Required certification · Bahrain
LMRA & Bahrainisation
Bahrain's work-permit authority for expatriate staff
Market position
The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) issues and renews work permits for expatriate employees in Bahrain under Resolution No. 76 of 2008, with employer fees set by Resolution No. 26 of 2008. Employers below their required Bahrainisation ratio can still obtain permits through the Parallel Bahrainisation System by paying a higher fee.
Bahrain-specific note
Budget LMRA work permit fees (BHD 195 per expatriate per year at the standard rate) into your labour costs, and check your Bahrainisation ratio: permits above it are available through the Parallel Bahrainisation System at a higher fee.
Pros
- + One authority for expatriate work permits
- + Remote work permit renewal, processed in 1 working day according to the national portal
- + Fees published on the Bahrain national portal
- + Parallel Bahrainisation lets firms below their ratio still hire
Cons
- − Work permit fee of BHD 195 a year per employee, plus an admin fee
- − Extra fee for permits outside the Bahrainisation ratio
- − Bahrainisation ratios limit how many expatriates you can hire at the normal fee
- − Permits run for six months to two years, then need renewal
Typical Bahrain pricing
Work permit (commercial sector) renewal: BHD 97.5 for 6 months, BHD 195 for one year or BHD 390 for two years, plus a BHD 5 admin fee (Bahrain national portal). Permits outside the Bahrainisation ratio cost more; one portal service lists BHD 250 a year.
Why this matters for Bahrain trades
The National Bureau for Revenue administers VAT at a 10% standard rate, with registration mandatory at BHD 37,500 of annual taxable revenue; PwC’s July 2026 review found e-invoicing not yet mandatory and notes that the market expects a system similar to Saudi Arabia’s, with no confirmed start date. CRPEP licenses engineers and engineering offices under Law No. 51 of 2014, and new-building permits on Benayat are filed through a CRPEP-licensed engineering office. The Ministry of Works prequalifies contractors by category and grade for its building, roads, sanitary and landscape works; the Tender Board oversees government purchases above BHD 50,000, and bidders must register on its eTendering system; LMRA issues work permits for expatriate staff, with a higher fee under the Parallel Bahrainisation System for firms below their ratio; and the General Directorate of Civil Defense gives input on Benayat permits, with its approval letter required for a building’s completion certificate.
Bahrain construction software selection is shaped by 10% VAT administered by the National Bureau for Revenue (NBR), with e-invoicing not yet mandatory according to PwC’s July 2026 review, CRPEP licensing for engineers and engineering offices, Ministry of Works prequalification for its building, roads, sanitary and landscape works, Tender Board registration for larger government tenders, LMRA work permits and Bahrainisation ratios, and building permits through the Benayat system.
Frequently asked
Is LMRA & Bahrainisation a good fit for Bahrain trades?
The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) issues and renews work permits for expatriate employees in Bahrain under Resolution No. 76 of 2008, with employer fees set by Resolution No. 26 of 2008. Employers below their required Bahrainisation ratio can still obtain permits through the Parallel Bahrainisation System by paying a higher fee. Budget LMRA work permit fees (BHD 195 per expatriate per year at the standard rate) into your labour costs, and check your Bahrainisation ratio: permits above it are available through the Parallel Bahrainisation System at a higher fee.
What does LMRA & Bahrainisation cost in Bahrain?
Work permit (commercial sector) renewal: BHD 97.5 for 6 months, BHD 195 for one year or BHD 390 for two years, plus a BHD 5 admin fee (Bahrain national portal). Permits outside the Bahrainisation ratio cost more; one portal service lists BHD 250 a year. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current Bahrain pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
Other Bahrain vendors
National Bureau for Revenue (NBR)
Required certification
CRPEP (Engineering Professions Regulator)
Required certification
Ministry of Works Contractor Prequalification
Required certification
Bahrain Tender Board
Required certification
Benayat (Building Permits)
Required certification
Civil Defence (Fire Safety)
Required certification