Bahrain visa policy and its Customs details

IMMIGRATION AND VISAS

Passport Requirements

All travelers need a passport, except for the following:

1. Travelers with an Identity Document issued by Hong Kong (A Special Administrative Region of China).

2. Travelers with a Smart Card issued to citizens of the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Document Validity

Passports and alternative papers, or either of them, must be valid for the intended visit period.

a. Citizens of Bahrain are allowed to enter with passports valid on the day of arrival.

b. Residents of Bahrain may enter with travel documents that are valid on arrival.

Visa Issuance

1. Before arrival: If necessary, travelers may apply for an Electronic Visitor Visa (E-visa) on the internet on the following website: www.evisa.gov.bh

2. Before arrival: Travelers are kindly requested to contact the nearest representation of Bahrain.

3. On arrival: A tourist or business visa is required against a fee of BHD 5 for a visit of no more than 14 days for Turkey’s citizens.

– Visa extension is possible for a similar period.

– Travelers with special passports can obtain a visa against no fees on their arrival.

4. On arrival: A tourist or business visa is required against a fee of BHD 5 for a visit of no more than three months for citizens of the Republic of Ireland.

– Visa extension is possible for a similar period.

5. On arrival: A tourist or business visa is required against a fee of BHD 5 for a visit of no more than 14 days for citizens of Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, the People’s Republic of China (including Hong Kong), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United States of America and Vatican City.

– Visa extension is possible for a similar period.

6. On arrival: A tourist or business visa is required against a fee of BHD 5 for a visit of no more than three months for travelers with British passports (regardless of endorsement in passport regarding citizenship).

– Visa extension is possible for a similar period.

– Travelers with British passports are allowed to apply for a multiple-entry visa that is valid for three months from the Directorate of Immigration & Passports and any Bahraini Embassy abroad against a fee of BHD 20.

Such a visa allows staying for no more than four weeks per visit. Moreover, the Directorate of Immigration & Passports issues a residence permit only to holders of British passports for a period of two months. Such travelers must direct their applications to the General Directorate and should provide a contact address; due fees are BHD 25.

Holders of British passports need a return permit before their departure and must submit their applications to the General Directorate of Immigration & Passports/Visa Section. Due fees are BHD 12 for a single entry and BHD 42 for multiple entries that are valid for one year. The visa will be stamped into the passport of the applicant upon his request.

7. On arrival: A visa is required for foreign residents of Gulf Cooperation Council member countries for a maximum visit of:

a. 72 hours against a fee of BHD 10.

b. 7 days against a fee of BHD 15.

– Gulf Cooperation Council citizens who have already lived in their country of residence for more than six months may, upon arrival at the airport, apply for a 72-hour visa or seven-day visa, so long as they have a valid passport, a confirmed hotel reservation, a residence permit valid for at least six months on the day of entry in Bahrain, valid and complete papers for next trip, a return visa from the country of residence, and enough money to cover the expenses of their visit.

8. On arrival: Travelers staying in transit for more than eight hours may obtain a transit visa for 24 hours.

9. On arrival: Travelers continuing their trip to Saudi Arabia by way of the Causeway may obtain a transit visa for 24 hours to Saudi Arabia against a fee of BHD 2 provided they have a residence visa for Saudi Arabia.

– This does not apply to Iranian citizens.

10. On arrival: On their arrival, travelers with official, diplomatic, or service passports may obtain a visa for the period of their mission against no fees.

Visa Exemptions

All travelers must hold a visa except the following:

1. Citizens of Bahrain.

2. Citizens of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

3. Foreign residents of Bahrain who are in possession of a Residence Permit as well as a return visa.

TWOV (Transit Without Visa)

1. TWOV is permissible for travelers continuing their onward or return trip within eight hours or in the first available plane if they have confirmed tickets and other papers required for their next trip and that they do not leave the airport transit area. Hotel accommodation is available for travelers at the airport.

a. Iranian citizens are not allowed to leave the transit area or to make use of hotel accommodation.

2. TWOV is not granted to refugees and people without nationality or citizenship.

Additional Information

1. All travelers must be without a criminal record or any involvement in actions that could disrupt public order or national security. Besides, they are not allowed to look for a job during their stay in Bahrain.

