Bahrain Visa for UAE Residents: e-Visa, Visa on Arrival and Fees

The short answer: UAE residents can get a Bahrain visa online through the official portal, evisa.gov.bh, or on arrival at Bahrain airport if they qualify as GCC residents. Fees reported in 2026 start at about BD 5 for a two-week visa on arrival and about BD 9–10 for a two-week e-visa, with three-month and one-year multiple-entry options. Eligibility depends on your nationality, your job title and how long your residence has left, so check the portal before you fly. Emiratis need no visa.

Bahrain is just over an hour from Dubai: Manama's souq and pearling trail, the Bahrain Fort, the Formula 1 circuit and a relaxed weekend pace. The visa is usually simple, but the conditions are less clear-cut than for Oman or Qatar, so apply in advance.

Bahrain visa for UAE residents at a glance

Option	Reported cost (2026)	Notes
Visa on arrival for GCC residents	About BD 5 for 2 weeks	Eligible residents only; labourer job titles excluded
e-Visa, 2 weeks, single entry	About BD 9–10	Apply at evisa.gov.bh
e-Visa, 3 months, multiple entry	About BD 16–17	For repeat trips
e-Visa, 1 year, multiple entry	About BD 44–45	For frequent visitors
Emirati and other GCC citizens	Free	No visa needed

Who qualifies as a GCC resident

Bahrain runs a separate track for expatriates living in another GCC country. As reported in 2026, it is open to most nationalities with a valid UAE residence permit, but not to every job title: occupations listed as labourers are excluded. Reports differ on how much validity you need, with some saying three months on your residence and passport and others six. To be safe, travel with at least six months on both.

Whatever you qualify for, the final decision rests with the immigration officer, and checks at the King Fahd Causeway are reported to be stricter than at the airport.

How to apply for the e-visa

1. Go to the official portal, evisa.gov.bh, and check eligibility for your nationality and residence.
2. Upload your passport, UAE residence and a photo, and enter your travel dates.
3. Pay the fee online and wait for approval; travel guides report about a week for standard processing.
4. Print the approval and carry it with your passport and Emirates ID.

Carry a return ticket and your hotel booking too: they are the documents most often asked for at arrival.

Passport-based entry

Some passports, such as the British and American, are reported to get a visa on arrival in Bahrain on their own, whatever the residence. Most Indian, Pakistani, Filipino and other expat passport holders will use the GCC resident track or the e-visa. Check your nationality on the portal.

What about the GCC unified tourist visa?

Not yet. The single visa for all six GCC countries, first promised for 2025, had still not launched in late September 2026; the GCC Secretariat has said it is aiming for the end of 2026. Until then, Bahrain needs its own visa.

Getting from Dubai to Bahrain

By air, about an hour and a quarter, with Gulf Air, flydubai and Emirates from Dubai, and Air Arabia from Sharjah. By road, you cross Saudi Arabia and the King Fahd Causeway, which needs a Saudi visa and car insurance valid in both countries. The causeway toll rose to SAR 35 each way in February 2026. See our Saudi visa guide for UAE residents.

Frequently asked questions

Do UAE residents need a visa for Bahrain?

Yes, unless they are GCC citizens. Eligible UAE residents can get a visa on arrival as GCC residents or apply for an e-visa at evisa.gov.bh before they travel.

How much is the Bahrain visa for UAE residents?

About BD 5 for a two-week visa on arrival and about BD 9–10 for a two-week e-visa, according to 2026 reports. Multiple-entry visas for three months and a year cost more.

Can Indians in Dubai get a Bahrain visa on arrival?

Many can, through the GCC resident track, if their job title is not a labourer category and their residence has enough validity left. Sources disagree on the details, so apply for the e-visa first if you are unsure.

How long does the Bahrain e-visa take?

Travel guides report about a week for standard processing. Apply at least ten days before you fly.

Is there a GCC tourist visa for Bahrain?

Not yet. The unified GCC tourist visa had not launched by late September 2026.

Can I drive from Dubai to Bahrain?

Yes, through Saudi Arabia and the King Fahd Causeway. You need a Saudi visa, insurance valid in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and SAR 35 each way for the causeway toll.

Planning a trip to Bahrain

Bahrain is an easy long weekend, or a stop on a Gulf road trip with Saudi Arabia. See Bahrain visa services for help with the visa, or talk to us about flights and hotels.

Related guides

• Kuwait visa for UAE residents
• Qatar visa for UAE residents
• Saudi visa for UAE residents
• UAE public holidays 2027 and the long weekends

Last checked 8 October 2026 against Gulf and travel reporting; Bahrain's e-visa portal could not be checked directly that day. Fees, eligibility and validity rules vary by nationality and change; this guide is general information, not immigration advice. Check your eligibility on evisa.gov.bh before you travel.