Bahrain Visa for Travel Agencies
For travel agencies only. This service is for registered travel agencies and agents who sell Bahrain visas to their own customers. If you are a traveller, please contact a travel agency.
In short: Bahrain runs almost all visit visas online. The Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) of the Ministry of Interior issues them through evisa.gov.bh and the national eServices portal. Most visit eVisas take 3 to 5 working days. GCC citizens need no visa, GCC residents have their own multiple-entry eVisa, a shorter list of nationalities can get a visa at the airport, and anyone the system does not accept online needs a guarantor in Bahrain.
Who issues Bahrain visas, and through which channels
Bahrain's visit visas belong to the NPRA, which sits under the Ministry of Interior. Agencies meet it through three official doors:
- The eVisa portal (evisa.gov.bh). Its "Visa Selection Criteria" screen asks for nationality, purpose and whether the traveller holds a valid GCC residence permit or GCC visit visa, then shows which visas the person may apply for. The portal also handles status checks, payment, corrections and extensions.
- The bahrain.bh services catalogue. Each visa has its own service card (documents, processing time, legal basis). Applications run through the eServices "Requests and Visa Management" and "Visa Issuance Request without Guarantor".
- Arrival at Bahrain International Airport, for nationalities on the official on-arrival list.
The legal basis quoted on most visit eVisa cards is Ministerial Resolution No. (142) of 2019. Every card describes the same path: online submission, document review, receipt, a security check on the applicant, then issue after approval. Agencies should read "security check" as the step they cannot speed up.
Where official pages disagree: the bahrain.bh visa page says eVisas are open to visitors from 209 countries, while the individual eVisa service cards say 212. The same portal says 69 countries can get a visa on arrival. The 5-year eVisa card refers to 68 countries. The eVisa portal's on-arrival list page appears to be several years old, and we could not open it on 5 November 2026. Treat the eVisa selection screen as the final word for each passport.
Bahrain visit visa types at a glance
| Visa (official name, shortened) | Purpose | Validity / stay | Entries | Usually sold to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visit eVisa for two weeks | Short tourism or visit | Stay of two weeks | Single | First-time weekenders, short city breaks |
| 3-month multiple entry Visit eVisa | Repeat visits | Three months; stay per visit: see official portal | Multiple | Travellers planning more than one trip |
| Multiple entry Visitor eVisa (one year) | Frequent visits | One year; stay per visit: see official portal | Multiple | Business visitors, regular family visitors |
| Multiple entry Visit eVisa (5 years) | Long-term frequent visits | Five years; stay per visit: see official portal | Multiple | Only the 68 nationalities the card refers to |
| 3-month multiple entry Visit eVisa for GCC residents | Visits by expatriates living in the GCC | Three months | Multiple | Residents of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman |
| GCC Visitor eVisa | Visitors holding a valid GCC visa | One month | See official portal | Travellers already in the Gulf on a GCC visit visa |
| Visit eVisa for a family visit | Visiting relatives in Bahrain | One month, renewable | See official portal | Family visits; proof of kinship needed |
| Events visa, F1 Grand Prix | Attending the Formula 1 race at Bahrain International Circuit | See official portal | See official portal | Race-ticket holders |
| Visa on arrival | Tourism or visit | See official portal | See official portal | Only nationalities on the on-arrival list |
Extensions exist for most of these visas as separate services. The F1 events visa is processed online through "Visa Issuance Request without Guarantor" and needs valid race tickets or proof of purchase.
Which route each nationality uses
Bahrain does not publish one simple table by passport. The eVisa portal decides eligibility at the selection screen, and the official FAQ says that if a nationality is not on the eligible list, the traveller cannot get the visa directly and needs a guarantor to apply on their behalf. The FAQ names an airline, the hotel or place of stay, a Bahrain travel agent, a Bahrain company or a Bahraini citizen as possible guarantors. Guarantor registration on the portal is open only to Bahrain residents and to organisations with a Bahrain Commercial Registration.
| Traveller group | What the official sources say | What your desk should do |
|---|---|---|
| GCC citizens (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman) | No visa needed; the bahrain.bh identification page says they can enter with their national ID card | Check the ID card or passport is valid; no visa order |
| GCC residents of any nationality | Dedicated 3-month multiple-entry eVisa; GCC residence permit must be valid for at least three more months | Assess on residence permit first, then on passport |
| Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya (not resident in the GCC) | Covered by the general visit eVisas if the selection screen accepts the nationality; the official pages we could load do not list these passports one by one | Run each passport through the eVisa selection screen before quoting; if refused, a guarantor route is needed |
| Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia | Same as above; bahrain.bh pages do not name them | Same check; plan for a guarantor if not accepted online |
| Pakistan, India, Bangladesh | Same as above | Same check; residents of a GCC country use the GCC resident eVisa instead |
| Visa on arrival | Official list on evisa.gov.bh; entry is at the immigration officer's discretion | Use only when the passport is on the current list, and still carry hotel and return-ticket proof |
| Not accepted online and not on the arrival list | Guarantor in Bahrain applies; bahrain.bh also mentions a Bahrain embassy in the country of residence | Do not sell a package before the guarantor or embassy route is confirmed |
Official information checked on 5 November 2026. Rules change, so check the official portal before you take payment.
