DUBAI 18 July 2018: The Ministry of Interior has issued a decision extending the validity of residence permits under personal sponsorship in Bahrain for up to five or ten years, according to an immigration specialist firm.
Fragomen said previously, such a visa was issued with a maximum validity of two years.
The new law is primarily addressed to investors (business and real estate) and other foreign nationals seeking residency in Bahrain outside of the standard employment sponsorship framework (e.g.: retirees, as long as they fulfill all the requirements) rather than dependents (families), it added.
In order to sponsor family members, the principal must first obtain the visa within the personal sponsorship scheme.
The government fee for the two-year residence permit under the personal sponsorship program remains the same (BHD 200); the five-year permit costs BHD 400; and the ten-year permit is BHD 600.
Foreign nationals in Bahrain can obtain a residence permit through personal sponsorship under the following circumstances:
- If a 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.