Visas and Residency
RegulationThe work visa cap in Bahrain and how to raise it
Every commercial registration in the Kingdom of Bahrain starts with two work visas, and the upper cap varies according to the registered activity. Once the upper cap is used up, a workload assessment can be carried out to obtain additional visas beyond the cap, based on the volume of work and the documents submitted.
Stages of the cap
| Stage | Number |
|---|---|
| When the file is opened | Two visas |
| The upper cap for the activity | Between six and ten visas depending on the activity |
| After the workload assessment | Twenty, thirty or more |
Conditions for raising the cap
Using up the current visas
An application to raise the cap is not accepted if any visa within the current cap remains unused.
The cap is tied to the activity
The upper cap is set by the activity registered on the commercial registration, not by the establishment's wishes or by the volume of work it states.
A file free of notes
Administrative notes block the establishment's transactions at the Authority until they are cleared.
The workload assessment
A procedure available once the upper cap set for the activity has been used up. Documents proving the establishment's volume of work are submitted through it, and on that basis additional visas beyond the usual cap are considered.
What does not count towards the cap
The investor visa is entirely separate and does not count towards the labour cap, which means that obtaining one does not reduce the number of visas available for hiring employees.
The effect of a change in the registration number
Where ownership of the registration is transferred in a way that changes its number, all foreign employees have to be transferred to the new number. Overlooking this step puts the employees' status at risk.