Bahrain has implemented new regulations in its visa policy, as reported by Zawya, stipulating that holders of visitor visas will no longer have the option to convert them into work permits.
However, those with visit visas sponsored by an entity will still be permitted to transfer to a work or dependent visa. The processing fee for this transfer has been adjusted to BD250, up from the previous BD60 if the sponsor remains unchanged.
Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, the Under-Secretary of Nationality, Passports, and Residence Affairs (NPRA), announced this decision with the intention of reducing unemployment rates and providing support to Bahraini nationals.
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He emphasized that these measures, to be implemented in collaboration with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), align with government directives to strengthen visa transfer regulations.
This initiative is geared towards prioritizing Bahraini nationals for employment opportunities in line with the National Labour Market Strategy. Al Khalifa further stated that the directives aim to address the exploitation of visit visas by certain individuals.
According to reports, there were 13,078 visa conversions in 2019, 7,942 in 2020, 9,424 in 2021, 46,204 in 2022, and 8,598 until June of the previous year. Al Khalifa highlighted the implementation of stricter measures to dissuade individuals from violating entry regulations by attempting to convert tourist visas into work permits.
Moreover, Al Khalifa mentioned that airlines have been instructed not to allow boarding for individuals traveling to Bahrain without a return ticket, residence permit, or adequate funds.
