Living in Bahrain

Medicine

BahrainIf doesyou notare haveon a reciprocalprescription healthfor agreementany withmedication theyou UK.

Makeshould sureensure you have appropriatea healthsupply insuranceof it, or are able to coverobtain anyit healthcarewhen costs.in YouBahrain. canCertain getmedicines insurancemay fromnot Bahrainibe oravailable internationalin providers,Bahrain or(including throughmajor yourbrands employer.

Readreadily theavailable Bahrainiin government’sthe guidanceUK), onand healthyou servicesmay forbe moreprohibited information.

Tofrom findtaking outthem howinto tothe getcountry. medicalYou treatment:

• contactshould consult your insuranceGP provider
• readbefore guidancetravelling onto healthBahrain into Bahrain
• find English-speakingout medicalabout facilitiesany andalternative doctorsmedication. forSome Britishskincare nationalsproducts may contain ingredients that are illegal in Bahrain such as CBD oil.

  Read the guidance

if you need to travel with medicines.

Working in Bahrain

ReadIf ouryou guidanceare oncoming moving,to livingBahrain orto retiringtake abroad.up Thiswork coversand workingarrive abroad,on includinga documentsvisit youvisa, mayensure needthat fromyour employer registers you with the UKLabour government.

ToMarket workRegulatory inAuthority Bahrain,(LMRA) and provides you must(and haveyour family) with a workResidence permit.Permit Yourand employerCPR must(ID applycard) forvery thisshortly onafter youryou behalfarrive. andRead givethe youBahrain yourgovernment’s residenceguidance permiton andworking Bahrainiin IDBahrain Cardas (‘CPR’)a whenforeign younational arriveand how into Bahrain.get a visa.

ReadYou should not take up any form of employment whilst in Bahrain on a visit visa. Working without the Bahrainiproper government’svisa guidanceis forillegal. migrantYou workerscannot undertake any kind of paid or unpaid employment in Bahrain without first obtaining a work visa. Failure to comply could result in prosecution and expatriates.imprisonment.

ToIf applyyou forhave been living in Bahrain prior to taking up a new job whenopportunity youhere, areit alreadyis livingcommon practice for employers in Bahrain,Bahrain to request a Good Conduct Certificate issued by the police.

If you mayhave needlived in Bahrain for more than 6 months and would like to providerequest a Good Conduct Certificate from the BahrainiKingdom police.of Bahrain’s National portal.

Recognition

Studying ofin qualifications

Bahrain

If you wantplan to workstudy in Bahrain, you maymust needmeet all visa requirements before you travel.

Contact the relevant higher education provider in Bahrain to getcheck yourwhat foreignfees qualificationsyou recognised.have to pay.

DrivingTax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Bahrain so that you do not pay tax on the same income in Bahrain both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

ReadYou ourshould guidanceget professional advice on moving,paying livingtax orin retiringBahrain. abroad.Find Thisan English-speaking coverslawyer howin to:Bahrain.

Read guidance on:

• drivetax abroadif legallyyou leave the UK to live abroad
• taketax on your UK vehicleincome if you live abroad
• tax if you get drivinga licencepension lettersand live abroad
• paying National Insurance while abroad to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

Benefits

ReadCheck aboutwhich roadUK travelbenefits inyou Bahrain,can inclaim safetywhile abroad and securityhow into theclaim travelthem.

Many adviceincome-related forbenefits Bahrain.such Thisas includesPension informationCredit onand drivingHousing inBenefit Bahrain,cannot includingbe drivingpaid licenceif rules.you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

Pensions

TheRead BahrainiState governmentPension providesguidance informationif onyou howhave tolived getin aAustralia, BahrainCanada drivingor licenceNew Zealand. Forand moreyou information,are includingclaiming vehicleor registrationwaiting andto drivingclaim licenceyour renewal,UK visitState thePension.

If Generalyou Directorateretire ofin TrafficBahrain, onlineyou servicescan portal.

Disabledclaim drivers

Youyour mayUK beState ablePension toor applynew forUK aState BahrainiPension. disabledContact parkingthe permitInternational Pension Centre. for further information.

