LMRA Work Permit Bahrain: Application Steps, Fees and Documents

01The employer applies for the work permit

LMRA’s New Work Permit service is for employers hiring expatriate employees on their commercial registrations. The worker provides the required documents, but does not create the employer’s EMS application. LMRA also states that the employer must bear the official fees imposed for issuing or renewing a worker’s permit.

If you only need to see whether a permit is valid, use the LMRA visa check guide. If you need employer portal access, use the LMRA EMS login guide.

02Check the conditions first

• Cancel any multiple-entry permit before submitting the work permit application.
• If the worker previously had a Bahrain personal number, use the same number in the new application.
• If the worker fails the required medical examination, the employer must process deportation immediately.
• A six-month new permit is available only for an employee already in Bahrain whose previous work permit was cancelled.

03Prepare the required documents

• Passport copy: valid for at least six months. LMRA recommends at least two years of validity before applying. Include pages with required name, family details, alterations and old passport number where applicable.
• Medical report: no more than two months old and showing healthy fit. For an applicant outside Bahrain, use a Gulf Health Council accredited Wafid centre, or the official non-Wafid form when no accredited centre is available.
• Special occupation approval: an approval or no-objection letter for regulated roles such as teachers, doctors, engineers and banking positions.
• NCNG licence: when required for a non-commercial or non-governmental institution.

Indian applicants already in Bahrain can consult Indian passport renewal in Bahrain if the passport required for this application needs renewal.

04Open EMS and start a new permit

1. Sign in to the LMRA Expat Management System.
2. Open the New Work Permit folder.
3. Choose New Expatriate Permit.
4. Select the work visa type.

05Enter the data and submit

Enter the worker and employment details in the designated fields. The permit period must match the period in the employment contract. Upload the required documents, review the information and submit the application. EMS issues an application ID after successful submission.

06Pay the first invoice and track the application

Pay the BHD 5 administration fee through EMS or an accredited bank. For a worker applying from outside Bahrain, the official page also lists a BHD 30 job advertisement fee. LMRA warns that an application can be cancelled if the initial invoice is not paid before its due date.

Track the application in EMS or call LMRA on 17506055. After approval, pay the permit fees through EMS or an accredited bank.

07New LMRA work permit fees

• Six months: BHD 97.5, available for an employee inside Bahrain with a cancelled work permit.
• One year: BHD 195.
• Two years: BHD 390.
• Dependant permit: BHD 90.
• Administration fee: BHD 5.
• Outside-Bahrain job advertisement fee: BHD 30.

The worker should not pay an employer for the permit. LMRA’s worker guidance says the employer bears official work permit and health insurance costs.

08Official processing time

• Worker inside Bahrain: three working days for LMRA approval.
• Worker outside Bahrain: 21 working days.

These are the published service times. Missing documents, medical issues, occupation approvals or unpaid invoices can delay an application.

09After the permit is approved

1. Pay the final permit fees.
2. Print the work permit from EMS.
3. If the worker was outside Bahrain, the employer prints the residence permit through Bahrain’s National Portal after arrival.
4. If the worker was already in Bahrain, print the residence permit through the National Portal or call 8000 8001 for portal help.

Use the residence permit download guide for the document step.

The employer applies; the worker checks the details

A Bahrain employer-sponsored work permit starts with the employer or an authorized person. The official LMRA establishment-employer directory links the New Work Permit service, EMS, occupation changes, transfers, cancellations and related employer actions.

The worker should provide accurate passport, qualification and employment information and review the intended occupation and contract. The worker does not create a fictitious employer application or pay a third party to make an unofficial permit appear in the system.

Employers submit and track the application through the Expat Management System. The public guide can show the EMS entry screen, but the establishment's authenticated application screens contain private business and worker data.

Build the document checklist from the exact application

The current New Work Permit service page is the controlling source for conditions, required documents, process, fees and timing. Requirements can vary by occupation, location of the worker and regulator approval.

1. Worker passport valid for the period required by LMRA.
2. Employment contract with the required information and signatures.
3. Qualification or professional evidence when the occupation requires it.
4. Regulator approval for a controlled profession where applicable.
5. Medical requirements for the worker's country and application route.
6. Any document specifically requested by the EMS application or LMRA reviewer.

The official permit and service application form illustrates the fields used to distinguish new permits, renewals, transfers, period and permit type. Use it as a preparation aid, then follow the current EMS fields.

Inside-Bahrain and outside-Bahrain applications are not identical

For a worker outside Bahrain, LMRA's official hiring mechanism notice explains the vacancy-advertisement stage. The current New Work Permit page lists the BHD 30 advertisement charge for the outside-Bahrain route.

The six-month employer-sponsored permit option is not a general short permit for any applicant. LMRA limits it to the condition stated on the service page for a worker already in Bahrain with a cancelled work permit. Select the period only after confirming eligibility.

A worker already in Bahrain may also have an existing permit, cancellation, transfer intention or other status that affects the route. Check the current LMRA record before the employer submits a second application.

How to fill the application without creating avoidable delays

1. Select the correct establishment and branch in EMS.
2. Choose New Work Permit and the correct inside-Bahrain or outside-Bahrain route.
3. Enter the passport exactly as printed, including issue and expiry dates.
4. Select the occupation that matches the intended work and supporting approvals.
5. Enter the contract terms consistently with the uploaded contract.
6. Upload readable files in the requested document slots.
7. Review names, passport number, nationality, occupation and permit period before submission.
8. Save the application number and respond to any LMRA request through the official system.

Do not guess a different occupation to bypass an approval requirement. A mismatch can delay the review and create problems after issuance.

Fees, status and what happens next

LMRA's current new-permit page lists BHD 97.5 for six months, BHD 195 for one year and BHD 390 for two years, plus BHD 5 administration. The outside-Bahrain advertisement charge is separate. Use the generated invoice because establishment-specific or programme-specific amounts may also appear.

The consolidated LMRA fees page separates issuance, renewal and transfer invoices from monthly establishment invoices and explains refund conditions. It is an Arabic official page with an April 2025 update date.

After submission, the employer follows the EMS application. The worker can use the public employee-data lookup after the record is available. Use the separate LMRA visa-check guide for permit status and validity rather than repeating the application.

Renewal is a different task. The official Work Permit Renewal page applies to an existing eligible permit and has its own timing and conditions.

LMRA work-permit application questions

Can a worker apply directly for an employer-sponsored permit?

No. The employer or authorized person submits the employer-sponsored application. The Registered Worker Programme is a separate route with different eligibility.

How much is a one-year LMRA work permit?

The official New Work Permit page lists BHD 195 for the permit and health-care components, plus BHD 5 administration. Other transaction-specific charges can apply.

Is the BHD 30 advertisement charge required for every application?

No. LMRA associates it with a new work-permit application for a worker outside Bahrain.

Can an employer choose any occupation?

No. The occupation must match the work and any qualification or regulator requirements. Use the current LMRA occupation and document rules.

How does the worker check progress?

The employer tracks the application in EMS. The worker can check the public LMRA record when data is available, using the permit-status guide linked above.

Is a work permit the same as an NPRA visit visa?

No. LMRA manages work permits. NPRA manages visit visas and other immigration permissions. Use the service that matches the document.