Bahrain Golden Residency: everything you need to know.

At a glance

Who qualifies

There are five ways to qualify. Property is the most popular, because it is the only one you can arrange from abroad, in weeks.

• Property owners: Property owners: own property in Bahrain with a total personal share value of BHD 130,000 (USD 345,000) or more at the time of purchase, through one property or several properties combined.
• Long-term residents and professionals: Professionals working in Bahrain: at least 5 years working in Bahrain, average monthly BASIC salary over BHD 2,000 (USD 5,306) over the past 5 years, continuously insured with SIO for that amount the whole period. Bonuses and allowances excluded.
• Resident retirees: Resident retirees: worked in Bahrain at least 15 years with average pension of BHD 2,000 (USD 5,306) or more (law: average over the last 5 years of residence).
• Retirees from abroad: Non-resident retirees: average pension of BHD 4,000 (USD 10,624) or more per month. The law text says retirees who worked in Bahrain or abroad with a pension of at least BHD 4,000.
• Talented individuals: Talented individuals: entrepreneurs, researchers and scientists, artists and creatives, innovators, athletes, other exceptional talent. Subject to a specialised talent committee review; NPRA lists extra documents (incubator approval for entrepreneurs, PhD for academics, patent copy for inventors). Processing up to 10 working days.

The property route: three ways

You need property worth BHD 130,000. Here is how buyers get there.

What you get

• Permanent residency as described officially; legally a 10-year permit renewable for similar periods, with a BHD 300 fee every 10 years.
• No minimum stay requirement in Bahrain. The old rule cancelling the permit if the holder spent under 90 days a year in Bahrain was repealed by Decision 150/2025.
• Free to leave and return at any time during validity (multiple entry).
• Family inclusion: spouse, children and parents, with no age limit. Same fees per dependant (BHD 5 + BHD 300).
• Dependants are granted 'non-working dependant' permits (law text: without the right to work).
• Domestic workers: not mentioned in any official source. The official rules don't spell this out, so the ASK team confirms it with the NPRA for each client.
• Self-sponsored: no employer sponsor needed for the residency itself.
• Right to work: allowed, but the holder still needs an LMRA work permit (employer applies; BHD 172/yr plus BHD 5 admin per bahrain.bh). Getting Golden Residency does not cancel an existing work visa.
• Bahraini National ID (CPR) card giving access to healthcare, banking, government services and employment registration.
• Easier business setup, 100% foreign ownership in most sectors (not all).

How to apply

1. Check eligibility on goldenresidency.gov.bh (optional).
2. Get Bahrain health insurance valid in Bahrain (mandatory for applicant and each dependant; law requires it for the whole validity).
3. Apply online on the bahrain.bh Golden Residency eService. Residents log in with eKey 2.0; non-residents can apply without eKey from abroad.
4. Upload documents and pay the BHD 5 non-refundable application fee (debit/credit card).
5. Processing: 5 working days (property, employee, retiree); up to 10 working days (talent).
6. On approval, pay the BHD 300 issuance fee within 30 days or the application is automatically cancelled.
7. Apply separately for each family member via 'Enrolment for Golden Residency' (5 working days).
8. Track status / print the residency under 'Requests and Golden Residencies Visa Management' on bahrain.bh.
9. If you want to work, the employer applies for an LMRA work permit for Golden Visa holders.

Documents

• Passport valid more than 6 months (with family information page).
• Title deed(s) showing total personal-share purchase value of at least BHD 130,000.
• Valid health insurance certificate issued in Bahrain.
• Latest 6-month bank statement.
• Previous Bahrain residence permit, if any; ID card copy if any.
• Copy of signature specimen and residential address in country of residence.
• Dependants: marriage certificate (spouse), children's birth certificates, holder's birth certificate (parents), copy of the holder's Golden Residency.
• Police clearance and medical exam: not on the official document list, though applicants must be of good conduct. The ASK team confirms the current checks with the NPRA for each client.

Fees

• Application fee BHD 5 per person, non-refundable.
• Residency issuance fee BHD 300 per person (applicant and each dependant), every 10 years.
• Health insurance cost: market price, not set by government.
• Property title registration (SLRB): 2% of value, reduced to 1.7% if filed within 60 days of notarisation; BHD 1 form fee.
• Optional LMRA work permit for Golden Visa holders: BHD 172 per year (incl. basic health fee) plus BHD 5 admin.

What changed recently

• Apr 2025: Bilaj Al Jazayer and new Diyar Al Muharraq parts opened to foreign ownership.
• 24-26 Nov 2025: property threshold cut from BHD 200,000 to BHD 130,000 and 90-day presence rule repealed (Decision 150/2025), announced at Cityscape Bahrain.
• 13 Jan 2026: official FAQ document list updated to BHD 130,000 property shares.
• 31 Aug 2026: LMRA digitised work-permit renewal for Golden Residency holders (instant; 6 months, 1 or 2 years).
• 12 Oct 2026: official 'Residency by Property Investment' page updated with a map of 30+ eligible projects.

Read the full requirements, the step-by-step application and the laws behind it.

Questions people ask.

Sources: goldenresidency.gov.bh · npra.gov.bh · lloc.gov.bh