Bahrain
BHRBahrain is a small Gulf island state with no personal income tax, an English-friendly business environment, and a substantial expatriate workforce (~50% of residents are non-citizens). Long-stay residency is via employer-sponsored work permits, the Golden Residency Visa (10-year for high-earners, retirees with proof of savings, exceptional talent), or property purchase ($530k+). Bahrain does not generally permit naturalisation by residence — citizenship is rarely granted to non-Arabs and even Arab applicants typically need 25 years' residence and Royal decree.
- Naturalisation
- 25 years
- Tax system
- No Income Tax
- Currency
- Bahraini dinar (BHD)
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Capital
- Manama
- Region
- middle east
- Population
- 1,490,000
- Cost-of-living
- 60 /100
Passport Rank
#56
Visa-Free
84
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Bahrain passport has visa-free access to 84 destinations. See the full Bahrainpassport breakdown →
Passports that enter Bahrain without a prior visa (69)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Country Details
- Capital
- Manama
- Currency
- Bahraini dinar (BHD)
- Languages
- Arabic, English
- Population
- 1,490,000
- Tax System
- No Income Tax
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Naturalisation
- 25 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Hot desert
- English Proficiency Rank
- #50
Indices
Cost of Living
60
Safety
73
Healthcare
65
Quality of Life
152
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- No Income Tax
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 25 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manama | $730 | $530 | $320 | $130 | $27 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist eVisa
- GCC Resident Visa
- Investor Visa
- Work Visa
- Golden Residency Permit
- Family Residence Permit
- Property Owner Visa
- Student Visa
- Authority
- Nationality, Passports & Residence Affairs (NPRA)
- Official Portal
- www.npra.gov.bh
- Phone
- +973-17-506060
- info@npra.gov.bh
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- 25
- Language Test
- Yes (Arabic)
- Civic Test
- Yes
- Oath Required
- Yes
- Dual Allowed
- No
- Fee
- $800
- Processing
- ~36 months
International Schools
← scroll the table →
| School | City | Curriculum | Tuition (USD/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| British School of Bahrain | Hamala | British / IGCSE | $10,000–$20,000 |
Daily Life Logistics
Internet
110 Mbps median
95% fibre coverage
eSIM: Batelco, stc Bahrain, Zain Bahrain
LGBTQ+ Legal Status
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not legal
- Civil Partnerships
- Not recognised
- Anti-Discrimination Law
- No
- ILGA Rank
- —
Religious Life
- Halal Food
- Widely available
- Kosher Food
- Limited
- Prayer Facilities
- Common
Related Guides
Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list
Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.
Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave
Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Sources & last verified
- Last verified