Planning a weekend in Manama or a trip to the Bahrain Grand Prix, and wondering whether you need a Bahrain visa for UAE residents, or how to get a Bahrain visa from Dubai? This guide walks you through it. Whether you’re an Emirati citizen or an expat living in the UAE, you’ll find the visa options open to you, the required documents, fees, processing times and how to apply for a Bahrain visa online.
Here’s the short answer. UAE citizens don’t need a visa for Bahrain. If you’re an expat with a valid UAE residence visa, you can apply for a Bahrain e-visa for GCC residents through the official eVisa website, evisa.gov.bh. Fees start at BHD 9 for a two-week single-entry visa, and you must apply from outside Bahrain.
This guide was last checked in October 2026. Visa rules can change, so check the latest conditions on the eVisa website or with Bahrain’s Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) before you book or pay.
- Why visit Bahrain?
- Do I need a visa for Bahrain?
- Bahrain e-Visa for UAE residents
- Bahrain visa requirements for UAE residents
- Bahrain visa for Indians
- Bahrain visa for UK citizens
- How to get a Bahrain visit visa from Dubai
- Bahrain visa processing time
- Bahrain visa fees
- Extending your Bahrain visit visa
- NPRA contact details
- Key takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why visit Bahrain?
Bahrain is an easy short break from the UAE. The flight from Dubai or Abu Dhabi is short, the island is small, and a long weekend is usually enough to see the main sights.
Popular places to visit include:
- Bahrain Fort (Qal’at al-Bahrain), a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the northern coast
- Bab Al Bahrain and the old Manama Souq
- Bahrain National Museum in Manama
- The Pearling Path in Muharraq, also on the UNESCO World Heritage list
- Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, home of the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix
Do I need a visa for Bahrain?
It comes down to two things: your nationality, and whether you hold a valid GCC residence permit.
UAE and GCC citizens
Emirati citizens, like other GCC nationals, don’t need a visa to visit Bahrain.
Bahrain visa for GCC residents
If you live in the UAE on a valid residence visa, you can apply online for one of the e-visas Bahrain offers to GCC residents. These visas are based on your GCC residence permit, and they’re explained in full below.
Bahrain visa on arrival
Bahrain also offers a visa on arrival to citizens of certain countries. The official list includes the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, India, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, the Philippines and many European countries. The list can change, so check the live list on evisa.gov.bh before you travel. Terms and conditions apply, and entry is at the discretion of the immigration officer, who checks that you meet all conditions when you land.
So, is there a Bahrain visa on arrival for UAE residents? It depends on your passport, not your UAE residence. If your nationality is on the on-arrival list, you may qualify. To check before you travel, use the eligibility tool on evisa.gov.bh, or apply for a GCC resident e-visa so your visa is approved before you fly.
Transiting through Bahrain
Transit visa requirements depend on your nationality and travel arrangements. Check the official Bahrain eVisa website for the latest requirements before travelling
Bahrain e-Visa for UAE residents
If you’ve searched for evisa Bahrain, this is the system you’ll end up on. NPRA issues the e-visa through its official eVisa website, and for a Bahrain visa from UAE residence there are three GCC resident options. Which one you pick depends on how long you’re staying and how often you plan to go back:
| Visa type | Entries | Visa duration | Total fee |
| Two-week e-visa (GCC residents) | Single | 2 weeks | BHD 9 |
| Three-month e-visa (GCC residents) | Multiple | 3 months | Check the current fee on the official eVisa portal |
| One-year e-visa (GCC residents) | Multiple | 1 year | BHD 45 |
Visa fees and available visa types can change, so check the latest charges on Bahrain’s official eVisa website or the NPRA website before applying.
A few rules apply to every Bahrain evisa application:
- Apply from outside Bahrain: You must be outside the Kingdom when you submit the application.
- Use the official site only: evisa.gov.bh is the only official website for Bahrain visas, and no website or company operates on behalf of the Government of Bahrain.
- Use your visa within three months: Each of these e-visas becomes invalid if it isn’t used within three months of issuance.
- Check before you submit: Applications can’t be edited after submission. To fix a mistake, you’ll need to cancel the visa and apply again.
- Fees aren’t refunded: The application fee isn’t returned if your visa isn’t approved, and a visa doesn’t guarantee entry.
Bahrain visa requirements for UAE residents
The Bahrain visa requirements for UAE residents are short. For the GCC resident e-visas, NPRA asks for:
- A copy of your passport, valid for more than six months
- A clear copy of your valid GCC residence permit (for UAE residents, your UAE residence visa). Minimum remaining validity requirements vary by visa type, so check the conditions for your chosen visa before applying.
- The reason for your visit, stated on the application
- All required documents attached to the online form
Make sure the passport you apply with is the same one you travel on. No visa is stamped in your passport before you arrive in Bahrain.
Bahrain visit visa requirements for non-GCC residents
If you’re applying under your nationality rather than as a GCC resident, for example the two-week or three-month e-visa for eligible nationalities, the Bahrain visit visa requirements are longer:
- Passport valid for more than six months
- Hotel reservation or proof of your residential address in Bahrain
- Return air ticket
- Financial evidence may also be required, depending on the visa type. Check the requirements for your specific visa on the official Bahrain eVisa website before applying.
Bahrain visa for Indians
Indian expats living in Dubai or elsewhere in the UAE can use the GCC resident e-visa, with their UAE residence visa as supporting proof. It’s the same Bahrain visa for UAE residents that any other expat applies for, with the same documents and fees.
India also appears on two official lists: the countries eligible for an online visa and the countries eligible for a visa on arrival, both subject to terms and conditions. Indian passport holders who don’t live in the GCC can apply for a Bahrain visit visa for Indian nationals under these lists, such as the two-week single-entry e-visa or the three-month multiple-entry e-visa, using the requirements listed above.
