Visit World - Austrian Citizens Traveling to Bahrain: Entry Rules, Visa Requirements & Regulations

From May 1 in Bahrain, all tourists will have to pay a tourist tax.

The tax will be charged directly at the time of check-in to the hotel, at the rate of $ 8 per day.

Payment will be made in cash in dollars or by bank card at the rate of the hotel.

The country's authorities have decided that this fee will be charged year-round from all tourists and regardless of the category of the accommodation facility in which they stay.

Obtaining a visa to enter the Kingdom of Bahrain is relatively easy and hassle-free, if all documents are in order, then the visa is issued within 3-5 business days. In urgent cases, visas are also issued within a day in accordance with the citizenship, passport and residency policies.

Visa on arrival

There are countries https://www.bahrain.bh/wps/portal that are eligible for a visa upon arrival at Bahrain International Airport. All visas require payment of a fee.

Online visas to Bahrain

The visa is available online for more than 200 countries of the world https://www.bahrain.bh/wps/portal, the visa must be applied for before the visitor enters the country through their embassy, a Bahraini citizen or an organization on their behalf.

The following visas are issued depending on the length of stay:

Single entry visa is valid for 2 weeks per stay (can be extended for 2 weeks)
A multiple-entry visa is valid for 3 months, 1 month for each stay (can be extended for 2 weeks).
A multiple-entry visa is valid for 1 year, 3 months for each stay (can be extended for 2 weeks).
A sponsorship visa (single entry) is valid for 1 week for the entire period of stay (can be extended for 1 week).
Sponsorship visa (single entry) is valid for 2 weeks per stay (can be extended for 2 weeks).
Sponsorship visa (single entry) is valid for 1 month per stay (can be extended for 1 month).
A sponsorship visa (multiple entry) is valid for 1 month and 2 weeks per stay (can be extended for 2 weeks).

For most countries, it is possible to obtain an electronic visa upon arrival at the airport. However, you will need a permit from the Bahraini Ministry of Interior. It is issued with the direct participation of the host party, which can be a Bahraini citizen, a hotel, a government organization or a travel company. Ten days before the trip, you will need to send a fax to the representative of the host country with the flight details, length of stay and a photocopy of the first page of your passport. And with this fax he will have to go to one of the departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Bahrain. It is worth mentioning that such a visa will be denied to women under the age of 40 who are traveling unaccompanied by a husband, older brother or father.

It is also possible to obtain a visa in advance at the consulate. Documents must be submitted in person. Please note that the application form is submitted first, and then the consular fee is paid directly at the consulate. You should make an appointment in advance to pay the consular fee.

The consular fee for a Bahraini visa is $66.

A tourist visa can be used for 90 days, but the number of days of stay cannot exceed 30 days. Such a visa can be extended once for a period of up to 14 days at the Immigration Service of the Kingdom of Bahrain during the validity of the previous visa.

A tourist visa does not give the right to work in Bahrain.

Visa for children to Bahrain is issued on the same conditions as for adults.

To travel, you must have with you:

valid passport,
photo,
documents confirming the applicant's ability to make payments;
confirmation of hotel reservations and round-trip tickets.

Staying longer is possible, but you must apply for a visa or residence permit.

Insurance for Bahrain must cover expenses of at least USD 35,000.

If your connecting flight lasts longer than 7 hours and happens less than 24 hours upon your arrival to the international Bahraini airport, you have the right to a room in a hotel, as well as a free visa for the transit period. However, upon arrival your entry to the Kingdom of Bahrain is at disposal of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

