For foreigners seeking to obtain citizenship in Bahrain, there are various conditions to be met in accordance with the Citizenship Act. Bahraini nationality is extremely difficult to get and is considered at the sole discretion of the Government for those who have been long-term residents in this country.
If you are a foreign citizen and want to know more about how to get citizenship, our lawyers can offer detailed information. Our team is made up of immigration lawyers in Bahrain and company formation specialists in Bahrain, and they can offer multiple services.
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The main ways through which Bahraini nationality can be obtained in 2025
There are several ways through which one can obtain citizenship in Bahrain. These are:
- by descent and by birth which are the easiest ways;
- by naturalization which implies living in Bahrain for a long term;
- by marriage that means meeting various conditions for the foreign spouse.
If you are interested in immigration to Bahrain and want to apply for residency, you can become eligible for citizenship provided you have lived here for a sufficient number of years and you contribute to the country’s welfare with outstanding services.
Documents required for the citizenship application
The following paperwork must be attached to your online application for Bahraini citizenship:
- a completed application for citizenship;
- a letter to His Majesty the King expressing your will to become a citizen of Bahrain;
- a document with your ID information in it;
- both the original and a duplicate of your current passport or any other travel authorization issued abroad;
- both a copy and the original of your birth certificate;
- the marriage certificate, both the original and a copy, if it was issued in Bahrain (if it was granted overseas, affidavit from Bahraini court should be included in your international marriage certificate);
- a record containing your wife’s and your kids’ identification information, if any;
- a document attesting to your ownership of land in Bahrain, issued by the Survey & Land Registration Bureau;
- a medical certificate;
- other documents specific to the reason for immigration to Bahrain.
The Bahrain Citizenship Act
Foreign citizens who immigrate to Bahrain and want to remain here can apply for citizenship by naturalization, in accordance with the country’s Nationality Act which was issued in 1963. Ever since, adjustments were brought to it and the ways through which a Bahrain passport can be obtained have been amended.
What should be noted is that there is no possibility to maintain Bahrain’s dual citizenship. This applies to foreign citizens seeking to obtain Bahraini passports and retain their former nationalities.
Our immigration lawyers in Bahrain are at your service if you want to know if you meet the requirements to apply for citizenship in this country.
Citizenship by descent in Bahrain
People who have origins in this country are eligible for citizenship. According to the law, the following persons can obtain citizenship in Bahrain through descent in 2025:
- they were born in Bahrain after 1937 and their fathers were citizens of this country;
- they were born outside Bahrain after 1937, their fathers or grandfathers were Bahraini citizens;
- they were born in or outside Bahrain after 1937 and their mothers were citizens of this country, while their father is unknown, without a nationality or simply fatherhood cannot be proved.
It is also possible to obtain citizenship in Bahrain by birth. In this case, the father can be a foreign citizen who has obtained permanent residence here and has given up his former citizenship.
All applications for Bahraini nationality must be filed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
We remind foreign citizens that Bahrain’s dual citizenship is not permitted. Our Bahraini lawyer is also at your disposal with PRO services related to applying for a passport. This largely implies representation with various authorities, so that your interactions at organizational and administrative levels are easy and simple. If you want to know what these services consist of, do not hesitate to get in touch with us via email or phone.
How to obtain citizenship by birth in Bahrain
Another way of obtaining citizenship by heritage in Bahrain is birth. This option is available for:
- any person born in Bahrain to unknown parents;
- any person born in Bahrain whose father was also born here and who held permanent residency in Bahrain at the time of his son/daughter’s birth.
In this last case, the parent must have not filed for citizenship of the son or daughter in another country, such as his state of origin. Please note that these rules apply under the 1981 Amended Citizenship Law.
Dealing with citizenship matters can be difficult, especially for those who have not lived here. So, if you need assistance in filing for a passport, you can rely on the support of our lawyers in Bahrain.
Direct recognition of Bahraini nationality
There are also cases in which children of Bahraini citizens can have their nationalities recognized. These scenarios cover:
- children born outside Bahrain who have Bahraini fathers;
- children born in Bahrain or abroad from Bahraini mothers and unknown fathers or fathers they are not legally related to.
This recent provision is part of the Amended Citizenship Law which has simplified some procedures related to obtaining a Bahraini passport.
