If you work in Bahrain, your employer applies to the LMRA for your spouse's and children's residence permits through its Expat Management System. Your monthly net income, as registered with the Social Insurance Organization (SIO), has to be BHD 400 or more.
Children: this route covers children up to age 24. Older children are handled directly by the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) under its own rules.
Documents:
- the family member's passport, valid for at least 6 months (LMRA recommends 2 years)
- health insurance that covers the whole length of your own residence permit
- for a spouse, the marriage certificate in Arabic or English, attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where required
- for a child, the birth certificate attested by your embassy in Bahrain and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, plus a no-objection letter from the other parent (or custody papers) if only one parent is sponsoring
Cost: an admin fee of BHD 5 and a service fee of BHD 90. LMRA takes 3 working days, and the other authorities about 7 working days.
A baby born in Bahrain needs a file opened (or updated) with NPRA first, using the personal number on the birth certificate.
The LMRA contact centre is +973 17506055.
Steps
- Check that your SIO-registered net salary is BHD 400 or more.
- Gather passports, health insurance and attested marriage or birth certificates.
- Ask your employer to apply in LMRA's EMS and pay the BHD 5 admin fee.
- After approval, the employer pays the BHD 90 fee and the residence permit is printed via the National Portal.
Recommended places
- LMRA Main Office, Sanabis