VISAS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Q. I would like to like to visit Bahrain, what type of visa can I apply for?
Please visit Bahrain e-Visa website to check your eligibility for a visa for Bahrain.
Q. I a hold a United Kingdom passport, do I need to apply for a visa?
You can get a visa on arrival, but to ensure a smoother process at the border in Bahrain it is best to get a visa in advance online through http://www.evisa.gov.bh On arrival in Bahrain, visitors can be issued visas for 24 hours, 72 hours, 2 weeks or 3 months, depending on their need and at the discretion of the Immigration Officer.
You may be asked to provide evidence of onward or return travel.
Q. Can I apply for a visa if I have a travel document?
In order to obtain a visit you must have a passport (not another type of travel document) and it should be valid for 6 months from arrival in Bahrain.
Q. Can I apply for a visa extension?
In Bahrain you can apply to extend your visa by visiting the Nationality, Passport, and Residence Affairs (NPRA) at the Ministry of Interior.
Q. How can I check the status of my application?
Please visit Bahrain e-Visa website to check the status of your visa application.
Q. I was informed that my application for an E-Visa to Bahrain was rejected or cannot be completed on-line, and I would like to make more enquires about it?
Firstly, please ensure that you applied through the genuine website www.evisa.gov.bh, and that the received response is from evisa@npra.gov.bh . If you applied from any other website, then you will need to reapply through the genuine e-Visa website.
If your visa application was refused, then please note that there is no review process or appeal through the Embassy.
If you were informed that your application cannot be completed online, then please follow the instructions in the email that you received.
If you were asked to get in touch with the Embassy, please forward the email that you received from NPRA and a copy of all the documents that you attached with your application to consular2@bahrainembassy.co.uk and an Embassy officer will get back to you as soon as possible.
Q. Is there a requirement for passport validity in order to obtain a visa to visit Bahrain?
Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Bahrain.
Q. My application for a visa via the Embassy was approved, how can I pay for my Visa?
When your application is approved, you will receive an email instructing you to visit the Embassy in London to pay the relevant visa fee.
You can visit the Embassy’s Consular Section during its opening hours (no appointment is needed) to collect your visa – please bring your application reference number when you visit. The fee(s) will be paid to the Embassy cashier on the day, prior to collection. At the moment, the Embassy only accept cash payments.
Once this fee is paid, the visa will be granted. Note that this fee must be paid within 30 days of the approval, or else the visa will be cancelled.
Q. I received an email from E-visa stating that my visa was approved. How can I pay the fees and collect it?
If you are in London, please visit the Embassy during its business hours with a printed copy of the email notifying you that your visa was approved to make a cash payment and collect your visa.
If you out of London, then you can request making the payment via a bank transfer by sending an email to consular2@bahrainembassy.co.uk with your reference number and contact information. In the email please state that you would like to make a payment via a bank transfer, and an Embassy officer will get in touch with you as soon as possible with detailed instructions.
Once the payment is received, the visa will be granted and it will be emailed to you.
Q. What method of payment is available at the Embassy?
At the moment, the Embassy only accept cash payments for walk-ins.
Q. I applied via the Embassy, and got an email stating that there is a missing/invalid attachment, what should I do?
Ensure that you included all the requested documents in addition to your status in the country you are travelling from, if it is other than your nationality. In order to submit your status, please choose the option of “other” when uploading the documents to the E-visa website.
Q. How long does it take for a visa via the Embassy?
Please allow a minimum of five days to process your application.
Q. What are the visa fees?
Please visit E-visa website or NPRA website for information on the visa fees for each type. Once your request for a visa is approved, you will be informed via email about the fees of your visa.
Q. How long is the E-Visa valid?
The E-Visa is valid for 30 days from the approval date.
Note that it is not possible to have more than one visa issued for a passport at a time. You must have used your E-Visa, or it should have expired, before you can apply for another E-Visa.
Q. How will I receive the E-Visa?
An E-Visa is an electronic visa so there will be no visa stamped in your passport prior to your arrival in Bahrain. Simply show your passport to the passport control officer on arrival in Bahrain and your visa will be issued.
Note that it is important for you to use the same passport for entry into Bahrain as you used to apply for the E-Visa on-line.
If your question is not answered above, please send an email to consular2@bahrainembassy.co.uk with your visa application reference number, contact information, your questions in full details, and please attach all supporting documents and an Embassy officer will get back to you as soon as possible.
Q. I was issued with a visa, and discovered that there is a mistake, what should I do?
Send an email to E-visa requesting that they cancel it, and then re-apply for another visa.
Q. What can I do if I make a mistake in my application?
Once an application has been submitted and processed, and the card payment has been processed, the visa fees will be refunded if the application is rejected or cancelled. However, the processing fees are non-refundable.
It is important that you are very careful when you type in your personal details. If you find out later that you have made a mistake, you can either make a new application (and pay further fees) or contact NPRA by email.
Q. If I get an email telling me my Visa application cannot be continued online and to get in touch with NPRA what should I do?
In this case you need to contact the NPRA (National Passport and Residence Affairs) immediately, and they will be in charge of your application.
Q. What Countries are eligible to apply for visas On-arrival to Bahrain?
Andorra, Monaco, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Norway, Portugal, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, The Netherlands, Turkey, UK, USA, Vatican City, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Croatia, Malta, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Mexico, Argentina, French Guyana, Bolivia, Guyana, Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Columbia Suriname, Ecuador, Uruguay, Falkland Islands, Venezuela.
Q. I have been a UK resident for 5 years and I hold an Indian passport should I apply for an E-visa?
Yes, you have to apply online for an E-visa, and it is essential to attach the residence card you hold, along with the documents submitted in your application.
Q. How do we apply for an E-Visa?
The secure website to apply for an E-Visa is: http://www.evisa.gov.bh/
Q. How long is the E-Visa valid?
The E-Visa is valid for 30 days from the approval date.
Note that it is not possible to have more than one visa issued for a passport at a time. You must have used your E-Visa, or it should have expired, before you can apply for another E-Visa.
Q. How long can I stay in Bahrain?
On a Visit E-Visa you can stay in Bahrain for 14 days (but British and Irish nationals can stay up to 3 months).
On a GCC E-Visa you can stay for either 3 days or 7 days, depending on which E-Visa you purchased.
Q. How will I receive the E-Visa?
An E-Visa is an electronic visa so there will be no visa stamped in your passport prior to your arrival in Bahrain. Simply show your passport to the passport control officer on arrival in Bahrain and your visa will be issued.
Q. Do I need a visa if I am Transiting at Bahrain airport?
You do not need a visa for Bahrain as long as you do not exit the transit area, but if you decide to exit the transit area then you will need a visa.