If you are in this situation and have immigration plans for Bahrain, you can get in touch with our lawyers for support with the relocation and citizenship recognition.
How to obtain Bahraini citizenship by marriage in 2025
It is possible for foreign women who marry Bahraini citizens to obtain passports in this country. In this regard, the marriage certificate must be filed with the local authorities, if the marriage took place here. If the marriage was recorded in another country, the certificate must be accompanied by an affidavit issued by a Bahraini court.
In the case of divorce, the foreign spouse can still retain Bahraini citizens under certain conditions.
All 2025 Bahraini citizenship benefits can be explained by our local lawyers. They can also assist people who want to immigrate to Bahrain through other means.
How to obtain citizenship by naturalization in Bahrain
Bahrain is one of the Arab countries to enable foreign citizens to apply for citizenship. The requirements for immigration to Bahrain are quite stringent, however, those who are accustomed to the lifestyle here find it appealing.
In order to acquire a Bahraini passport in 2025, a foreign citizen must:
- legally live here for 25 years if one comes from a non-Arab country;
- Arab people must live here for 15 years;
- have a legal address in Bahrain;
- be fluent in Arabic;
- voting rights can be obtained after 10 years of being Bahraini citizens.
Our lawyers in Bahrain can assist foreign citizens who want to acquire properties here. They must comply with various requirements, especially if they target the Golden Visa program which comes with various benefits.
Indirect citizenship by investment in Bahrain
Bahrain is one of the Middle East’s leading trading hubs. This makes many foreign investors choose it for starting various types of businesses.
Even if indirect, making an investment in Bahrain can lead to citizenship. However, the applicant will first be granted residency, then must live in the country for the necessary time frame to become a citizen. This is a pathway for passive investors or entrepreneurs as the investor visa offers them several possibilities, namely:
- to incorporate a company in Bahrain;
- to buy real estate;
- to find employment or retire to Bahrain.
It is also possible to obtain a 10-year residence permit based on exceptional merits. If you are interested in immigration to Bahrain through investment, you have several options.
How hard is it to obtain citizenship in Bahrain in 2025?
It is a well-known truth that Bahrain makes it challenging for foreigners to obtain citizenship. In some circumstances, the king of Bahrain may confer citizenship to a foreigner who has rendered exceptional service for an extended period of time. On the other hand, an employer can choose to provide a hardworking employee who has made significant contributions to the business over a long period with a work and residence visa that is valid unlimitedly.
It takes time and perseverance to become a Bahraini citizen. It is recommended to prepare for deprivation during the application procedure because not all candidates will be given citizenship.
We also have a short video on this subject:
Is it possible to lose Bahraini citizenship?
Yes, there are 4 situations in which citizenship can be lost. The first 2 refer to:
- persons who have applied for other nationalities and a Governor order for the withdrawal of Bahraini passports was issued;
- persons who voluntarily renounced Bahraini citizenship (in such cases too a Governor order must be issued).
Please note that if a man loses Bahraini nationality, his minor children will also lose it.
Other situations in which citizenship can be lost refer to men taking up military service in other countries and harming the Bahraini state. Feel free to address our local specialists if you need legal support in such cases.
Population and residence permit issuance statistics in Bahrain
At the level of 2023, there were more 1.577 million people living in Bahrain. 719,333 or 46.1% of them were Bahraini nationals, while 785,032 or 53.9% were foreigners living here based on different types of residence permits.
Recent statistics also indicate that:
- compared to 608,411 permits registered in the second quarter of 2023, the number of permits for foreign workers rose by 3.8% annually to 631,763 by the end of the second quarter of 2024;
- 33,740 new employment work permits were issued by the Labor Market Authority in the second quarter of 2024, indicating a 5% yearly decrease;
- the percentage of new employment work permits issued in the second quarter of 2024 that were issued to businesses with fewer than 10 employees was 54.0%.
23% of all employment permits were issued for the construction industry. This sector is followed by the wholesale and retail trade sector with 20% and the lodging and food service activities sector with 14% of the total percentage of work visas issued in Bahrain.
If you want to apply for citizenship in Bahrain and need assistance, our specialists can help, so don’t hesitate to contact them. We can also assist investors who want to open companies in Bahrain.