A Guide to the Types of Visas in Bahrain

If you are preparing for a trip abroad to Bahrain you will need to make sure that you have first secured the appropriate visa for your self or you will be denied entry. There are a couple of exceptions to this as people that are British citizens by birth and people that are citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are allowed to enter Bahrain without needing to have a visa. In fact, British citizens can stay for a month without needing to have a visa, and if they need to stay longer they just have to apply for an extension. However if you do not fall into the category of someone that does not need a visa to enter Bahrain you will have to apply for a visa before you arrive in most instances.

Sometimes you may be able to get a visa upon arriving in Bahrain. If you are a young woman traveling alone though you will want to get your visa before arriving as there has been a problem with prostitutes coming to Bahrain so single women coming into Bahrain are scrutinized closely if they do not already have a visa in place. Journalists also have some difficulty getting visas. Journalists must get permission from the Ministry of Information prior to arriving in the country as they have to be accompanied by an official during their stay and are also supplied with a driver to transport them around the country.

There are several different types of visas available, so it is a good idea to familiarize your self with them so that you obtain the correct one for your visit.

If you are coming to Bahrain on vacation you can get a tourist visa. Tourist visas are valid for a period of two weeks and do not allow you to take up employment. Tourist visas are only issued to citizens of Australia, Canada, the European Union, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and the United States.

If you are not a citizen of one of the above countries and wish to come to Bahrain as a tourist you will need to get a visitor visa. These visas also do not allow employment and require sponsorship.