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you haveget a UK‘life Blue Badgecertificate’ andfrom livethe inUK Bahrain,Pension Service, you must returnrespond itas tosoon theas originalpossible. UKYour issuingpayments authority.may be suspended if you do not.

TaxTravel bans

ReadTravel ourbans guidanceare onlegal moving,prohibitions livingthe orBahrain retiringgovernment abroad.imposes Thisto coversprevent tax,persons includinginvolved payingin UKdisputes taxfrom anddeparting Nationalthe Insurance.

Thecountry. UKThey hascan abe doublethe taxationresult agreementof withany Bahrainsort soof thatcivil youor docriminal dispute or immigration violation. They are not paynormally taxlifted onuntil the samematter incomeat inissue, bothie, countries.civil suit, criminal case or immigration violation, is settled.

ContactA thetravel Bahrainiban Nationalcan Bureauresult forfrom Revenueany (innumber Arabic)of forcauses. anyFor questionsexample, aboutcivil doublecourts taxationin relief.

ConsiderBahrain gettingcan professional(and advicedo) onimpose payingtravel taxbans inover Bahrain.financial Todisputes. doSuch this,disputes findmight aninclude English-speakingdisputes lawyerbetween inbusiness Bahrain.

Pensions

Claimingpartners, yourbetween UKborrowers pension

Readand ourlenders, guidancelandlords onand moving,tenants. livingIf ora retiringfinancial abroad.dispute Thisis covers:

• howthe tobasis claimof yourthe UKtravel Stateban, Pension
• whereit may be possible to get the UKban governmentlifted paysby andepositing annuala increasesum of money equal to the amount in dispute with the Statecourt Pension

Claimingor aif Bahrainithe pension

parties mutually settle the matter and withdraw litigation proceedings.

OnlyThe BahrainiBahrain citizensPublic canProsecutor’s claimoffice amay Bahrainialso pension.impose Iftravel youbans workon inindividuals Bahrain,while youit mayis beconducting entitledcriminal investigations in order to anprevent end-of-servicethem gratuityfrom forleaving non-Bahrainis.

Benefits

Claimingthe UKcountry. benefits

ReadThe ourMinistry guidanceof the Interior will also impose travel bans on moving,those livingwho orviolate retiringtheir abroad.visa Thisstatus coversby howoverstaying, toworking claimwithout UKauthorisation, benefitsetc. abroad,These includingbans Childwill Benefit.

Claimingnot Bahrainiusually benefits

Inbe general,lifted onlyuntil Bahrainithe citizenscase at issue is concluded. Persons who are eligiblebanned from travelling for socialimmigration benefitsviolations inwill Bahrain.

Buyingsometimes andalso rentingfind propertythemselves in Bahrain

Readdeportation ourproceedings. guidancePersons onwho moving,are livinginvolved in disputes or retiringinvestigations abroadcan check whether travel bans exist by checking with the Bahrain Immigration Department. ThisOften coverstravellers buyingdo andnot rentinglearn propertythat abroad.they are subject to a travel ban until they attempt to depart the country or on entry into the country.

The BahrainiBahrain government alsowill providesusually informationnot onlift reala estatetravel inban until the matter under dispute is resolved. If the resolution involves a financial penalty such as a fine, the process of getting the travel ban formally lifted can involve shuttling between various Bahrain. government offices and courts to pay, obtain needed approvals, etc. Once the ban is lifted, the traveller is free to depart Bahrain.

ContactFor anfurther English-speakinginformation, lawyercontact inthe Bahrain ifDepartment you’reof consideringNationality, buyingPassports propertyand orResidence land.Affairs on telephone: 17399764.

VotingAccommodation inand Bahrainbuying property

UK

See elections

buying a property abroad.

ReadYou ourcan guidancepurchase onproperty moving,in livingapproved orfreehold retiringareas abroad.of ThisBahrain coversthat howinclude but not limited to:

• vote inJuffair, UKSeef, electionsAmwaj fromIslands, abroad
• registerReef asIsland, anDurrat overseasMarina, voter

Durrat Al Bahrain.

