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IMPACT – HIGH
Bahrain recently announced visa and travel restrictions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Key points:
Analysis & Comments: The new visa and travel restrictions will impact the movement of people into Bahrain. Employers should account for affected travelers and rearrange travel schedules accordingly.
Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2020. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.
What is the change? Individuals traveling from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia on either a multiple-entry or a single-entry visit visa will be required to enter and exit Saudi Arabia using the specified mode of entry (air or land). The change has not been officially announced or confirmed by immigration authorities, but has been implemented and applied in practice.
What does the change mean? Previously, individuals living in Bahrain but working in Saudi Arabia were able to commute to Saudi Arabia for business purposes regardless of the specified mode of entry. Border immigration officials are now enforcing the mode-of-entry specification and are not allowing individuals with visit visas with the “air” mode of entry to go through the Bahrain-Saudi Arabia causeway except on an exceptional basis.
Analysis & Comments: When businesses are applying for a Saudi Arabian visit visa from a Gulf Cooperation Council country (excluding Qatar), they have an option to mark the mode of entry as “open” rather than the specified “air” or “land” mode of entry. For future visit visa applications, employers are encouraged to take note of this option to avoid delays when employees travel to Saudi Arabia.
Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.
IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? The minimum net income required for foreign nationals to sponsor dependent family members on residence permits has risen significantly.
What does the change mean? Employees must have a net income of at least 400 Bahraini dinars per month (about US$1,060) to sponsor a spouse or dependent child on a residence permit.
Background: Under the previous criteria, expatriate employees could sponsor family members provided they had a net income of at least 250 dinars per month. That threshold has now increased 60 percent to 400 dinars per month. Additional criteria for sponsoring family members are available on this Bharaini government site.
BAL Analysis: Employers and individuals should factor in the changes when planning assignments. The increase only affects applications submitted on or after Jan. 1 and has no impact on foreign nationals who held work permits issued before the change took effect.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Bahrain. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
Copyright © 2018 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
When traveling to Bahrain, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if work authorization will be required. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.
As a business visitor to Bahrain, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:
Most foreign nationals, including nationals of the United States and most European countries, will be required to obtain a Business Visa (also called a Visit Visa) to enter Bahrain. Depending on the traveler’s nationality, visas may be obtained from a Bahraini Consulate or Embassy prior to travel, online as an e-visa or upon arrival. Nationals of select countries, including Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states (Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates), may be eligible for visa waiver status, which allows visitors to enter and conduct business activities without a visa. Please verify your eligibility for a visa on arrival, visa waiver status or an e-visa prior to travel.
The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Bahraini law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Bahrain, even if conducted for a short duration.
The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work and on whether your employer has an entity in Bahrain. The most common form of work authorization in Bahrain is the Work Visa and Residence Permit.
Nationals of eligible GCC member states are exempt from obtaining work authorization and may work indefinitely in Bahrain.
Inevitably, the legal and strategic considerations impacting visa selection, as well as visa waiver and work authorization eligibility, entail the careful consideration of many factors. We recommend that you consult with your immigration counsel before taking any course of action.
What is the change? Countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council have warned their citizens against traveling to Lebanon, and are deporting some Lebanese nationals, particularly Shiite Muslims.
What does the change mean? Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have urged their citizens not to travel to Lebanon except in emergencies. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have begun deporting some Lebanese nationals.
Background: Political tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran worsened at the beginning of the year when Saudi Arabia executed a well-known Shiite leader, and protesters in Iran responded by setting fire to the Saudi Embassy in Tehran. The countries severed diplomatic ties in January.
In February, when Lebanon did not join a resolution condemning the embassy attack, Saudi Arabia canceled $4 billion in military aid to Lebanon. GCC countries have supported their co-member, Saudi Arabia, in the dispute. The United Arab Emirates also reduced its diplomatic staff in Beirut. The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
BAL Analysis: GCC nationals and Lebanese nationals should be aware of the political tensions and anticipate difficulties in traveling between respective countries.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Lebanon. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
Copyright © 2016 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
What is the change? The government fees for Bahrain work and investor visas have risen in order to pay for health care for foreign nationals working in the country.
What does the change mean? The health care fees are 72 Bahraini dinars per year (about US$191) and are collected when applicants pay their fees for work and investor visas.
Background: Last year, the Ministry of Health ordered mandatory basic health care for foreign workers. The government charges of BD 72 per year apply not only to new visas, but also for visa transfers, work and investor visa renewals and temporary work visas.
The new government fee, including the health care charges, for a one-year work visa is now BD 172 (approximately US$456). The new government fee, including two years’ worth of health care charges (BD 144, or roughly US$382), for a two-year work visa is now BD 344 D (approximately US$912).
A breakdown of the new fees for all visas is available at Bahrain’s Labour Market Regulatory Authority website.
BAL Analysis: Employers applying for work or investor visas should budget for the increased fees.
IMPACT – Medium
What is the change? The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) has announced that initial work permits can now be obtained for durations of either one or two years. Previously, only two-year work permits were available. In addition, work permits can now be renewed for six months, one year or two years.
What does the change mean? The choice of work permit durations offers employers more flexibility in meeting their labor needs.
Background: On Sept. 24, the LMRA announced new terms for initial work permits and work permit renewals. The terms went into effect on Oct. 1. Initial work permits are now available for terms of one or two years. Previously, only two-year work permits were issued. The costs of the permits are 100 and 200 Bahraini dinar respectively.
Similarly, work permits can now be renewed for three different terms: six months, one year or two years. Renewal cost for each is 50, 100 and 200 Bahraini dinar respectively.
The cost of a family residency visa remains 90 Bahraini dinar per family member regardless of the duration of the work permit.
BAL analysis: The new choices for work permit duration offer employers greater flexibility in meeting their labor needs, and may help them to save on costs for permits with shorter durations.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network partner in Bahrain. For additional information, please contact GlobalVisaGroup@bal.com.