Bahrain's national portal says citizens of GCC countries may enter Bahrain using only their national ID cards. Bahrain's Aliens (Immigration and Residence) Law of 1965 says that, unless the Director of Immigration authorises it, an immigration officer may not give a foreigner leave to land in Bahrain unless he holds a valid passport or other travel document bearing a valid visa for Bahrain, except for classes of foreigners designated by the Director's instructions. NPRA's eVisa site, which says it is the only official website to apply for a visa to Bahrain, publishes lists of the countries eligible to get a visa on arrival and a visa online — among them the UK, the US, China, Japan, Brazil and Mexico — with the note that terms and conditions apply. Its 2-week single-entry visit visa is issued on arrival at any entry point, or issued and paid online to applicants outside Bahrain. NPRA's visit visa for visitors who have family or relatives residing in Bahrain must be submitted by a guarantor or authorized person.
Every fact on this page verified on or after: Sep 26, 2026· How this site works
Check requirements for your passport
Requirements differ by nationality. Select your passport above, or scan the full table below.
Application fee 5 BHD (non-refundable) plus visa issuance fee 5 BHD; NPRA lists an extension fee of 25 BHD (for 14 days), applied for at the service center only.
Documents the application asks for
Copy of your passport — the family page and any additional information page
Confirmed return air ticket — a copy
Hotel booking in Bahrain — a copy; if you stay with a relative or friend, a copy of their ID card reader printout instead
2-week single-entry visit visa on arrival
Fee
5 BHD
Processing
—
Stay per entry
14 days
Entries
single
NPRA's eVisa portal says that, if approved, the visa fee is paid to the Passport Officer on arrival in Bahrain, and a receipt is issued.
Visit visa (family or relatives residing in Bahrain)
Fee
30 BHD
Processing
3 business days
Validity
90 days
Visa issuance fee. NPRA also lists an applying fee of BHD 5 (non-refundable) and a visa approval fee of BHD 5 for general visit visas applied for by a guarantor.
Entry requirements
Passport validity
NPRA asks eVisa applicants for a passport copy valid for more than 6 months. For the visa on arrival, NPRA's eVisa portal says the passport must be valid for the length of time you will be in Bahrain or the length of the visa, whichever is longer. The UK Foreign Office says your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
Yellow fever (ICVP) — WHO lists Bahrain as requiring proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers aged 9 months or over arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission, and from travellers who transited for more than 12 hours through an airport of such a country.
No official source we could read states a travel-insurance requirement for entry to Bahrain. Canada's travel advice says to make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.
NPRA lists proof of a return air ticket and a copy of a hotel reservation or proof of residential address in Bahrain among the required documents for the two-week eVisa, and NPRA's eVisa portal lists proof of a valid confirmed return air ticket among the entry conditions of the 2-week visa on arrival. The UK Foreign Office says you may be asked to provide evidence of onward or return travel when you apply.
NPRA's two-week eVisa page lists among its required documents a bank statement for the past 3 months, showing a regular income of at least $1000. For the visa on arrival, NPRA's eVisa portal says that, if requested by the passport officer, the visitor must prove he or she is able to support himself and dependents during the stay; no official source we could read states an amount for it.
Under the Aliens (Immigration and Residence) Act, a foreigner may not remain in Bahrain after the validity period stated in their visa has ended. Anyone convicted of such an offence against the Act is punishable by imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to five hundred dinars, or both.
The US State Department gives Bahrain's currency restriction for entry as $10,000, without saying whether that is a declaration threshold or a limit. No Bahraini source we could read states the rule.
The UK Foreign Office says illegal drugs are strictly forbidden, even a residual amount, and that consuming or carrying illegal drugs, even if you are travelling through the airport, can lead to a prison sentence and deportation.
WHO lists Bahrain as requiring proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers aged 9 months or over arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission, and from travellers who transited for more than 12 hours through an airport of such a country.
The 42 countries WHO lists as a yellow fever risk
Requirements normally count any country you have been in shortly before arrival, not only where you boarded.
