Bahrain Pre-Trip Briefing for UAE Residents — Quick Brief

Bahrain visa requirements for UAE residents on non-Emirati passports depend on passport nationality, not on UAE residency. (Emirati passport holders enter Bahrain visa-free under the GCC arrangement — see the main briefing above for details.) For non-Emirati UAE residents, Bahrain operates two entry routes: visa-on-arrival (VOA) at Bahrain International Airport (BIA), and pre-arrival eVisa via evisa.gov.bh — both administered by the Nationality, Passports & Residence Affairs (NPRA). The following guidance covers the top UAE expat demographics; passport nationalities not listed should verify their category at https://www.evisa.gov.bh/ before travel. Visa-on-Arrival at Bahrain International Airport (BIA): Holders of British (United Kingdom), American (United States), Canadian and Australian passports are eligible for visa-on-arrival at BIA under the NPRA-published on-arrival list. Fees range from BHD 5 to BHD 25 (approximately AED 49 to AED 245) depending on visa duration — variants include a 2-week, 1-month and 3-month visa. Conditions at the gate: passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry, a confirmed return or onward air ticket, and a hotel booking or sponsor address in Bahrain. Payment is accepted by card or BHD cash at the immigration counter. Pre-arrival eVisa required — apply via evisa.gov.bh before travel: Holders of Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Egyptian, Jordanian and Nepalese passports apply for a Bahrain eVisa online before travel through the NPRA portal at https://www.evisa.gov.bh/. (Note: Jordan is an Arab League state but is NOT a GCC member, so Jordanian passport holders use the eVisa channel rather than the GCC visa-free route.) Typical processing time is 3 to 5 working days. The single-entry 2-week tourist eVisa is BHD 9 (approximately AED 88); the multiple-entry 3-month visa is BHD 16 (approximately AED 156). Standard supporting documents include a passport valid at least 6 months beyond intended entry, a recent passport-style photograph, proof of UAE residency (Emirates ID + residence visa), confirmed return or onward ticket and hotel booking or local host details. The eVisa is issued by email as a PDF and must be carried (printed or on a mobile device) to present at the BIA immigration counter. Other passport nationalities not listed above should consult the NPRA eligibility lists at https://www.evisa.gov.bh/list-of-onarrival-visa-country.html (visa-on-arrival) and https://www.evisa.gov.bh/list-of-online-visa-country.html (pre-arrival eVisa) before booking travel. Approximately 69 nationalities are eligible for VOA at BIA and over 200 are eligible to apply for the pre-arrival eVisa; the NPRA lists are the authoritative reference.