Practical guide
Mawaeid is unavailable in my phone store. How do I book a Bahrain licence exchange?
By Gaurav Agarwal · Updated 13 October 2026
Try iGA's Mawaeed app instead: Bahrain's National Portal lists it on Google Play, the App Store and Huawei AppGallery for booking government services that need a personal visit, so install it and check whether License Replacement from Recognized Countries is listed. If it is not, call the General Directorate of Traffic on 199.
01Which situation are you in?
Start with the exact service name. The official page describes License Replacement from Recognized Countries as converting a non-Bahraini driving licence from a recognized country into a Bahraini licence.
Do not use the online driving-test appointment page as a substitute. That page is specifically for a practical vehicle driving examination.
| Your screen or problem | What to do now | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mawaeed is available in your phone store | Install iGA's Mawaeed app and check whether License Replacement from Recognized Countries is listed. | The National Portal lists Mawaeed for government services that require personal attendance, but the licence service was not confirmed without signing in. |
| Mawaeid is not offered in your phone store | Call 199 and name the service exactly. Ask for the approved booking route for your device and store country. | The replacement page requires Mawaeid, but it does not list another booking channel. |
| Mawaeid opens, but licence replacement is missing | Call 199 before choosing a similar-looking service. | Practical driving-test booking is a separate official service. |
| You have a confirmed Mawaeid appointment | Prepare the original licence, ID card and completed Driver's License Division form. | These are the attachments listed for the replacement service. |
| You cannot resolve the issue by phone | Submit the details through Tawasul. | The GDT accepts inquiries and suggestions through Tawasul. |
02What to ask when you call 199
The General Directorate of Traffic publishes 199 for traffic-service inquiries and says the line operates 24 hours daily.
Use a short, specific explanation. Mention that your foreign licence is from a recognized country, that the official service asks for Mawaeid, and that the app is unavailable in your phone store's country. Ask which approved appointment route applies to you.
Have your CPR or ID details, nationality, licence-issuing country, phone type, phone-store country and a screenshot of the unavailable-app message ready. These details help the officer identify whether the issue is eligibility, the service list or the store region. Do not send identity documents to an unofficial account.
- Call 199 and say: “I need License Replacement from Recognized Countries.”
- Explain: “The official page tells me to book in Mawaeid, but Mawaeid is unavailable in my phone store's country.”
- Ask: “What is the approved way to obtain this appointment for my device and store country?”
- Write down the channel, location, date, time and any reference number the officer gives you.
- If the issue is not resolved, submit the same details through Tawasul.
03Prepare the official conditions and documents
A booking does not by itself confirm that your licence can be exchanged. The service is limited to licences from recognized countries, and the official conditions still apply.
The official conditions are: pay the applicable fees, present a valid original foreign licence, pass the vision test, be free from physical and mental disabilities, and have no legal restriction on your personal number.
The official attachments are a valid ID card and a completed, signed Driver's License Division form. A personal photo is listed as optional.
Our translation of Article 242 says the GDT may exempt a holder of a foreign government-issued licence from the theoretical and technical tests, or one of them, while retaining discretion to require the tests.
- Check that the foreign licence is original and valid.
- Carry your valid ID card.
- Complete and sign the Driver's License Division form.
- Bring a personal photo if convenient, although the official page marks it optional.
- Be ready for the required vision test.
- Keep the appointment confirmation and the guidance given by 199 or Tawasul.
04Fee, payment and processing time
The official service cost is BHD 25. That is BHD 5 for the vision test plus BHD 20 for initial issuance of a driving licence valid for five years.
The page lists debit card, credit card and cash at a TAM kiosk as payment methods.
The published process time is one working day. This is the service-processing time, so do not read it as a promise that an appointment will be available the same day.
| Item | Amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Vision test | BHD 5 | The required vision test. |
| Initial licence issuance | BHD 20 | A Bahraini driving licence valid for five years. |
| Total | BHD 25 | The published service cost. |
05Where the official page says the service is provided
The replacement page lists the General Directorate of Traffic main branch, the Driving Licensing Center in A'ali and the Muharraq Security Complex branch as service locations.
The GDT contact page publishes main-office hours of 7:30 am to 2 pm, Sunday to Thursday. Confirm the location and appointment instructions through 199 before travelling, because the page still tells applicants to book through Mawaeid.
| Location | Area | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| GDT main branch | West Riffa | Confirm that your appointment is valid for this branch. |
| Driving Licensing Center | A'ali | Carry the original licence, ID and signed form. |
| Muharraq Security Complex branch | Muharraq | Confirm the service and appointment time before travel. |
06What the official pages don't say
The official replacement page says to book through Mawaeid. It does not publish a separate web-booking link, email booking address or manual appointment form for a phone-store region block.
That gap is why the safest next step is to ask the GDT through its published service-inquiry number, 199, or through Tawasul. Avoid changing your store country, using another person's account or booking a different service unless the GDT tells you to do so.
07FAQs
Can I book the foreign licence exchange on the driving-test portal?
Do not assume so. The portal page is for a practical vehicle driving examination, while foreign-licence replacement is a separate service.
Can I walk in without a Mawaeid appointment?
The official replacement page tells applicants to book through Mawaeid before visiting. If the app is unavailable, call 199 for the approved route rather than relying on a walk-in.
Does a Mawaeid appointment guarantee that my licence is recognized?
No. The service is for licences from recognized countries, and all listed conditions still apply.
What is the official fee?
The total is BHD 25: BHD 5 for the vision test and BHD 20 for initial issuance of a five-year licence.
What documents should I prepare?
Prepare the valid original foreign licence, a valid ID card and a completed, signed Driver's License Division form. A personal photo is optional.
How long does the service take?
The official page gives a process time of one working day. Appointment availability may add waiting time.
Who can help if Mawaeid is unavailable?
Call the General Directorate of Traffic on 199, which it lists for traffic-service inquiries 24 hours daily, or submit the issue through Tawasul.
Will I need a driving test?
Our translation of Article 242 says the GDT may exempt holders of foreign government-issued licences from the theoretical and technical tests, or one of them, but it may still require the tests.
08Official sources
- License Replacement from Recognized Countries
- General Directorate of Traffic contact information
- Booking and Management of Driving Test Appointments
- Traffic Law implementing regulations
- Mawaeed mobile app information
Official details checked 13 October 2026.
Related guides: Book a Bahrain driving-test appointment · Apply for your first Bahrain driving licence · Get an international driving licence in Bahrain