https://www.gulfair.com/at-the-airport/transit-in-bahrain

Requirements:
- - - it is necessary to chip your cat or dog. It is mandatory to chip the animal and make sure that the date of chipping, which is put later in the veterinary passport, is earlier than the date of rabies vaccination or on the same day.
    - have a veterinary passport for the animal. The veterinary passport must contain a vaccination against rabies and viral diseases specific to your animal species. The conditions of the vaccines are simple - the animal must be vaccinated against rabies no earlier than it has reached the age of 3 months. There must also be a 30-day incubation period after the rabies vaccination before planning transportation to Bahrain.
    - vaccination against viral diseases should be according to a multivalent regimen and done at the age of 2 and later at 3 months;
    - passing a test for the presence of rabies antibodies in the blood of animals.
    - Import Permit to this country. It is issued directly in Bahrain itself and the organization that issues it is called the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs Urban Planning. To obtain an Import Permit, you need to register on the website of this ministry, fill out a questionnaire with a scan of a veterinary passport with vaccinations + a rabies antibody test. Then, online, you pay the state fee and the next step is to download the received permit for the import of the animal.
    - the minimum age for importing dogs and cats into Bahrain is 4 months.
    - obtaining a veterinary certificate of Form No. 1. Later, at the airport of departure, this certificate is exchanged for the international version, Form 5a.
    https://www.mun.gov.bh/portal/indexEn.jsp

Single emergency call center: 999

Fire service: 997

Child support service: 998

Traffic police: 199

For information and advice on the customs regulations of the Kingdom of Bahrain, please visit the official website of the Tax Authority: https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/bahrain-customs-regulations

Alcohol and cigarettes

When entering Bahrain, persons aged 18 years and older (non-Muslims) are allowed to enter duty-free:

up to 1 liter of spirits and 1 liter of soft drinks, a box of canned beer;
400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, and 250 grams of tobacco in open bags.

Jewelry and valuables

They must be declared upon entry. There are restrictions on the import and export of pearls. Artistic and cultural and historical values. Import and export must be authorized in advance by the Bahraini authorities. Weapons and ammunition. The import and export of weapons of all kinds (cold steel, gas, traumatic, firearms, hunting), ammunition must be subject to prior permission from the Bahraini authorities.

Cars

Cars are subject to a 5 percent import duty. If the vehicle is registered in one of the countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), there is no tax.

The import of live poultry from Southeast Asian countries is temporarily banned.

Bahrain’s traffic is right-hand. You can freely rent a vehicle in the country. In order to drive a car in Bahrain, you need to be older than 18 and have a driver’s license issued in your country of residence. They have to be of an international sample. Before you start driving in Bahrain, make sure you know all the traffic rules. In order to obtain a driver's license in Bahrain, you must pass an eye test.

How to get around in Bahrain?

When it comes to taxis, always negotiate the price before you get in the car. A short taxi ride can cost you 20 USD and most taxis do not use meters and you will end up agreeing to the price.

Some taxis provide good service and it is advisable to take a white or red roofed taxi from the airport. Well-known taxi service providers include: SMS Radio Taxi, Bahrain online Taxi, Bahrain Limo (SABTCO).

Try to rent a car if you plan to visit many cities, as it will cost only 10-20 dinars per day.

Buses are also a popular means of transportation, but due to erroneous schedules, it is difficult for foreigners to understand the system and they are often overcrowded with workers and employees.

How safe is Bahrain for traveling?

Bahrain is safe to travel in, although many travelers often have the impression that it is not safe.

The political situation in Bahrain is relatively stable, but in recent years it has been under some pressure due to the Arab Spring protests and demonstrations across the country.

A little advice for travelers: no country is completely safe, and when traveling internationally, and traveling to the Middle East is no exception, it is always wise to educate yourself and take precautions when traveling.

That is, know where your embassy is located. Or remember your security tips.

What are the vaccinations for traveling to Bahrain?

The good news is that most people do not need to get any vaccinations and do not need to take any special precautions when planning a trip to Bahrain, but there are still some things you should know.

Get the proper immunizations. You need to be vaccinated against yellow fever and rabies. Yellow fever vaccination is required for everyone over 9 months of age.You will need to get a tetanus shot if you are over 9 months old.

Note: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travelers 9 months and older arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission, as well as for travelers transiting for more than 12 hours through an airport in a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission.

Sources:

1. https://abackpackerstale.com

2. https://www.holidify.com

Representative offices and embassies of the Kingdom of Bahrain around the world: https://www.mofa.gov.bh/en/foreign-missions-and-accredited-organizations

Travel to Bahrain for Austria citizenship