What Is It Like To Work In Bahrain? part 2 – Part one is here.
Requirements to Work in Bahrain in 2022
In 2022, as the Kingdom looks to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons, Bahrain hopes to have a further influx of foreign workers coming into the country, mainly for blue-collar jobs. As more and more foreigners come into Bahrain to work, it leaves us with a few questions.
What do people need in order to work in Bahrain? What documents do I need to bring with me? And many others. So without further ado, here are the seven requirements to work in Bahrain.
1. Residency Permit
The first step to working in Bahrain is to get your residency permit; this will allow you to enter the country and work in it. This comes under the umbrella of entry permits usually issued for three months at a time by the immigration department, but unlike other entry permits, once you leave the country for more than six months, you’ll need to get a new entry permit before re-entering.
When you apply for the residency permit, you’ll need certain documents in order to complete your application. This will include but isn’t limited to passport, labor card (the original copy), visa or stamp on the passport, Iqama, etc.
As well as the documents, you’ll also need to pay BD5 for your application fee. There are two types of residency permits available – single and multiple entries. The only difference between the two is the number of times you can enter Bahrain with them.
The single permit lets you stay in Bahrain for six months and can be renewed, while the multiple permits let you stay for two years and cannot be renewed. Now that we’ve talked about residency permits in Bahrain, it’s time to leap over to…
2. Labour Card and Labour Market Opinion (LMO)
If you’re working in Bahrain, then the chances are that you’ll need a labor card; a labor market opinion is a document from your home country that allows Bahraini companies to hire you as a foreign worker. This often comes from the Human Resources department of various companies, but just in case it doesn’t, you can head down to the Manama Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and get one yourself.
In order to get a labor market opinion from the LMRA, you’ll need to have a valid residency permit for Bahrain and a job offer letter. According to the LMRA website, there are around 200 approved companies that can issue LMO’s, which means that if your company isn’t on that list, then you’ll need to find one from this list of approved companies.
Once you’ve got your LMO, you can apply for your labor card at the municipality or police station of your respective governorate. You’ll need to bring with you: valid residency permit, passport (original), Iqama, and a fee of BD10 if applying by yourself or BD15 if an agent is applying on your behalf. As well as all that, you should also bring your LMO with you.
3. Passport (Or Valid Travel Document)
Before coming into Bahrain, it’s important to make sure that you have a valid passport or other travel documents (visa, etc.); without this, there will be no way to enter the country and start working in Bahrain.
To get a valid travel document for Bahrain, you’ll need to go to the embassy of your respective home country in order to apply for one. The process is fairly straightforward but can take some time depending on where you are in the world and how much time it takes for them to send your passport back to you.
Another option is to get a new passport, which you can do at your nearest passport office. However, you’ll need to make sure that your current passport is valid for at least six months after the date of entry.
4. Job Contract and Offer Letter
Although it’s not a necessity, if you want to work in Bahrain, then chances are that you’ll need a job contract and offer letter from your employer. This will usually be given to you when you get your job offer, but just in case it isn’t, then you can ask for one. It should include salary, working hours and days of work, sick leave, annual leave, and other rules that apply to the company.
5. Accommodation Related Documents
If you’re looking to rent accommodation in Bahrain, then you’ll need a few things to hand in when signing that all-important rental agreement. This includes your labor card for the mandatory deposit, your passport in order to sign the contract, and many others.
6. Health Insurance
In order to work in Bahrain, you’ll need a valid health insurance policy; this means that it has to be both valid and up-to-date. You can get one at any private health care provider, but there’s also the option of getting it from your company (if they offer it).
When you apply for insurance at any company, you’ll need to present your residency permit and provide photocopies of both along with the original passport.
7. License to Practice
Before working in Bahrain as a doctor, dentist, nurse, etc., you must be registered with the Medical Practitioners Regulatory Authority (MPRA). If you’re a doctor, then you’ll also need to register with the Dental Practitioners Regulatory Authority (DPRA).
Once you’ve done all of that, you can head down to the MPRA or DPRA and apply for your license. Once they have given you your license, it’s valid for three years before needing renewing.