Bahraini

Driving elections

in Bahrain

You cannotcan votedrive in BahrainiBahrain electionswith unlessa youvalid holdUK Bahrainidriving citizenship.

Studyinglicence infor Bahrain

up to 3 months. If you’re staying longer, you planwill need to studyget ineither Bahrain,a local licence or an IDP. If you mustare meetusing allan visaIDP, requirementsensure beforethat you travel.visit the Traffic Authority upon arrival to have it certified.

ReadAs theof Bahraini28 government’sMarch guidance2019, onthe universitiesIDP andyou higherwill educationneed in Bahrain is a 1968 International Driving Permit (IDP).

For more1926 information:

• readIDPs guidancepreviously onissued travelby grantsthe UK may no longer be accepted for studentsuse studyingin abroadBahrain orafter onthis placementsdate. (England)
• contactFrom your1 higherFebruary education2019, provideryou incan theonly UKget orIDPs Bahrain
• contactover the Bahrainicounter Higherfrom Education2,500 Council

Children

ReadUK ourPost guidanceOffices. onYou moving,will livingnot orbe retiringable abroad.to Thisbuy coversan movingIDP abroadoutside withthe children,UK, including:so get one before you travel.

• getting

  Bahrain permissionoperates toa takezero yourtolerance childto abroad

• claimingdrink-driving. UKTailgating, Childspeeding, Benefitracing, abroad
• childlane maintenancejumping paymentsand ifusing a parentmobile livesphone abroad

Schoolswhile driving are all against the law and education

Thecan Bahrainiresult Ministryin ofheavy Educationfines. providesThere informationare aboutnumerous speed cameras on the schoolroads systemand inmotorways. Bahrain.

AllWearing childrena agedseatbelt 6is mandatory. Failure to 15do mustso attendcan schoolresult orin homea schoolfine. If you are caught you will be arrested and put in Bahrain.the Youdrivers’ canprison. useYour case will not be heard until the Bahraininext government’sworking educationalday. institutionsFirst findertime offenders will have to findpay publica minimum £900 fine and privatecould schoolsbe banned from driving in Bahrain.

For moreBritish information,visitors readfrom Saudi Arabia will be subject to the Bahrainisame Ministrypunishment but with the addition of Education’s:a driving ban there also. For repeat offenders the fine and ban will be more serious.

• guidance

  Offensive onlanguage, educationspitting and trainingaggressive behaviour (including hand gestures) are viewed very seriously and can result in Bahrainimprisonment and deportation. This includes road rage.

  View general guidance on driving abroad

• frequently.

  If you’re asked questionsfor abouta educationletter andauthenticating, schoolscertifying or validating your UK driver’s licence, you should contact your UK issuing office (e.g. the DVLA).

  Find guidance for travelling by road

in Bahrain.

Find guidance on taking your vehicle with you.

ChildcareDisabled drivers

TheIf Bahrainiyou Ministryhave ofa EducationUK isBlue responsibleBadge forand earlylive childhoodin educationBahrain, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.

Voting

You may be able to vote in Bahrain.some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter

Births, deaths, marriagesmarriage and civil partnershipspartnership

Births

If your child is born in Bahrain, you should register the birth with the Bahrainilocal authorities.authorities. ReadYou thecan Bahrainithen government’sregister guidancewith onthe birthUK authorities and deathapply servicesfor ina Bahrain.UK birth certificate.

If you’reyou notare married,unmarried theand Britishpregnant, Embassywe in Manama strongly advisesrecommend thatagainst yougiving do not give birth in Bahrain. There are legal consequencesramifications when registering thebirth birth,with and the Bahrainilocal authoritiesauthorities, who are notunlikely likely to issue a birth certificate. This will cause problemscomplications when applying for citizenship orand a passport for yourthe child.

The BahrainiIf authoritiesyou mayare alsomarried refuseand topregnant, issueyou might still find that a local birth certificate ifwill you’rebe marrieddenied butif yourthe child is born less than 9 months after the wedding date onas yourper marriage certificate.

