Practical guide

How to check an LMRA occupation in Bahrain

Q: Where is the LMRA occupation-list PDF?

An older Bahrain business guide names Occupation List for Applying New Work Permit. The occupations-all-occupations.pdf URL tested for this guide reaches LMRA official 404.html as of 18 October 2026. That result does not establish the status of every old list URL.

Q: How do I change an occupation on a valid permit?

The employer uses Change Occupation, then Change Expatriate Occupation, in LMRA EMS.

By Gaurav Agarwal · Updated 18 October 2026

The LMRA occupation PDF URL tested returns the official LMRA 404 page as of 18 October 2026. For a new permit, the employer opens New Work Permit, then New Expatriate Permit, and enters the required data. LMRA publishes +973 17506055 as its general Contact Centre number.

Tested PDF URLLMRA 404 on 18 October 2026

New permitEmployer enters the required data in New Expatriate Permit

Existing permitUse Change of occupation

General LMRA contact+973 17506055

Open the official New Work Permit service

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Current route
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New permits
Missing title
Change a title
FAQs
Official sources

01Use the live permit service, not an old PDF copy

An older Bahrain business guide names Occupation List for Applying New Work Permit. The occupations-all-occupations.pdf URL tested for this guide now reaches LMRA official 404.html. That check does not prove the status of every old LMRA list URL.

The same older guide names a separate list for occupations requiring a professional licence before a new permit application. Its current link was not confirmed. The live New Work Permit page instead says certain specialised roles need an approval letter or no-objection certificate.

For a new permit, the employer opens New Work Permit, then New Expatriate Permit, and enters the required data. LMRA publishes +973 17506055 as its general Contact Centre number.

Give the employer the ordinary job title and a short description of the actual duties.
The employer opens New Work Permit, then New Expatriate Permit, in LMRA EMS.
Enter the required application data and check whether a professional approval applies.
Use +973 17506055 as LMRA’s general Contact Centre number if guidance is needed.
The LMRA Virtual Service Centre accepts general inquiries and employer transactions.

02New permit or occupation change?

The correct route depends on whether a valid work permit already exists. The official services separate a new work-permit application from a change to the occupation on a valid permit.

Match the situation to the current official service
Situation	Route	What happens next
No permit has been issued for this job	New Work Permit	The employer opens New Expatriate Permit and enters the required data.
A valid expatriate permit shows the wrong occupation	Change of occupation	The employer starts Change Expatriate Occupation in LMRA EMS.
A domestic employee occupation must change	Domestic Employee Change of Occupation	Use the separate domestic employee service.
The role is specialised	Check the professional approval first	Attach the approval letter or no-objection certificate when required.
The intended title remains unclear	Pause before submission	Use LMRA’s general Contact Centre number or Virtual Service Centre.

03Check the occupation before a new permit is submitted

The New Work Permit service is for employers hiring expatriate employees on their commercial registrations. If an employment contract is supplied, it must include the occupation with the employee and employer details.

Certain specialised occupations require an approval letter or no-objection certificate from the relevant authority. The official page names teachers, doctors, engineers and banking-sector designations as examples.

Describe the actual duties, not only the business card title.
Enter the required application data in the New Expatriate Permit route.
Check whether the official service requires professional approval for the role.
Make sure an attached contract uses the intended occupation wording.
Keep the application ID after submission so the employer can track the request.

04What to do when the occupation is missing or unclear

If the intended title remains unclear, pause before submission. LMRA publishes +973 17506055 as its general Contact Centre number. The LMRA Virtual Service Centre accepts general inquiries and employer transactions without a branch visit.

Prepare the commercial registration number, worker passport details, intended title and a short duty summary before contacting LMRA. Do not send passwords or eKey credentials.

Write the intended title and main duties in plain language.
Note any professional approval that may apply.
Call LMRA’s general Contact Centre on +973 17506055 if guidance is needed.
Use the LMRA Virtual Service Centre for a general inquiry or employer transaction.
Keep the answer with the application record.

05Changing the occupation on a valid permit

The Change of occupation service lets an employer change an expatriate employee occupation without cancelling a valid work permit. For specialised roles, a recent approval certificate from the concerned authority must be no more than six months old.

The published fee is BHD 10, added to the monthly invoice, and the listed processing time is one working day.

The employer logs in to LMRA EMS and opens Change Occupation.
Choose Change Expatriate Occupation and complete the required fields.
Upload JPEG documents, with each file no larger than 200 KB.
After approval, print the residence permit containing the new occupation through the Bahrain National Portal, or call 8000 8001 for help.
Check the request in EMS or call LMRA’s general Contact Centre on +973 17506055.

06FAQs

Where is the LMRA occupation-list PDF?

An older Bahrain business guide names Occupation List for Applying New Work Permit. The occupations-all-occupations.pdf URL tested for this guide reaches LMRA official 404.html as of 18 October 2026. That result does not establish the status of every old list URL.

What if my occupation is missing from the list?

Pause before submission and describe the intended title and duties. LMRA publishes +973 17506055 as its general Contact Centre number, and its Virtual Service Centre accepts general inquiries.

Who chooses the occupation for a new permit?

The employer submits the New Work Permit application through the New Expatriate Permit route in LMRA EMS.

Do doctors and engineers need extra approval?

The New Work Permit page names doctors and engineers among specialised occupations that may require an approval letter or no-objection certificate.

How do I change an occupation on a valid permit?

The employer uses Change Occupation, then Change Expatriate Occupation, in LMRA EMS.

What does an LMRA occupation change cost?

The official page lists BHD 10, added to the monthly invoice, with a processing time of one working day.

What happens after an occupation change is approved?

Print the residence permit with the new occupation through the Bahrain National Portal, or call 8000 8001 for help.

07Official sources

Official details checked 18 October 2026.