Frequently asked questions
This page gathers the questions our office is asked most often about company formation, managing a commercial registration, visas and residency, and Tamkeen support. The answers are based on the regulations in force in the Kingdom of Bahrain and on the transactions we manage.
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Company formation
No. The licensed professional office is authorised by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to advise on company registration and amendment and to file applications through a dedicated account, without the client having to issue a formal power of attorney.
Issuing a commercial registration entry without a licence. This covers the choice of trade name, activity and legal form.
The entry is the registration of the company itself. The licence is the permission to carry out the activity in practice, once the address is set and the approvals are in place.
It depends on the activity. Some activities allow full foreign ownership and some require a Bahraini or GCC partner.
A Bahraini or a GCC national resident in Bahrain. A valid smart card is required.
A virtual commercial registration (Sijili) is a commercial registration that does not require a commercial address. It is available for specific activities on an approved list.
One year. It is renewed during the last fifteen days before it falls due.
Renewal and violations
Six months before the validity of the entry and the activity expires.
Three months before the validity of the commercial registration entry expires.
Yes, up to three years from the date of suspension.
In most cases because of a violation recorded against the commercial registration or the activity, or an administrative note held by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).
No. The violation blocks the transaction until it is cleared.
Amendments and liquidation
No. The commercial registration number stays the same.
Yes. The entity type can be changed in either direction.
Transfer of ownership. If the commercial registration number changes, all foreign staff must be transferred to the new number.
Suspension is a state that arises from non-renewal and does not end the obligations. Liquidation is a formal procedure that closes the commercial registration officially.
No. Settling the violations is a required step before the liquidation can be completed.
Workforce and residency
Once the commercial registration and the licence are complete.
Two visas at the start. The number can be raised further in line with the size of the business, through the workload assessment.
The workload assessment, a procedure that allows additional visas to be granted.
No. It is entirely separate.
The salary of the employee must be 400 BD or more.
Cancelling the permit and paying a security deposit of 300 BD.
Social insurance and Tamkeen
An active and complete commercial registration.
70% in the first year, 50% in the second year and 30% in the third year.
From 350 to 450 BD for secondary school graduates, and from 500 to 800 BD for bachelor degree holders.
Advertising the vacancy with the Ministry of Labour.
No. It is limited to Bahraini employees.
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