Visa Requirements for Bahraini Citizens

Bahraini citizens can visit 86 countries visa-free or with visa-on-arrival in 2025. Within the GCC (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman), Bahrainis enjoy freedom of movement with just a national ID card. Other visa-free destinations include Georgia (1 year), Malaysia (90 days), Singapore (30 days), Thailand (30 days), China (30 days), South Korea (30 days), Japan (90 days for tourism), Philippines (30 days), Indonesia (30 days), Egypt (up to 3 months), Jordan (3 months), Serbia (90 days), Belarus (30 days), and Ecuador (90 days).

The US B1/B2 tourist and business visa costs $185 (approximately 70 BHD) for Bahraini applicants. This is a non-refundable application fee paid before scheduling your visa interview at the US Embassy in Manama. Additional fees may apply for visa issuance reciprocity.

The UK Standard Visitor Visa costs £127 (approximately 60 BHD) for Bahraini citizens applying for stays up to 6 months. VFS Global in Manama charges an additional service fee of around 15 BHD. Priority processing is available for £500 extra (5 working days) or £1,000 for Super Priority (next working day).

Schengen visa processing for Bahraini applicants typically takes 15 to 30 calendar days from the date of application. During peak travel seasons, processing can extend to 45 days. The Schengen visa fee is €80 (approximately 33 BHD) and allows travel to all 29 Schengen member countries for up to 90 days within a 180 day period.

Standard visa requirements for Bahrainis include: valid passport with 6+ months validity and 2 blank pages, recent passport-size photographs (specifications vary by country), bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months showing sufficient funds, employment letter from sponsor or CPR registration for business owners, confirmed flight itinerary and hotel bookings, travel insurance (mandatory for Schengen), and cover letter explaining travel purpose. Self-employed applicants should include commercial registration documents.

The US B1/B2 visa approval rate for Bahraini applicants is approximately 80% to 88% based on recent fiscal year data. Bahrain's strong economy, stable political relations with the US, and relatively small applicant pool contribute to favorable approval rates. Applicants with clear travel purpose, strong financial documentation, and ties to Bahrain typically experience smooth processing.

Yes, Bahraini citizens can obtain an e-visa for Turkey online before travel. The Turkish e-visa costs approximately $50 (19 BHD) and allows stays of up to 90 days within a 180 day period. The e-visa can be obtained within minutes through the official Turkish government portal. Bahrainis can also apply at Turkish diplomatic missions for longer-term or multiple-entry visas.

Bahraini applicants generally experience lower rejection rates than many other nationalities due to strong economic indicators. However, Schengen visa rejections can occur, particularly from France (around 12% rejection rate), Italy (10%), and Germany (8%). Common rejection reasons include insufficient financial documentation, unclear travel itinerary, and incomplete applications. US and UK rejection rates for Bahrainis are typically below 15%.

To maximize visa approval chances: apply at least 4 to 6 weeks before travel, provide 6 months of bank statements showing consistent salary deposits, include employment contract or commercial registration, show property ownership or family ties in Bahrain, document previous international travel history (especially to Western countries), provide detailed day-by-day travel itinerary with hotel confirmations, and ensure all documents are translated to English where required.