Bahrain investment visa for setting up a business

In the eVisa eligibility form, "Investment" is one of three main purposes of visit, next to "General Visit" and "Self-Sponsor (Residence Permit)". It is the visit visa for investors who are in the process of registering a company in Bahrain and need to travel for it.

It is not the same as the Golden Residency, which is a long-term residence status applied for through the Bahrain.bh government portal, and it does not by itself give the right to work or reside.

NPRA states that an investment visa application needs a CR pre-approval (commercial registration) from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce before you apply. If you try to submit without it, the portal shows a message asking you to contact NPRA. The pre-approval is obtained from the ministry, not from NPRA.

If you already have the pre-approval and still receive the message, NPRA asks you to email evisa@npra.gov.bh with your passport number so the file can be checked.

The visa fee is shown during the application and paid by credit card; NPRA does not publish it on the public pages. It is not refunded if the application is refused or if entry is refused at the border.

Once the pre-approval is in place, the application follows the normal eVisa process: eligibility check with the purpose "Investment", the conditions page, the online form, document upload in every requested category and a first card payment. NPRA aims to decide in about 3 to 5 working days and replies by email.

After approval you complete the remaining step under "Pay for Application" and print the visa. It is not stamped in your passport in advance, and you must enter with the passport used in the application.

A visit visa can be extended after arrival. NPRA accepts extension requests at its main office on Exhibitions Avenue in Manama (Building One, ground floor) and at the Ministry of Interior service centre in Muharraq (Building 378, Sheikh Hamad Street, Complex 211). The eVisa portal also links to an online extension service on the Bahrain.bh government portal.

An extension fee is charged. The portal does not publish the amount or the maximum length of an extension, so check the conditions of your visa type and apply before your permitted stay ends.

NPRA does not refund the processing fee when an application is refused, and holding a visa does not guarantee entry: if an immigration officer refuses you at the border, no part of the fee is returned. After a refusal you may submit a new application; the refusal email tells you whether to contact NPRA or a Bahraini embassy.

Submitted applications cannot be edited. If NPRA finds wrong data or a missing attachment, it emails you, and you must open "Visa Data Correction" and fix only those items within 7 days of the notice, otherwise the application is cancelled. For any other mistake you have to request cancellation from the email address used in the application, quoting the visa reference number, and then apply again.