ReadIf ouryour guidancechild onhas moving,British living or retiring abroadnationality., you Thisdo coversnot howneed to:

• to register the birth with the UKUK authorities authorities to get a UK birth certificate
• apply for youra child’s first British passport

.

Deaths

ReadIf oursomeone guidancedies onin moving,Bahrain livingread orour retiringguidance abroad. This covers:on:

• what to do afterif someone dies abroad
• how to register the death with the UK authorities

IfRead someonethe diesbereavement in Bahrain, read guidance on:

• whatfor toBahrain whenand someonesee diesa inlist Bahrain
• of English-speaking funeral directors in Bahrain
• birth and death services in Bahrain

.

MarriagesMarriage and civil partnershipspartnership

ReadFind ourout guidancehow onyou moving,can livingget married or retiringget a civil partnership abroad.

Sexual Thisrelationships coversoutside howof tomarriage getare marriedillegal orin formBahrain, airrespective civilof partnershipany abroad.

Same-sexrelationship marriagesyou andmay civilhave partnershipswith areyour notpartner legallyin recognisedthe UK. Cohabiting, including in Bahrain.hotels, Foris informationalso aboutillegal.

Civil LGBT+partnerships rightsare not recognised in Bahrain, readthe guidanceconcept onof safetya civil partnership does not exist and securitywill inalso thebe traveltreated adviceas fora Bahrain.

Divorcesexual andrelationship separation

outside of marriage which is illegal.

ReadHolding ourhands guidancefor onmarried moving,couples livingis ortolerated retiringbut abroad.kissing Thisand covershugging howare toconsidered getoffences aagainst divorcepublic ordecency. endOpen adisplays civilof partnership.affection are generally not tolerated.

Pets

ConsiderDomestic takinganimals legalaccompanying advicethe fromtraveller anare English-speakingrestricted lawyerand insubject Bahrain.to Forthe morecontrol information,of readthe guidanceMinistry onof familyMunicipalities lawAffairs, inWorks Bahrain.

Documentsand forUrban BritishPlanning people- inVeterinary Bahrain

Quarantine.

Read ourfurther guidanceinformation on documentsbringing foryour Britishpets peopleinto abroad.Bahrain This covers: .

• legalising

  Emergencies

  Dial and999 certifyingfor UKthe documents

• marriagepolice, andambulance civilor partnershipfire documents
• affirmationsbrigade.

  Dial and999 affidavits

• witnessingto signatures

Lawyers,report translatorsa andmissing notaries

child.

ToIf findyou anhave English-speakingbeen lawyer,the translatorvictim of a rape or notarysexual assault in Bahrain, read the guidance on professionalwhat servicesto ifdo you’reand where to get support in cases of rape and sexual assault. Find further guidance on rape and sexual assault abroad.

Pets

If you wantare a victim of domestic or sexual violence, read the guidance on how to bringget yourhelp. petYou withmay youcontact Shamsaha, an organisation that offers support services to Bahrain,victims readof guidancedomestic on:and sexual violence in Bahrain.

• importing

  Find petsa tolawyer in Bahrain

• taking.

  If youryou’re petthe dog,victim catof a crime, have been arrested, or ferretare toaffected by a non-EUcrisis, contact countrythe British Embassy Manama.

YouRead willthe needguidance toon applyinternational forparental achild liveabduction animalif importyour permit.child may be at risk of this.

Returning to the UK

ReadIf returningyou are planning to theleave UKBahrain, permanentlyfollow our tips for checking out of Bahrain (ODT, 47.6 KB).

Read Thisthe guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on bringing family membersmembers, back to the UK, tax and access to services.

Disclaimer

WeThis provideinformation thisis informationprovided as a general guide only.and Foris definitivebased information,upon contactinformation provided to the Bahrainiembassy authorities.

Readby ourthe consularrelevant local authorities and may be subject to change at any time with little or no notice. The FCDO and the British Embassy will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information. British nationals wishing to obtain any further information disclaimer.must contact the relevant local authority.