# Bahrain Golden Residency: the complete guide

- Property needed: BHD 130,000 (about USD 346k)
- Duration: 10 years, renewable
- Family: Spouse, children and parents, no age limit
- Minimum stay: None (90-day rule repealed in Nov 2025)
- Fees: BHD 5 application + BHD 300 issuance, per person
- Processing: About 5 working days
- Income tax: None
- Citizenship: Not included

## Who qualifies

- 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.
- Platinum Residency: Platinum Residency (separate, higher tier): for Golden Residency holders resident in Bahrain at least 15 years with average basic salary of at least BHD 4,000 over the last 5 years, or anyone the Crown Prince and Prime Minister chooses. Issued after Crown Prince approval. Platinum holders may own property outside the freehold zones (Decision 48/2023).

## Property route

1. Buy one property worth BHD 130,000 or more. Buy a single home worth BHD 130,000 or more and own it outright. Once the title deed is in your name, you can apply.
2. Buy several properties that add up to BHD 130,000. You don't need one big purchase. Two or three smaller homes whose values add up to BHD 130,000 qualify together.
3. Buy off-plan on a payment plan. Buy a new-build home on the developer's payment plan. Your residency is granted once you have paid BHD 130,000 towards it.

## Benefits

- 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).
- Holding other residencies does not affect eligibility.
- If the holder dies, dependants get a grace period until the permit's 10-year expiry or 1 year, whichever is longer.
- 0% personal income tax (official FAQ).
- Not a path to citizenship by itself. Naturalisation requires 10 years (Arab) or 20 years (non-Arab) of legal consecutive residence, Arabic, and property registered in the applicant's name, per NPRA.

## 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.

## FAQ

**What is the minimum property value for the Bahrain Golden Residency?** BHD 130,000 (about USD 345,000) of total personal-share purchase value, since the November 2025 cut from BHD 200,000.

**Can I combine two apartments to reach BHD 130,000?** Yes. The official site says the requirement can be met with a single property or multiple properties, as long as the combined value of your shares is at least BHD 130,000.

**Does off-plan property qualify?** Yes, you can buy off-plan, but the residency is granted only once you have actually paid BHD 130,000 towards the property. The ASK team prepares the payment proof the NPRA needs.

**When do I get the visa if I buy off-plan?** When your payments to the developer reach BHD 130,000, not at handover. Example: on a BHD 200,000 unit, you qualify once your payments total BHD 130,000.

**Can I get the Bahrain Golden Residency with a mortgage?** In ASK's experience, the property must be fully paid (or, off-plan, BHD 130,000 actually paid). The ASK team confirms mortgaged cases with the NPRA.

**Is the value based on today's market value or purchase price?** Purchase price at the time of purchase as shown on the deed.

**Can I own the property jointly with my spouse?** Only your personal share counts; your share must reach BHD 130,000.

**Where can foreigners buy property in Bahrain?** Only in designated freehold areas (residential category A/B/C zones and listed investment and tourism areas), e.g. Seef, Bahrain Bay, Juffair, Amwaj, Reef Island, Durrat Al Bahrain, Riffa Views, Diyar Al Muharraq, Dilmunia, Bilaj Al Jazayer.

**How long does it take?** 5 working days once the application is complete (talent: up to 10).

**How much does it cost?** BHD 5 application fee plus BHD 300 issuance fee per person, payable every 10 years. Health insurance is extra.

**How long is the Golden Residency valid?** Legally 10 years, renewable; the government markets it as permanent residency with a BHD 300 fee every 10 years.

**Do I have to live in Bahrain to keep it?** No. There is no minimum stay; the old 90-days-a-year rule was repealed in November 2025.

**Can my parents be included?** Yes. Spouse, children and parents can be sponsored, with no age limit.

**Can I sponsor a housemaid or driver?** Not addressed in official Golden Residency sources. The official rules don't spell this out, so the ASK team confirms it with the NPRA for each client.

**Can I work in Bahrain with the Golden Residency?** Yes, but you still need an LMRA work permit, which your employer applies for. Dependants receive non-working permits.

**Can I apply from outside Bahrain?** Yes. Non-residents can apply on bahrain.bh without an eKey.

**Do I need health insurance?** Yes, a valid Bahrain-issued health insurance certificate, kept valid throughout the permit.

**Do I need a police clearance or medical test?** Not on the official document lists. The law requires good conduct and the authority can request extra documents at any time.

**Does the Golden Residency lead to Bahraini citizenship?** No, not directly. Naturalisation requires 10 (Arab) or 20 (non-Arab) years of legal consecutive residence, Arabic and other conditions.

**Is there property tax or income tax in Bahrain?** The official site states 0% income tax. A one-off title registration fee of 2% (1.7% if filed within 60 days) applies on purchase. No annual property tax source was retrieved; ASK Real Estate to confirm.

**What if I sell the property?** Official sources do not say whether the residency is cancelled on sale. The official rules don't spell this out, so the ASK team confirms it with the NPRA for each client.

**Is my off-plan money protected?** Off-plan projects must be RERA-licensed and buyer payments go into a project escrow account with a CBB-licensed bank, protected from the developer's creditors (Law 27/2017).

**Golden Residency vs Golden Visa: which is the right name?** The official name is 'Bahrain's Golden Residency'. 'Golden Visa' is the common informal term.

**Can I hold another country's residency too?** Yes, other residencies do not affect eligibility.

Ask the ASK Real Estate team: WhatsApp +973 3611 1323