Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit and Re-entry Visa

Year establishedUnknown

Unknown

Responsible authorityPublished

Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), Ministry of Interior

What the program providesPublished

Self-sponsored Bahrain residence for 2, 5 or 10 years: routes for retirees, foreign property owners (BHD 50,000+) and foreign investors (BHD 100,000+)

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Minimum ageUnknown

Unknown

Clean criminal record requiredPublished

Yes

Local health insurance requiredPublished

Yes

Nationality restrictionsPublished

No

Basic eligibilityPublished

One of: own Bahrain property worth BHD 50,000+ (about $133,000); certified retirement after 15+ years of service; or a company stake of BHD 100,000+ (about $266,000). All routes also need stable income of BHD 500+/month (about $1,330) and Bahrain medical insurance

Generational limitPublished

Not applicable

Family sponsorshipPublished

Yes

Spouse includedPublished

Yes

Children includedPublished

Yes

Child age limitUnknown

Unknown

ChildrenPublished

Spouse, children and parents can be added as dependants (law-firm source); dependant income thresholds apply separately

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Processing timePublished

8 weeks

Can apply without travelingPublished

Yes

How you applyPublished

Online through NPRA eServices (evisa.gov.bh), via a guarantor or authorised representative

What the processing time measuresPublished

NPRA published service processing time of 40 working days

Official application routePublished

https://www.evisa.gov.bh/

Minimum investmentPublished

$133,000

Minimum passive investment (July 2026)Published

$133,000

Minimum active investment (July 2026)Published

None required

Processing feePublished

$13

Application feePublished

$532

Total cost to applyPublished

$545

Monthly income requiredPublished

$1,330/month

Monthly pension income requiredPublished

None required

Monthly rental income requiredPublished

None required

Savings requiredUnknown

Unknown

Proof of sufficient fundsPublished

Yes

Local bank deposit requiredPublished

No

Minimum local bank depositPublished

None required

Minimum investment as published (Sept 2026)Published

BHD 50,000 property plus BHD 500/month income

Other investment routes (Sept 2026)Published

Retiree route: certified retirement after 15+ years of service, BHD 500+/month pension (about $1,330), no investment. Investor route: company stake of BHD 100,000+ (about $266,000). Distinct from the Golden Residency (BHD 130,000+, 10 years, goldenresidency.gov.bh).

Fees paidPublished

Before approval

Cost notesPublished

BHD 5 (about USD 13) application fee, non-refundable; permit fee BHD 200 for 2 years (about USD 532), BHD 400 for 5 years (about USD 1,064), BHD 600 for 10 years (about USD 1,596); BHD 250 visa transfer fee

Stay required to keep statusPublished

None

Physical presence requiredUnknown

Unknown

In-country visit requiredUnknown

Unknown

Move-in windowUnknown

Unknown

Length of residencyPublished

24 months

Residency is lifetimePublished

No

RenewablePublished

Yes

Maximum durationUnknown

Unknown

Maximum duration is lifetimeUnknown

Unknown

Stay rule (Sept 2026)Published

No minimum stay stated by NPRA; applicant supplies a Bahrain electricity bill for the property

Tax residency rulePublished

Not applicable — Bahrain has no personal income tax, so there is no tax-residency day test for individuals

Personal income taxPublished

No personal income tax

Time to permanent residencyUnknown

Unknown

Time to citizenshipPublished

25 years

Work for a local employerPublished

No

Start a businessPublished

Yes

Remote or freelance workUnknown

Unknown

Local healthcare accessUnknown

Unknown

University accessUnknown

Unknown

Can buy landPublished

Yes

Local bankingUnknown

Unknown

Permanent residence timeline basisPublished

Not applicable

Citizenship timeline basisPublished

Years stated

Investment note (Sept 2026)Published

Distinct from the Golden Residency (BHD 130,000, 10 years, via goldenresidency.gov.bh): lower threshold, terms of 2, 5 or 10 years, and a BHD 500/month income test

Plan B note (Sept 2026)Published

Permit term chosen at application (2, 5 or 10 years) and renewable. Not for people employed in Bahrain. Retiree route needs no investment; property and investor routes do. Naturalization needs 25 consecutive years of legal residence (15 for Arab nationals), Arabic fluency and registered property. No stated path to permanent residence.

Official program websitePublished

https://www.npra.gov.bh/en/services/visas-residence-permit/residence-permits-services/rps/self-sponsorship-residence-permit-and-return-visa-foreign-property-owner-in-bahrain-/

Investment source (Sept 2026)Published

https://www.bahrain.bh/wps/portal/en/BNP/ServicesCatalogue/GSX-UI-PServiceDetails?psID=3009 | https://www.npra.gov.bh/en/services/visas-residence-permit/residence-permits-services/rps/self-sponsorship-residence-permit-and-return-visa-foreign-property-owner-in-bahrain-/

Plan B sources (Sept 2026)Published

https://www.bahrain.bh/wps/portal/en/BNP/ServicesCatalogue/GSX-UI-PServiceDetails?psID=3009 | https://www.npra.gov.bh/en/services/visas-residence-permit/residence-permits-services/rps/self-sponsorship-residence-permit-and-return-visa-foreign-property-owner-in-bahrain-/ | https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/bahrain/bahrain-launches-online-application-for-residency-permits-for-self-sponsored-foreigners-1.76390629 | https://consiliojus.com/bahrain-residence-permit/ | https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/1963/17092

Every fact on this page comes from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database (Sep 21, 2026 edition). A blank is shown as Unknown.