This is the page to read before you naturalise, not after. Bahraini nationality law has required citizens to obtain prior permission before acquiring another nationality, and acquiring one without it has carried the risk of losing Bahraini nationality. The detail matters enormously and it is not published in any accessible form.
Quick facts
Nationality passes primarily through the father. Children of a Bahraini mother and a foreign father have historically faced a more difficult position, which has been the subject of long-running public debate in Bahrain and of reforms that are worth asking about directly.
What to establish
| Question | Why it matters | Where to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Do you need permission to naturalise? | Failing to get it carries real risk | The consular section |
| Claim through a mother | The position differs | A lawyer in Bahrain |
| Children born abroad | Documented through the parents | The consular section |
| Property and inheritance | Tied to nationality | A lawyer |
| Already naturalised elsewhere | Ask about your position | A lawyer, promptly |
Where someone has already taken another nationality without permission, that is a matter for a lawyer rather than a consular counter, and the sooner it is looked at the better.
What to do
- Before applying for another nationality, ask the consular section what permission is required.
- Take legal advice specific to your circumstances.
- Establish the position for any children, particularly where the Bahraini parent is the mother.
- Keep your personal number and identity card current throughout.
- Do not rely on general online guidance for this question.
- Ask about property and inheritance separately, since they follow nationality.
Required documents
- Bahraini passport and identity card.
- Personal number.
- Parent’s documents where the claim is by descent.
- Birth and marriage certificates.
- Any correspondence about permission to hold another nationality.
- Legal advice specific to your case.
Where to apply
At the embassy in Washington or the consulate general in New York; decisions rest with the authorities in Bahrain.
Additional notes
Ask first, always
Of the pages in this directory, this is among those where acting before asking has the heaviest consequences.
Through the mother
Families in that position should take advice on the current rules rather than relying on what applied years ago.
Property follows status
Rules on ownership differ between nationals and foreigners, so a change in status can affect what you hold.
Take proper advice
A lawyer familiar with Bahraini nationality law is the right source. A website is not.