Processing times and when to apply
The bahrain.bh service cards list 3 to 5 working days for the two-week, 3-month, one-year, 5-year, family, GCC resident, GCC visitor and F1 visas, and the eVisa FAQ gives the same range. No urgent or express service is published for visit eVisas. Extensions of a GCC Visitor eVisa are listed at one working day.
Bahrain's working week runs Sunday to Thursday, so count from the first working day after submission. A file sent on Thursday evening for a trip the next Thursday is already tight. For weekend customers our advice is simple: submit at least one full working week before departure, and earlier around public holidays and events.
The NPRA page for the GCC resident visa also states that the applicant must be outside Bahrain when applying. Do not let a customer cross first and apply later.
Documents the NPRA asks for
The visit eVisa cards on bahrain.bh repeat a core list, with extras for some types:
- Passport copy. The visit eVisa cards do not state a six-month validity rule, but the eVisa FAQ says the traveller must enter on the same passport used to apply. If the customer renews a passport after approval, the visa does not move with it.
- Hotel reservation in the traveller's name, matching the travel dates.
- Return ticket. A confirmed booking whose dates match the hotel is the safest proof.
- Three-month bank statement in English, showing either a regular monthly income (salary or pension) or funds for each day of the visit. The exact thresholds are on each bahrain.bh service card. Arabic-only statements need a bank-issued English version.
- GCC residence permit copy valid for at least three more months (GCC resident eVisa only).
- A valid GCC visa (GCC Visitor eVisa only).
- Proof of kinship, such as birth or marriage certificates (family visit eVisa only).
- F1 tickets or proof of purchase, plus the service application form (events visa only).
The eVisa portal also publishes a guide to document attachments. Follow its file rules before upload, as a rejected attachment restarts the clock.
Agency playbook for Bahrain
Saudi weekend traffic. Bahrain is a classic Thursday-to-Saturday trip from Saudi Arabia, and many customers from the Eastern Province drive over the King Fahd Causeway rather than fly. Saudi citizens need no visa, but their expatriate drivers, domestic workers and colleagues do. Sell the GCC resident eVisa as a 3-month multiple-entry product: one approval can cover several weekends, which beats a new application every fortnight. Check the residence permit expiry first; less than three months left means this route is closed.
Formula 1 and big events. Bahrain has a separate F1 Grand Prix events visa with the race ticket as a core document. Do not file before the customer holds the ticket. Hotels in Manama and around Sakhir fill early on race weekend, and the hotel reservation is a required document, so secure rooms first, then file the visa. Check race dates on the Bahrain International Circuit's official calendar, not on social media.
Family visits. Gulf and South Asian families often visit relatives working in Bahrain. The family visit eVisa needs official proof of the relationship. Translated and clear scans avoid queries.
Common causes of delay. Bank statements that are not in English or are under three months, hotel and ticket dates that do not match, low-quality scans, and a passport changed after approval. The FAQ also says entry is never guaranteed: the officer decides on arrival, so customers should carry printed copies of the hotel booking, return ticket and visa.
Sequencing visa and ticket. Hold the flight, book a refundable or cancellable hotel, file the eVisa, and ticket only after approval. For causeway customers there is no ticket, so the hotel booking carries more weight in the file.
Typical desk mistakes on Bahrain files. Quoting the on-arrival route from an old list; ordering a two-week single-entry visa for a customer who will come back next month; and filing a GCC resident visa for someone whose permit renewal is still pending.
Ordering a Bahrain visa in QuickOTA
Approved agencies order Bahrain visas in the QuickOTA B2B Panel at B2B rates; we do not publish prices on the website. Pick the Bahrain visa, add each traveller, pay from your prepaid wallet (there is no minimum deposit) and upload the passport, hotel, ticket and bank documents the visa asks for. You then follow the order status in the panel, next to your flight bookings. QuickOTA is not an embassy or a government body and does not decide applications; the NPRA does. The service is for travel agencies only. To open an account, send a partnership request with your phone or WhatsApp number and our team will contact you.
FAQs
Can a Pakistani or Indian customer living in Riyadh get the GCC resident eVisa?
The GCC resident eVisa is assessed on the residence permit, which must be valid for at least three more months, together with a passport copy, hotel, return ticket and bank statement. Run the case through the eVisa selection screen to confirm before you take payment.
How long does a Bahrain visit eVisa take?
The official service cards and the eVisa FAQ give 3 to 5 working days. Bahrain's working days are Sunday to Thursday, and no express option is published for visit eVisas.
What if the eVisa portal does not offer any visa for my customer's passport?
According to the eVisa FAQ, a guarantor in Bahrain must apply on the traveller's behalf, such as a hotel, airline, Bahrain company or Bahraini citizen. Guarantor registration is limited to Bahrain residents and companies with a Bahrain Commercial Registration.
Does my customer need a special visa for the Bahrain Grand Prix?
Bahrain publishes a separate F1 Grand Prix events visa, with race tickets or proof of purchase as a required document. Other visit eVisas may also fit, so compare the options on the selection screen.
Can the customer enter Bahrain on a new passport after the eVisa is approved?
The official FAQ says the traveller should enter on the same passport used for the online application. If the passport changes, check with the NPRA before travel.