Recent developments for visa holders in Bahrain are always something to keep an eye out for. The country has seen many changes when it comes to immigration procedures, sometimes drastically so. This article will go into detail about some of these recent developments and what they mean for you as a visitor or resident in Bahrain!
There is one major thing that most people notice when traveling from/to Bahrain. Even though the airport may look similar from place to place, there can be significant differences in how well prepared travelers are for their trip. This includes things like whether or not they know which countries require visas, what types of documents they need, and how long it takes to process them.
Some places seem to fly under the radar with regards to this but it does matter since your plans might hinge on having a valid passport, visa, and proof of residence! So, stay tuned for all the details here! Let’s get started by taking a closer look at just what makes up the visa processing time in Bahrain.
Visiting or living in Bahrain? We have lots of information for you here!
We have broken down everything according to three main categories; working, studying, and visiting. These terms refer to different stages of visa processing so make sure to check those out accordingly.
Visas for business are typically very easy to obtain, as they require only your name, proof of employment, and payment of an application fee.
Some other documents can be verified easily online or through your embassy, but others you will need to send directly!
Visiting for less than two weeks usually doesn’t pose too many issues unless you don't have any proof of income or no current job offers. In these cases, you'll probably want to make sure you have enough money to stay here for the time being, however staying active by working may win over cash soon enough!
Business visas also normally expire within six months, so it's best to apply as early as possible. Make sure to check out our tips below about how to process your visa quickly.
There is no set number of days that it takes to process your visas in Bahrain. Visas are processed within minutes, if not hours, depending on how many people you include as recipients or beneficiaries on the visa and the amount sent with the visa.
At VISA, we understand that waiting for your loved ones can be stressful and tedious at best. That’s why we have an automated tool that allows you to find out when your relative will arrive in country!
You can use this tool to Find When Your Relative Will Arrive In Country by entering their passport information and “when would you like them to arrive”.
The system then goes onto search our database of over 30+ countries across all major visa types (eVisitor, Business, Transit) to see what time-frames they typically take and offers possible alternatives depending on whether or not they already have a visa. It also shows you where they currently reside which helps you determine if traveling to meet them is even possible.
Visas come in many forms, with some being longer term and others being shorter. Some require you to have a return ticket or proof of an ongoing business trip while other no such restrictions.
A tourist visa is usually for up to three months and can be extended once if needed. These are typically entry visas for countries that do not need a passport photo or medical test before letting you enter. The process to extend your tourist visa will cost around US$50-100 per visit depending on the country. For most people these costs are very reasonable as it includes spending time at the embassy to complete paperwork, reentry tickets into Bahrain, and transportation back home.
Working holiday maker (WHM) visas give qualified professionals who want to spend one year outside their field the chance to do so. They must prove they have enough money to stay in another country and work during this time, but there is no requirement to go home between visits. This makes WHM visas great for freelancers and consultants since they do not have to plan ahead for every trip.
Types of working holidaymaker (WHM) visas include: Work and Travel (TWT), Work and Visit (WTV), and Business and Tourism (BTT). All three allow two years total spent in the country and normal exit conditions apply. The TWT visa is the cheapest at just under $10k USD and does not require you to keep track of your daily expenses.
Even if you have all of the documents ready, your passport isn’t yet expired, and you don’t have enough money for a stay in Bahrain, there is one more thing that can prevent you from leaving.
The country of issuance of your tourist visa may not let you leave unless they know you will be back within a set period of time. This is called ‘Visa Return’ or sometimes just ‘Return VISA’. It happens mostly when people are traveling for work and need to return home every few months.
Usually this six month rule applies only to countries that aren’t part of the Schengen Area (which means they usually aren’t). The UK is not one of them so even though it might take you longer than five days to find a job here, you should still plan on staying until your British visa expires!
If you ever run into issues returning to Bahrain with your visa, make sure you check out our tips for how to extend your visit. You could also apply for an entry permit which doesn’t require a return visa.
There are several factors that can influence how long it takes to process your visit visa in Bahrain. Visas are always subject to number limitations, so make sure you have enough for your stay!
Making multiple visits may also take longer as every country has different rules about repeat visitors. If you’re traveling during high season or an important event, expect much longer wait times.
Drinking alcohol is illegal in Bahrain, so if you’ve had even one alcoholic beverage, your visit visa will be denied. This happens more frequently at special events like the Asian Games where many foreigners attend.
If you need to work while you’re here, making too much money could complicate your affairs back home. You must declare all sources of income when applying for a business visa or employment visa.
Whilst it is possible to apply for a tourist visa at your destination, this isn’t always an easy process. In fact, it can be quite difficult!
Visas are designed to ensure that only people who qualify as travelling for tourism purposes enter Bahrain. Due to this, most countries require you to visit their embassy or consulate to obtain your visa. This way, they have proof of what you will be doing while in the country which helps prevent overspending or fraud.
At the same time, however, it can sometimes be tricky to find out when visas become available again so there is no guarantee that even if you manage to book a flight with Royal Jordanian that a visa will still be easily accessible when you arrive.
On the other hand, some countries offer online applications where all documents are sent directly to them via internet, avoiding any hassles like sending through postal services or going into the office physically.
There is an eight-day visa processing time for most countries at the United Kingdom (UK) Embassy in Manama, Bahrain. This means that if you apply within this period of time, then your visa will be ready when you arrive in country!
Eight days may seem like a long time, but it does give you enough time to make arrangements after arriving in Bahrain, as well as travel to and from the UK Embassy. Plus, business travelers can also use this time to rest up and prepare for their next meeting or trip.
It’s important to remember that while visas are processed within eight days in Bahrain, there is still another day to get back home. So even though you don’t have a lot of time once you arrive, you do have one full work day to spend doing what you want to do.
A lot of times, after you send all your documents to a company for processing, they tell you something like ‘keep these by yourself’ or ask you to not share this information with anyone else as it will delay the process.
This is totally normal!
It happens because when companies around the world accept visa applications from outside sources (like yours), they have to verify everything twice – once from their end and then again at the consulate where the applicant lives.
By having someone else look over their application, the chance of errors increases so there is an additional level of verification done. This takes longer than just doing it yourself but only adds more security for you and your trip!
Another thing that can happen is that the two parties may come up with different answers about if the other party has informed them that they already had this info. There is no way to fix this unless one of you is present during the other’s visit, which usually isn’t possible. So we recommend being aware of such warnings before traveling so nothing gets stuck.
Don’t worry though, everything works out in the end! We hope this article helped you and be sure to check back here soon for more tips on how to stay organized while on vacation.
