourist visa.
And here’s the big one: there’s no personal income tax. What you earn is yours. Add in Bahrain’s relatively low cost of living compared to Dubai or Doha, and residency starts to look less like a formality and more like a smart financial move.
Want to learn more about UAE business setup services?
What Is a Step-by-Step Process to Obtain a Bahrain Residence Permit?
Getting residency isn’t complicated if you do things in the right order. Do them out of order, and you’ll spend a lot of time re-submitting forms.
Consultation and Eligibility Check
First step is figuring out if you even qualify — and for which route. Some people fit the company setup path, others go the property route, and a few are better off applying for the Golden Visa. This is where a quick consultation saves you from guessing and filing the wrong application.
Preparing and Submitting Documents
Once you know the right path, it’s time to gather everything: passport copies, photos, proof of funds or property ownership, and anything that needs attestation. When the stack is ready, it gets filed through NPRA or the relevant authority. If you’re doing this yourself, double-check every document — one missing stamp and the application just sits there.
Government Approvals and Issuance
Then comes the waiting game, but it doesn’t have to be long. Once the government clears your file, you get your residency permit issued, often within a couple of weeks. After that, it’s visa stamping and you’re good to go — free to open bank accounts, bring family, and stay in Bahrain as a legal resident.
What Documents Are Required for a Residence Permit in Bahrain?
You don’t need a mountain of papers, but missing even one will freeze your application. At the very least, you’ll need a passport with six months of validity left, a few recent passport-sized photos, and proof of why you qualify — a job offer, company registration papers, or a property title deed.
If you’re applying for family, add marriage and birth certificates, and make sure they’re attested if they were issued outside Bahrain. You’ll also need proof of health insurance — without it, NPRA won’t issue the permit.
Pro tip: keep scanned copies of everything. Authorities sometimes ask for a re-upload, and having digital versions saves you from digging through paper folders or reissuing documents at the last minute.
What Is the Cost of Services for Bahrain Residency?
There isn’t one flat price for a residence permit in Bahrain. It depends on how you qualify, how many dependents you’re including, and even which part of Bahrain you’re dealing with. Government fees make up the base cost, but there are a few extras that people often forget to budget for.
For a typical work- or company-linked permit, you’ll pay for the residence visa itself, which usually runs a few hundred dinars, plus the mandatory medical check (around BHD 30–50) and the residence card fee. Health insurance is required too, and prices vary depending on coverage level — basic plans can be very affordable, but if you want international coverage, it will be higher.
Property-based residency has its own set of costs. You’ll pay title deed registration fees and sometimes valuation charges to prove the property meets the minimum government requirement. The value threshold is currently set by the government (NPRA), and property buyers need to meet or exceed it to qualify.
Then there’s the Golden Visa Bahrain price, which is higher because it’s designed for high-net-worth individuals and long-term investors. The amount you need to invest or the income you must show is published by the authorities and can change, so it’s worth confirming before you start.
On top of all this, most applicants choose to hire a consultant or PRO to manage the process. Their fee is separate from government charges, but it often saves you money in the long run because it prevents rejections and delays. If you want an exact number for your situation, it’s best to have someone run the numbers for you before you apply.
Why Choose Consulting.ae for Bahrain Residency Services?
The total price depends on the path you take and how many people you sponsor, but here’s what most applicants end up paying:
- Permit fees: BHD 200 for 2 years, BHD 400 for 5 years, BHD 600 for 10 years
- Medical check: Around BHD 30–50 per person
- Health insurance: Ranges from very affordable local plans to higher-priced international coverage
- Property registration (if buying): Title deed fees plus any valuation charges
- Consultant/PRO fees: Optional, but usually BHD 200–400 to handle everything for you
Golden Visa applications cost more overall because of the higher property or investment thresholds, but they pay off if you want a long-term base in the Gulf with fewer renewals.
Usually, it's just a few weeks once everything is filed correctly. If something is missing, it can sit there until you fix it, which is why we double-check before submitting.
Yes, spouses and kids can be sponsored — sometimes even parents if you meet the income rules. We like to file everyone together so you don’t end up with one person waiting while the others are approved.
No, not for most categories. You just need to visit at least once in a certain period to keep it active. Golden Visa holders get even more flexibility and can spend a lot of time abroad without losing it.
You’ll have to renew or reapply depending on how long it’s been expired. Waiting too long usually means fines, so it’s better to start the renewal process early.
Basic coverage can be very cheap — just a few dinars a month — but if you want international coverage, expect to pay more. Either way, you need proof of insurance before the visa is stamped.
Yes, Bahrain doesn’t tax personal income. That’s one of the big draws for entrepreneurs and remote workers who want to keep more of what they earn.
