Bahrain (BH)

Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay for visa, work permit, CPR registration, tenancy and banking. Required for all government services, LMRA processes and employer onboarding. Keep certified photocopies; some processes require the original.

Print or save your NPRA eVisa or LMRA work visa approval. Airlines, immigration officers, employers and medical centres may request it. The NPRA (National Passport and Residence Affairs) portal (npra.gov.bh) handles most visa categories.

The CPR smart card is Bahrain's core resident identity document, used for banking, medical records, tenancy registration, utilities, SIM cards and the Bahrain eKey digital identity. Issued by the NPRA after work permit and medical clearance. Carry at all times — police checks can occur.

Keep signed Arabic/English bilingual copies specifying salary, allowances, probation period, notice period, annual leave entitlements and benefits. The Arabic text is legally binding in disputes. Must be registered with the LMRA and filed with your employer HR.

Proof of authorisation to work for the named employer or under an approved registered-worker category issued by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (lmra.gov.bh). Check your current status and permit validity in the LMRA Expatriate Portal. Non-compliance is a deportable offence.

Required as part of work-permit and residence processing. GAMCA (Gulf Approved Medical Centre Association) or Wafid screening may be required before departure from certain countries; additional Bahrain-side medical screening applies after arrival. Tests typically cover communicable diseases (HIV, TB, hepatitis).

Required for child CPR registration, school admission, dependant residence permits and healthcare records. Bahrain is NOT a member of the Hague Apostille Convention; foreign birth certificates must be authenticated through the full consular chain: notarisation in country of origin → home country Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation → Bahraini Embassy or Consulate in the home country → MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) attestation in Bahrain. Certified Arabic translation required.

Required for spouse sponsorship, family visa applications, housing allowances and dependant school or medical records. Bahrain is NOT a Hague Apostille member; foreign marriage certificates require the full consular attestation chain (home country notarisation → home MFA → Bahraini Embassy → Bahrain MOFA). Certified Arabic translation required.

Required for LMRA occupational classification, regulated profession licensing and some employer processes. Bahrain is NOT a Hague Apostille member; foreign qualifications require the full consular attestation chain (home country authority → home MFA → Bahraini Embassy → Bahrain MOFA). Regulated professions have specific recognition bodies: Bahrain Medical Council (bmc.gov.bh) for healthcare, Ministry of Works for engineering. Certified Arabic translation required.

Visitors may drive on a valid foreign licence with an International Driving Permit (IDP) for up to 3 months. For residents, the licence must be exchanged for a Bahraini driving licence at the Traffic Directorate; nationals of GCC countries and certain other countries can exchange directly, while others must pass a Bahraini driving test. Bahrain drives on the right.

Useful for professional licensing, banking (source-of-funds compliance), school admissions and reference-heavy job searches. In the Gulf context, an employer NOC (No Objection Certificate) or experience letter confirming your role and tenure is commonly requested.

Required for school enrolment, paediatric healthcare registration, some occupational medical checks and pet relocation planning. Keep the International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow WHO card) accessible; yellow fever certificate required if arriving from endemic countries.

Required for importing dogs and cats into Bahrain. Core documents: ISO microchip certificate, current rabies vaccination record, an official veterinary health certificate and an import permit from the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning (Animal Quarantine section). Confirm current country-specific rules before travel.