International Health Regulations (2005), Article 36 and Annex 7; WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1, 18 November 2022 (revised 3 January 2023)
Country in a nutshell
Currency
Bahraini dinar (BHD, .د.ب)
Safety — High risk
The UK Foreign Office says that since 8 July there have been strikes and retaliatory attacks by Iran in a number of locations across the region, including Bahrain, and that British nationals in the Middle East should be prepared for possible flight cancellations and periodic airspace closures. It says crime is low in most areas, that public gatherings, demonstrations and protests take place and large demonstrations should be avoided, and that filming or photographing security and military sites is prohibited.Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab) · archived copy Jul 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab) Jul 17, 2026
Power plugs
G · 230V 50Hz
Emergency numbers
General emergencies: 999
Languages
Arabic
Time zone
UTC+3
Driving side
right
International Driving Permit
Bahrain is a party to the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna Conventions on Road Traffic (UN Treaty Collection). Bahrain's national portal lists a service, "Stamping of Foreign International License", approving the foreign licence of visitors without residency who need to use it during their visit; its conditions are a valid original international licence and a valid original foreign private licence. The UK Foreign Office says you can use a UK photocard driving licence in Bahrain for up to 3 months, and that if you are staying longer you'll need the 1968 version of the international driving permit or a Bahraini driving licence; the Government of Canada says you must carry an International Driving Permit. No Bahraini official source we could read states for how long a visitor may drive on a foreign licence.
No official source we could read names a best time to visit. Canada's travel advice says the rainy season extends from December to March and can lead to severe flooding.
Tips & warnings
The UK Foreign Office says alcohol is legal in Bahrain, but drunken public behaviour is against the law and you could be fined, imprisoned or deported. It says that if you are tested and found to have any alcohol in your system while driving, you may get a fine, a travel ban, your driving licence withdrawn and a possible prison sentence.
During Ramadan the UK Foreign Office says not to eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in the daytime, including in your car, and to be aware that hotels and restaurants providing food or drink in fasting hours may separate you from Islamic guests, for example with screens.
Visa requirements by nationality
Visa requirements by nationality. Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.
Bahrain's national portal says citizens of GCC countries may enter using only their national ID cards, and that many nationalities must obtain an entry visa. Bahrain's Aliens (Immigration and Residence) Law of 1965 says that, unless the Director of Immigration authorises it, an immigration officer may not give a foreigner leave to land in Bahrain unless he holds a valid passport or other travel document bearing a valid visa for Bahrain, except for classes of foreigners designated by the Director's instructions. NPRA's eVisa site lists the countries eligible to get a visa on arrival and those eligible to get a visa online — among them the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, China, Japan, Brazil and Mexico — and notes that terms and conditions apply; its eligibility check asks the questions that determine which visas you are eligible for. NPRA's visit visa for visitors who have family or relatives residing in Bahrain must be submitted by a guarantor or authorized person.
Should I get the Bahrain eVisa or a visa on arrival?
NPRA's eVisa portal says the 2-week single-entry visit visa on arrival is issued at any entry point for the Kingdom of Bahrain, with proof of a valid confirmed return air ticket among its entry conditions. The 2-week single-entry eVisa is applied for while outside Bahrain and is issued and paid online. NPRA also lists multiple-entry electronic visas, such as a one-year multiple-entry electronic visa.
I live in Saudi Arabia / the UAE — can I get a visa on arrival?
NPRA says its two-week single-entry electronic visa for GCC residents is applied for from outside Bahrain, with a copy of the visitor's residence permit with a valid return visa valid for at least 3 months; issuance takes 1 working day.
Can I extend my stay in Bahrain?
NPRA lists an extension fee of 25 BHD (for 14 days) for its two-week single-entry electronic visa, applied for at the service center only. For visit visas applied for by a guarantor, it lists a visa extension fee of 30 BHD and an extension processing time of 1 working day.
Sources & verification
Every fact on this page is compiled from and periodically re-checked against these official sources:
Bahrain visa and entry requirements
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