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Expatriate Employee Transfer

Through this service, expatriate employees can transfer to another employer without the need of canceling their existing work permit. The transfer can be done with or without the consent of the current employer. (Conditions Apply)

Process Description

In case the transfer is based on the former employer's approval, the new employer needs to do the following:

  1. Login to the LMRA’s EMS system to complete the electronic transfer application form. The entered information should be matching to the information in the passport and other related documents. The expatriate employee will be transferred after the payment of the fees.

In case the transfer will be done without the former employer’s approval, the following steps will be taken:

  1. The expatriate employee should notify the current employer of his intention to leave by sending his resignation through Bahrain Post office to the commercial registration's address during the specified notice period of the employment contract termination, in accordance with the provisions of the labour law.
  2. The second (new) employer will submit a transfer request/ application to LMRA prior to the date set for the transfer by one month, providing all the required documents.
  3. Upon transfer, the first (old) employer will be refunded the fees of the remaining period in the expatriate employees work permit .

Required Documents

Expatriate Employee's Transfer with the (Employer's Consent)
Required document Special Considerations
Expatriate Employee passport Copy
  • The passport should have all the information and alterations or updates and First Name in addition to Father or Family must be written in 1st page of the passport in all Employment/Dependant Application. As well as the page that states the father or spouse’s name (for Indian and Pakistani nationalities) as well as the page that contains the old passport number.
  • The passport must be valid for at least 6 months, but it is highly recommended to have it valid for at least 2 years before applying.
Expatriate Employee ID card Copy
Work contract between the employer and the expatriate employee Copy
  • The contract is mandatory. It should be in Arabic (or a bilingual contract that includes Arabic) on the company’s letterhead or on a government paper.
  • It must include the commercial registration's name and number, the duration of the contract be it 1 year or 2 years, name of the expatriate employee as per passport, passport number, nationality, occupation, salary, employment, and notice periods.
  • It should be signed by the employer and the expatriate employee and (should bear the seal/ stamp of the employer on the company’s letterhead).
Dependants’ passports. (if applicable) Copy
Approval letter/ no-objection certificate from the relevant authority for certain specialized occupations. The approval must be as recent as possible and should not be older than 6 months Copy
For private sector: Latest paid electricity bill
  • If a new CR is not yet billed, you need to upload a print- out from the electricity and water authority showing that the account had been opened or transferred to that specific CR.
  • If the electricity is not your responsibility (for example: shops in Malls, or electricity paid by the landlord) you will need to attach the lease contract as proof.
Copy
  • 3 months should not have elapsed from the electricity bill’s issue date.
  • Supply address in the bill must match the CR’s address.
  • Should not be a disconnection notice.
Employment Transfer without the Current Employer's Consent (please submit the below documents in addition to the above-mentioned documents)
Required document Special Considerations
Resignation and notice letter (as per the labour law and/or the employment agreement between the expatriate employee and the employer) addressed to the current employer by the expatriate employee who wants to transfer Copy
  • The notice letter must be sent to the commercial registration's (cr's) address registered in the CR (as per the Ministry of Industry and Commerce). More details can be found on MOIC's site Sijilat.
  • The letter must be sent to the employer within the specified period of notice for the termination of the employment contract in accordance with the provisions of the labour law for the private sector (not exceeding three months) from the date specified for the transfer.
  • The notice period can vary from the minimum of 30 days to the maximum of 90 days.
Post office registered mail notification card (pink card) or slip for the resignation or notice letter sent by the expatriate employee to his/her current employer Colored Copy
For private sector: Latest paid electricity bill
  • If a new CR is not yet billed, you need to upload a print- out from the electricity and water authority showing that the account had been opened or transferred to that specific CR.
  • If electricity is not your responsibility (for example: shops in Malls, or electricity paid by the landlord), you will need to upload a proof, like the lease contract.
Copy
  • The bill should not be older than 2 months.
  • Supply address in the bill must match the CR’s address.
  • It should not be a final notification to cut the electricity supply.
  • Current account guarantee deposit bonds are not accepted.

Special Conditions

Service Access

Expatriate Employee Transfer Service Access
Service Counter Headquarters, Mina Salman, Seef Mall - Al Muharraq
EMS system https://www.lmra.gov.bh/EMS_Web/
e-Support https://esupport.lmra.gov.bh/
Contact Centre +973 17506055

Working Hours

Branches Working Hours
Centre Area Day Service Counter Hours
LMRA Front Offices Sanabis Sunday - Thursday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Mina Salman (For Clearing offices) Mina Salman Sunday - Thursday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Seef Mall - Al Muharraq Al Muharraq Saturday - Thursday 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Phone Service Hours: 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM

Last Update: Tuesday 25 July 2023


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