Service Directory

New Work Permit

Through this service, employers can submit a request for issuing a new work permit for expatriate employees to be hired on their commercial registrations.

Service Conditions

  • If the expatriate employee is having a multiple entry permit, this permit must be cancelled prior to submitting the application (whether the expatriate employee is in the Kingdom of Bahrain or Abroad).
  • The employer must process the deportation of the expatriate employee immediately, if the employee had failed to pass the required medical examination.
  • If the expatriate employee was in the Kingdom of Bahrain previously and was issued a personal number, the same number must be used to apply for him/ her again when entering the required fields during the permit’s application.

Required Attachments

Medical examination report for the expatriate employee, done in his/her home or current country of residence

  • Copy
  • The report or certificate should not be older than two months from the issue date.
  • The medical examination result must be positive (healthy fit).
  • In the absence of an accredited centre in the residential city or country of the expatriate employee, a Non Wafid medical checkup form available on LMRA’s website must be filled and stamped from any official medical centre.
  • In the absence of an accredited centre in the residential city or country of the expatriate employee, a Non Wafid medical checkup form available on LMRA’s website must be filled and stamped from any official medical centre.
  • Certificate of medical examination is not required if the expatriate employee is residing in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
  • Medical examination is not required for dependants (family members).

Expatriate Employee’s passport

  • Copy
  • The passport should have all the information and alterations or updates and First Name in addition to Father or Family must be written on the 1st page of the passport in all Employment/Dependant Applications. As well as the page that states the father or spouse’s name (for Indian and Pakistani nationalities) as well as the page that contains the old passport number.
  • The passport must be valid for at least 6 months, but it is highly recommended to have it valid for at least 2 years before applying.

For Non-commercial Institutions and Non-governmental Organizations (NCNG): valid license from the concerned authority (If necessary, in some cases, such as Fishermen)

  • Copy

Employment contract or employment agreement between the employer and the expatriate employee

  • Copy
  • The contract is optional. It should be in Arabic (or a bilingual contract that includes Arabic) on the company’s letterhead or on a government paper.
  • It must include the commercial registration's name and number, the duration of the contract be it 1 year or 2 years, name of the expatriate employee as per passport, passport number, nationality, occupation, salary, employment, and notice periods.
  • It should be signed by the employer and the expatriate employee and (should bear the seal/ stamp of the employer on the company’s letterhead).

Approval letter/ no-objection certificate from the relevant authority for certain specialized occupations. (for example, teachers, doctors, engineers, designations in the banking sector)

  • Copy

Legal Regulations

  • Resolution No. (76) of 2008 regulating work permits for foreigners other than the category of domestic workers and its amendments.

Fees

Service fee:

  • BHD 90 : Dependants
  • BHD 97.5 : Six Months (Available for expatriate employees inside the Kingdom of Bahrain)
  • BHD 195 : One year
  • BHD 390 : Two years

Admin fee:

  • BHD 5 : -

Job advertisement fees for expatriate employees applications from outside the Kingdom of Bahrain only:

  • BHD 30 : -

Process Time

  • 3 working days : expatriate employees’ applications from inside the Kingdom of Bahrain (Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) approval)
  • 21 working days : expatriate employees’ applications from outside the Kingdom of Bahrain

Service Provider

Labour Market Regulatory Authority

Service Processes

  • Login to the LMRA EMS system and start the process of applying for a new work permit.
  • Click on New Work Permit folder, and then click on New Expatriate Permit. Choose the Work Visa Type and enter the required data in the designated fields. Permit period chosen should match the period appearing in the employment contract.

  • Login to the LMRA EMS system and start the process of applying for a new work permit.
  • Click on New Work Permit folder, and then click on New Expatriate Permit. Choose the Work Visa Type and enter the required data in the designated fields. Permit period chosen should match the period appearing in the employment contract.
  • Once you submit the application, an application ID will be issued and a notification will appear (Application has been successfully submitted, kindly pay the admin and advertisement fees for the job vacancies announcements for expatriate employees from outside the Kingdom of Bahrain, as the application will be cancelled if the fees are not paid before the invoice due date).
  • Kindly pay the admin fees either via the Expat Management System (EMS) or by visiting one of the accredited banks.
  • Upon completion of the admin and advertisement fees payment for the job vacancies announcements for expatriate employees from outside the Kingdom of Bahrain, the application will automatically be transferred for verification.
  • You can check the application status by: Logging on to the Expat Management System (EMS) or by calling LMRA's contact centre on +973 17506055.
  • After receiving the approval on the new work permit, pay the fees via the Expat Management System (EMS) or by visiting one of the accredited banks.
  • Print the work permit from the EMS system.
  • If the expatriate employee you applied for is out of the Kingdom of Bahrain then the Residence Permit should be printed by the employer via Kingdom of Bahrain's National Portal once the expatriate arrives.
  • If the expatriate employee you applied for is residing in the Kingdom of Bahrain, then you will need to print the Residence Permit via Kingdom of Bahrain's National Portal or you can contact 8000 8001.
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