Opening a recruitment company in Bahrain can be quite lucrative, considering the number of foreign citizens seeking employment here. However, to do so, after registering your business, you need to apply for a manpower supply agency license.
Below, you will find a guide on how to register and apply for the necessary license for a recruitment agency in Bahrain. You can rely on our Bahraini company formation agents for both procedures.
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Company registration – the first stage in setting up an employment agency in Bahrain
If you want to open a recruitment company in Bahrain, you must first register a legal entity. The private limited liability company can be used for both small and medium-sized operations, and you can choose it for your employment agency.
The registration consists of drafting the Articles of Association and other documents and filing them with the Companies Register. Following that, can apply for the manpower supply agency license.
Please note that this business permit is subject to specific requirements that can be presented by our company registration advisors in Bahrain.
Conditions when applying for a recruitment agency license in Bahrain
The manpower supply agency license is issued by the Labor Market Authority which imposes the following requirements:
- the recruitment company must be owned by a Bahraini citizen or by a company incorporated in Bahrain;
- the company must have not held another similar license before;
- the owner must not own another business that contradicts the activities of recruiting employees;
- if the applicant is a natural person, he/she must not be registered as an employee for social security purposes;
- inform the Authority about the services the agency will provide;
- in case of hiring employees, the agency must submit proof of having suitable lodging for them.
The applicant will also need to go through an interview with the Labor Market Authority personnel to be granted the license.
Our local specialists can help you gather all the necessary documentation to file for a manpower supply agency license in Bahrain.
Documents required to obtain a recruitment agency license in Bahrain
The paperwork you will need for the license implies:
- information about the company or sole trader applying for the license;
- a certificate of good standing for the person applying for the license;
- a copy of the Registration Certificate;
- proof of a valid lease agreement for the company’s place of business;
- a recent utility bill (usually electricity) for the headquarters;
- a feasibility study;
- a Social Insurance Organization (SIO) declaration;
- proof of paying the licensing fee.
Apart from these, if hiring employees from abroad, the company will pay a fee for each work permit issued by the Authority. Our lawyers in Bahrain can advise about the local employment legislation.
Based on these documents, an initial approval will be issued.
If you want to incorporate a company in Bahrain and apply for a manpower supply agency permit, you can rely on us for the entire process.
How long does it take to obtain a manpower supply agency license?
Here is the timeframe for obtaining a recruitment agency license in Bahrain:
- 20 days for the initial approval, which has a validity of 3 months;
- the definitive license is issued in about 60 days;
- its validity is one year, with the possibility of renewal.
If you want to move to Bahrain and obtain a Bahraini residency permit to set up a company here, you can rely on us.
Feel free to contact us for assistance in opening a recruitment company in Bahrain and obtaining the manpower supply agency license.