Bahrain has moved towards accepting the apostille, but practice among Bahraini institutions is not uniform and some still expect consular attestation by the embassy. As with every country in transition, one question to the office receiving the document saves an entire wasted chain.
Quick facts
Educational and professional documents are the most common case, because Bahrain recruits extensively from abroad and verifies qualifications carefully. Degree certificates and transcripts usually need the full treatment.
The chain
| Step | Who does it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Notarisation | U.S. notary public | For private documents |
| State certification or apostille | Secretary of State | Of the issuing state |
| Federal authentication | U.S. Department of State | Where attestation is wanted |
| Consular attestation | Embassy or consulate general | Where required |
| Arabic translation | As the receiving office requires | Ask first |
Bahraini documents travelling the other way are attested by the foreign ministry in Manama before being used abroad.
How to prepare a document
- Ask the receiving institution in Bahrain which certification it accepts.
- Order a certified copy, or have the private document notarised.
- Obtain the state certification or apostille.
- Add the federal authentication if consular attestation is wanted.
- Contact the consular section about its step and its cost.
- Arrange the Arabic translation as instructed.
Required documents
- Original document with the certification attached.
- Arabic translation where required.
- Copy of your identification.
- Payment in the accepted form.
- Prepaid tracked return envelope for postal filings.
What the missions do
They handle passports and travel documents, attest documents for use in Bahrain, issue visas in the categories they cover, support Bahraini students in the United States and assist nationals in difficulty.
Additional notes
Ask before paying
Where a country is mid-transition between attestation and apostille, the receiving office is the only reliable authority.
Degrees and transcripts
Employers in Bahrain verify qualifications thoroughly. Budget time for the full chain on educational documents.
Order two copies
Repeating the chain is slow and costs more than a spare certificate.
Never certify a photocopy
The certification attaches to an original or a certified copy from the record keeper.