VISA ATLASWork visas & talent mobility
From→ToFind a corridor
EN
☰

Bahrain

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
458
Top destination, 2023
Türkiye
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
3,045
UK visas issued, 2025
541
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
10.7%
NationalityBHISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<BHBAHRAIN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
BH8<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Bahrain need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 30 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Bahrain move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Türkiye113
  2. United States90
  3. Germany71
  4. Australia55
  5. Japan40
  6. Canada30
  7. Netherlands18
  8. Austria7
  9. South Korea6
  10. France5
  11. Sweden5
  12. Switzerland4
  13. New Zealand3
  14. Hungary3
  15. Finland2

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

7161,432200020032006200920122015201820212023
7161,4322000200420082012201620202023
Data table
2000419
2001373
2002410
2003131
2004182
2005210
2006252
2007293
2008217
2009213
2010219
2011220
2012371
2013380
2014328
20151,432
2016398
2017331
2018492
2019584
2020191
2021588
2022468
2023458
Share going to the top destination
24.7%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Bahrain who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Bangladesh40,631
  2. Palestine7,891
  3. Australia2,395
  4. United Arab Emirates1,870
  5. Kuwait1,503
  6. Libya1,091
  7. Qatar816
  8. Sri Lanka406
  9. Denmark128
  10. Cyprus110
  11. Namibia52
  12. Egypt45

Living abroad by year

29k57k19901995200020052010201520202024
29k57k19902000201020202024
Data table
199011,251
199521,614
200032,137
200536,803
201042,283
201545,263
202045,356
202457,160
Living abroad, 2024
57,160
Change since 2000
+77.9%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
71.1%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Bahrain by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B22,297
  2. A2300
  3. C1/D194
  4. F167
  5. J147
  6. A135
  7. G232
  8. G117
  9. H1B16
  10. E26

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

2,4424,883201720182019202020212022202320242025
2,4424,88320172019202120232025
Data table
20172,932
20184,538
20194,056
20202,228
20211,884
20224,421
20234,883
20244,226
20253,045
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. F317
  2. F417
  3. E311
  4. IR111
  5. CR19
  6. IR28
  7. IR54
  8. F2B3
Immigrant visas, FY2025
86
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
3
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Bahrain who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Bahrain with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

1002002015201620172018201920202021202220232024
100200201520172019202120232024
Data table
2015150
2016140
2017130
2018140
2019180
2020130
2021150
2022160
2023200
2024160
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens80
  2. Employment-based preferences50
  3. Family-sponsored preferences20
  4. Diversity visa lottery10
  5. Refugees and asylees10
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Specialty occupations (H-1B)60
  2. Intracompany transferees (L-1)30
  3. Spouses and children20
  4. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Bahrain)
160
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Bahrain)
120
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
6,240
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Bahrain (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Bahrain (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Study409
  2. Visitor53
  3. Work53
  4. Other17
  5. Family9

Visas issued by year

7,09014k201020122014201620182020202220242025
7,09014k201020132016201920222025
Data table
20108,807
20119,026
20129,808
201312,545
201411,171
201511,852
201613,807
201714,179
201813,596
201913,163
20203,199
20214,310
20223,937
20231,186
2024694
2025541
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
1,345
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Bahrain, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
202505050
20240151050
20230202500
20220152500
2021003055
20200101555
20190015250
201805103510
201700302515
2016052550
20150020250
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Bahrain, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

232008–092011–122016–172020–212023–242025–26
232008–092011–122016–172020–212023–242025–26
Data table
2008–091
2009–101
2011–122
2012–133
2016–171
2017–181
2020–211
2022–231
2023–241
2024–251
2025–262
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Specialist Skills1
  2. Core Skills1
Granted, 2025–26
2
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Bahrain living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

18352012201420162018202220242025
18352012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201213
201317
201422
201521
201627
201727
201833
201935
202229
202331
202429
202517
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services6
  2. Student4
  3. Spouse or Child of Japanese National3
  4. Cultural Activities2
  5. Permanent Resident1
  6. Business Manager1
Residents, December 2025
17
In work-related statuses
7
Share in work-related statuses
41.2%
Students
4
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Bahrain

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Bahrain, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Germany12,01810,0621,93616.1%
France8,5427,9944174.9%
Italy3,3253,1152106.3%

Applications by year

12k25k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
12k25k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200912,450
201014,252
201114,238
201215,692
201318,713
201419,412
201521,460
201622,524
201722,804
201823,544
201924,693
20203,928
20215,747
202219,422
202322,709
202423,885
Refusal rate, 2024
10.7%
Refusal rate, 2019
4.4%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Bahrain in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Education73
  2. Other reasons60
  3. Family40
  4. Work30
First permits by country
  1. Greece47
  2. Germany30
  3. Ireland23
  4. France21
  5. Spain19
  6. Portugal10
  7. Belgium7
  8. Hungary7
  9. Sweden6
  10. Cyprus5
  11. Netherlands5
  12. Poland4
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card2
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)8
  3. Researchers4
  4. Other paid activities16
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
10
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
41
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
381
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
0
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
914
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
27
Changed status into work, 2025
10
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Bahrain in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025211000
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025110
Austria2025101
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Bahrain

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Bahrain, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Algeria1——
Bangladesh1——
Brunei1——
China1——
Egypt1——
France1——
Germany1——
India1——
Indonesia1——
Iraq1——
Israel1——
Italy1——
Japan1——
Jordan1——
Kuwait1——
Lebanon1——
Libya1——
Malaysia1——
Morocco1——
Nepal1——
Oman1——
Pakistan1——
Palestine1——
Philippines1——
Russia1——
Saudi Arabia1——
Senegal1——
South Korea1——
Sri Lanka1——
Sudan1——
Syria1——
Thailand1——
Tunisia1——
Türkiye1——
United Arab Emirates1——
United Kingdom1——
Yemen1——
Countries
37
Missions
37
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

All corridors from Bahrain

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Bahrain → Germany
  • Bahrain → France
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more