Bahrain is one of the easier Gulf states to enter. American travellers can generally obtain a visa on arrival or apply for an electronic visa beforehand, and applying in advance mainly saves time at the airport in Manama rather than unlocking anything you could not get there.
Quick facts
One practical point specific to Bahrain: many visitors cross the causeway to Saudi Arabia, and that is a separate entry requiring its own Saudi visa. A Bahraini visa does nothing for it.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa on arrival | Published tariff | Paid at the airport |
| Electronic visa | Same published tariff | Obtained beforehand |
| Multiple-entry visa | Higher tariff | Longer validity |
| Consular visa | Not published | Ask the consular section |
| Extension of stay | Charged in Bahrain | Immigration authorities |
Work requires a permit arranged by the employer in Bahrain, and the sponsorship arrangements are specific enough that the employer, not the traveller, should be handling them.
How to apply
- Check the current entry rules for your nationality before booking.
- Decide between the visa on arrival and the electronic one.
- Apply through the official portal rather than a reseller.
- Arrange a separate Saudi visa if you plan to cross the causeway.
- Have the employer arrange any work permit in Bahrain.
- Carry proof of accommodation and onward travel.
Required documents
- Passport valid at least six months beyond arrival.
- Completed application and photograph.
- Return or onward ticket.
- Accommodation details.
- Proof of lawful residence in the United States for third-country nationals.
- Employer or sponsor letters by category.
Where to apply
Online or on arrival for most travellers; at the embassy in Washington or the consulate general in New York for other categories.
Additional notes
Only official portals
Resellers charge a markup for the Bahraini electronic visa. The government system publishes the real price.
Bahrainis need no visa
Citizens travel on a Bahraini passport, and questions about holding another nationality are covered on the citizenship page.
The causeway
Crossing to Saudi Arabia is an international border with its own requirements. Plan it as a separate trip, not a day out.
Verify close to travel
Gulf entry arrangements change. Confirm near the date.