Bahrain · Student
Bahrain Student residence
Student visa and student residence permit
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Student residence is a student route for Bahrain. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- BHD 30 ≈ $80 · BHD 60 ≈ $160
Cost, time and long term
Government feesBHD 30 ≈ $80 · BHD 60 ≈ $160
- BHD 30 (≈ $80)Student visa issuance fee, plus BHD 5 (≈ $13) application and BHD 5 (≈ $13) approval fees.
- BHD 60 (≈ $160)Student residence permit issuance or renewal fee, plus BHD 5 (≈ $13) application fee.
RenewalRenewable
The student residence permit is renewable; it is issued for 5 years to locally enrolled students and 1 year to students enrolled abroad.
Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), Bahrain
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a place at a school or university in Bahrain
- Work isn't allowed on this route
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The applicant is enrolled at a local or international university or institute in Bahrain.
- The visa applicant is outside Bahrain and the residence permit applicant is inside Bahrain when applying.
What you must show and pay2
- A fee of BHD 30 (≈ $80) · Student visa issuance fee, plus BHD 5 (≈ $13) application and BHD 5 (≈ $13) approval fees.
- A fee of BHD 60 (≈ $160) · Student residence permit issuance or renewal fee, plus BHD 5 (≈ $13) application fee.
Documents1
- A passport valid for more than 6 months and an official letter from the university or institute are provided.
Steps4
- A guarantor or authorised person submits each application separately.
- Apply through the eGovernment website or in person at the Muharraq Security Complex, Isa Town branch.
- The visa is processed in 3 working days and is invalid if unused within three months of issue.
- The fees are BHD 5 (≈ $13) + 5 + 30 for the visa and BHD 5 (≈ $13) + 60 for the residence permit.
When you become tax resident
How Bahrain decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
the 0% income-tax statement comes from the Golden Residency FAQ, not a tax authority page.
- Foreign-source income
No personal income tax
All tax rules for Bahrain Tax records checked
Full official text
Student visa for those enrolled at a university or institute in Bahrain, followed by a student residence permit of 5 years for locally enrolled students or 1 year for students enrolled abroad. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- A fee of BHD 30 (≈ $80) · Student visa issuance fee, plus BHD 5 (≈ $13) application and BHD 5 (≈ $13) approval fees. 1
- A fee of BHD 60 (≈ $160) · Student residence permit issuance or renewal fee, plus BHD 5 (≈ $13) application fee. 2
Requirements
- The applicant is enrolled at a local or international university or institute in Bahrain. 1
- The visa applicant is outside Bahrain and the residence permit applicant is inside Bahrain when applying. 1 2
- A passport valid for more than 6 months and an official letter from the university or institute are provided. 1
- A guarantor or authorised person submits each application separately. 1 2
- Apply through the eGovernment website or in person at the Muharraq Security Complex, Isa Town branch. 1
- The visa is processed in 3 working days and is invalid if unused within three months of issue. 1
- The fees are BHD 5 (≈ $13) + 5 + 30 for the visa and BHD 5 (≈ $13) + 60 for the residence permit. 1 2
Stay
- Student residence permit for 5 years for students enrolled locally and 1 year for students enrolled abroad.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Work
Holders may not work, paid or unpaid, unless an official permit is issued by the relevant authority.
Official sources
- Student Visa · Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), Bahrain · checked 2026-10-11
- Student Residence Permit · Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), Bahrain · checked 2026-10-11
Student residence and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student residence | – | – | No |
| Study visa (ED) Thailand | – | 3 mo, renewable | No |
| Student visa Japan | – | 4.3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Student visa · Non-formal Indonesia | – | 4 yr, renewable | No |
| Student visa United Arab Emirates | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Student residence?
A fee of BHD 30 (≈ $80). Student visa issuance fee, plus BHD 5 (≈ $13) application and BHD 5 (≈ $13) approval fees. A fee of BHD 60 (≈ $160). Student residence permit issuance or renewal fee, plus BHD 5 (≈ $13) application fee.
How long can I stay on the Student residence?
Student residence permit for 5 years for students enrolled locally and 1 year for students enrolled abroad.
Can I work on the Student residence?
No. Holders may not work, paid or unpaid, unless an official permit is issued by the relevant authority.
How are Student residence holders taxed in Bahrain?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Student residence. The standard rules apply: Bahrain's National Bureau for Revenue applies VAT at a standard rate of 10% from 1 January 2022 and a Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax to multinational groups with annual global revenue of EUR 750 million (≈ $838,000,000) or more; the Golden Residency programme states 0% income tax.
More in Bahrain
Study visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 2 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Student Visa · Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), Bahrain · checked 2026-10-11
- Student Residence Permit · Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), Bahrain · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.