Bahrain visa for UK citizens
British citizens have a few options. The UK is on the visa on arrival list, and if you live in the UAE you can also apply for a GCC resident e-visa. NPRA also offers two multiple-entry e-visas only for citizens of the United Kingdom and Ireland:
- Three-month multiple-entry e-visa: BHD 24 in total (BHD 4 application fee plus BHD 20 issuance fee)
- Six-month multiple-entry e-visa: BHD 49 in total (BHD 5 application fee plus BHD 44 issuance fee)
For both, the only document listed for issuance is a copy of your passport, valid for more than six months.
How to get a Bahrain visit visa from Dubai
The whole Bahrain visa process happens online, so you won’t need to visit an embassy for an e-visa. You apply for your Bahrain e-visa online at evisa.gov.bh, and NPRA sets out the steps like this:
- Go to evisa.gov.bh and click “Apply for a Visa”.
- Fill in the eligibility page. Say yes to holding a GCC residence permit, choose the United Arab Emirates, then enter the purpose of your visit and your nationality.
- Review the visa types you’re eligible for and their conditions, choose one, then click “Apply now”.
- Complete the online application form and attach your documents.
- Pay the application fee by credit card (the first payment) and note your application reference number.
- Wait for an approval email from NPRA.
- Once approved, return to the eVisa homepage, click “Pay for Application” and pay the visa issuance fee.
- Print your visa using the visa check option on the website.
If your application isn’t approved, you’ll get an email telling you who to contact. You can submit a new application, but the fee you paid isn’t refunded.
Bahrain visa processing time
NPRA lists one working day to issue a GCC resident e-visa. The eVisa website gives a wider estimate of around three to five working days, and says some cases take longer. So don’t leave your Bahrain visa for UAE residents until the week of your flight. You’ll get an email once a decision is made.
Bahrain visa fees
Bahrain visa fees are paid in Bahraini dinars (BHD) and vary depending on the visa type. Some visas include separate application and issuance fees. Check the latest fees on the official Bahrain eVisa website before applying.
| Visa type | Application fee | Issuance fee | Total |
| Two-week single entry (GCC residents) | BHD 4 | BHD 5 | BHD 9 |
| Three-month multiple entry (GCC residents) | BHD 4 | BHD 25 | BHD 29 |
| Two-week single entry (eligible nationalities) | BHD 4 | BHD 5 | BHD 9 |
| Three-month multiple entry (UK and Ireland) | BHD 4 | BHD 20 | BHD 24 |
| Six-month multiple entry (UK and Ireland) | BHD 5 | BHD 44 | BHD 49 |
So, the cheapest Bahrain tourist visa for UAE residents is the two-week GCC resident e-visa at BHD 9. AED amounts are approximate and based on the fixed exchange rate between the two currencies.
Visiting family in Bahrain
If a relative living in Bahrain is sponsoring your trip, a separate family visit visa is available. It’s applied for by the guarantor in Bahrain, takes around three working days to issue and costs BHD 40 in total (BHD 5 application, BHD 5 approval and BHD 30 issuance). The resident sponsor must have a monthly salary of at least BHD 250.
Extending your Bahrain visit visa
You can extend an e-visa once you’re in Bahrain. Extensions are requested through Bahrain.bh or in person at an NPRA service centre, with an application form and a copy of your passport. For most e-visas, the extension fee is BHD 25 for 14 days.
If you’re visiting family on a visa sponsored by a guarantor in Bahrain, NPRA lists the extension fee for that visa as BHD 30.
NPRA contact details
For questions about your eVisa application, contact the eVisa team at NPRA:
| Detail | Information |
| evisa@npra.gov.bh | |
| Phone | +973 1707 7077 |
Contact details can change, so check the contact page on evisa.gov.bh or the NPRA website before you call or visit.
Key takeaways
- UAE citizens don’t need a visa for Bahrain. Expats with a valid UAE residence visa can apply for a GCC resident e-visa online at evisa.gov.bh.
- GCC resident e-visas cost BHD 9 for two weeks (single entry), BHD 29 for three months (multiple entry) and BHD 45 for one year (multiple entry).
- You’ll need a passport valid for more than six months and a copy of your UAE residence visa, which must be valid for at least three months for the two-week and one-year visas.
- Apply from outside Bahrain and use your visa within three months of issuance.
- Visa on arrival depends on nationality. India, the UK and the US are among the countries on the official list, subject to conditions.
- Fees aren’t refundable, and applications can’t be edited after you submit them.
Planning more trips from the UAE? Property Finder’s blog has guides on the Turkey visa for UAE residents, the Saudi visa for UAE residents and the UK visa for UAE residents, plus a list of visa-free countries for UAE residents.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your nationality and residence. UAE and other GCC citizens don’t need a visa. UAE residents of other nationalities can apply online for a GCC resident e-visa, and citizens of countries on Bahrain’s visa on arrival list may be able to get a visa when they land.
Yes, eligible UAE residents can get a Bahrain visa on arrival, depending on their nationality and Bahrain’s current entry requirements. Check your eligibility on Bahrain’s official eVisa website before travelling.
Yes. Indian expats living in the UAE can apply for a GCC resident e-visa. India is also on Bahrain’s online visa and visa on arrival lists, subject to terms and conditions.
UK citizens need a visa to enter Bahrain, but they are eligible for a visa on arrival or can apply for an eVisa before travelling.
Bahrain eVisas for GCC residents are generally issued within one working day, according to NPRA. Processing may take longer if additional checks or documents are required.
You must be outside Bahrain when you submit your application.
You need to use it within three months of issuance, or it becomes invalid.