2. All travelers must have all the necessary documents required for the next trip.

– Exemptions include citizens of the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

3. All travelers must have onward or return tickets with the exception of those continuing their trip to Saudi Arabia by way of King Fahd Causeway.

– Exemptions include citizens of the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Warnings

Travelers who do not respect entry regulations will be deported at the expense of the transporting carrier. In that case, if a grace period of 48 hours from the time of arrival has expired, the transporting carrier will have to pay a fine of up to BHD 3,000 (USD 7,979) per traveler plus an additional daily charge of BHD 100 (USD 265).

CUSTOMS AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Import regulations

Free import by the passengers of that 18 years more and over:

1. The 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, and 250 grams of tobacco, in opened packets, if the packaging contains as a pictorial health warning as fair;

2. 8oz. of perfume;

3. 1-liter bottle of alcoholic liquor and six cans of beer;

4. gifts which are up to a maximum of BHD 250.- (as approx. USD 600.-) on items that not subject to the customs duty.

Prohibited:

– all types of narcotic drugs;

– Indian paan and derivatives;

– used and reconditioned tires;

– cultured pearls;

– advertisement material for cigarettes;

– radio/remote-controlled model aircraft;

– children’s toy guns capable of firing projectiles;

– goods of Israeli origin and the goods with Israeli trademarks or logos were listed;

– the printed publications, photographs, pictures, books, magazines, sculptures, and the mannequins which are the contradict Islamic teachings, decency, or which may be finely considered as immoral;

– seditious or treasonable material;

– asbestos or items containing asbestos;

– raw ivory, ivory articles, and rhinoceros horn;

– live swine.

Detailed pieces of information on the restricted and prohibited items can be found at this link www.bahraincustoms.gov.bh.

Crew members customs regulations

Crew members are allowed free import of:

1. Six beer cans and one liter of spirits.

2. 50 cigars and 400 cigarettes.

3. Other goods up to a total value of BHD 250 (about USD 600).

4. Perfume (8oz).

Pets

Entering and transiting Bahrain:

-Emotional Support on Animals and Service Animals (ESAN/SVAN), which can be carried in the cabin as fine. Other pets must be transported as cargo. Animals require:

– a Health Certificate, and

– an Import Permit obtained from the Ministry of Municipality Affairs and Agriculture / Veterinary Quarantine. Email: vet@batelco.com.bh

Baggage Clearance regulations

A traveler’s luggage should be cleared at the airport in Bahrain.

Exemptions:

Luggage of transit travelers whose destination is outside Bahrain so long as it is labeled to that destination.

Airport tax

All the travelers are not required to pay that any airport tax upon departing from the airport.

Learn all about regulations for your destination country. From the airport tax to be paid on departure to importing pets, and as well as the rules on how much currency you may bring into and then out of a country.

Currency Import regulations

Local currency (Bahrain Dinar-BHD) and the foreign currencies: which has no restrictions.

Passengers who are all arriving/departing Bahrain those who can be requested by the Customs or Security Authorities to disclose the value of any local or foreign currencies, gold, and or other finely negotiable instruments that are in their possession as listed.

Currency Export regulations

Local currency (Bahrain Dinar-BHD) and the foreign currencies: which has no restrictions.

Passengers on that who are mainly arriving/departing Bahrain can be requested by the Customs or the Security Authorities and to disclose the value of that any local or foreign currencies, gold, or other finely negotiable instruments that are listed in their possession.

What are the Bahrain visas you can apply with Click2Visas?

Apply Visit E-visa Multiple Entry to Bahrain
Visit E-Visa Multiple Entry, a document that ultimately allowed travelers for a limited period of leisure and Business travel in Bahrain, however no business, commercial, or paid activity is permitted.

Apply Visit-One Year Multiple Entry to Bahrain
Visit – One Year Multiple Entry is travel authority for a visitor to enter Bahrain. This is primarily for Business visits, sightseeing, leisure, holidays, or other tourism activities.

Apply GCC Visitor eVisa to Bahrain
GCC Visitor EVisa is mainly for sight-seeing, Business and holidays. Most of these visas do not give the holder the right to work or start engaging in any business activity in the Bahrain.

Apply Visit-Single Entry 2 Weeks to Bahrain
Visit Single Entry 2 Weeks is a visa that permits the holder to enter Bahrain for tourist, Business visit and leisure purposes only and stay for an approved period of time.