Labour Market Regulatory Authority

New Work Approval for Dependants

Spouses' and grown-up children who are on family visa or students' visa are not supposed to work in the Kingdom of Bahrain, unless they change the visa from family or student visa to a work permit. However, if one of the spouses' wish to work and remain as a dependant on their family visa – they could apply for Work Approval for Dependants permit and if approved will be granted a work permit to enable them to work and keep their family permit at the same time.

Note: Foreign Students who have an active student visa and desire to work in the Kingdom are required to cancel the student visa first and then apply for a new work permit.

Service Conditions

• For occupations that require specialisation (doctors, teachers, engineers, insurance, Banking Sector), the applicant must submit the approval from the concerned entity (Ministry or Committee or Central Bank of Bahrain, etc...).
• Dependant's ID card and dependant's residence permit will not be changed.
• The work permit duration for the work approval for dependants is for 1 year only.

Required Documents

Process Description

Physical Location

1. Download and fill out the Permit/ Service Application Form PDF (1.39 MB) form.
2. Submit the application form along with the required documents at the Client's Services counters.
3. Once the work approval for dependants application is submitted, LMRA employee will collect the admin fees from the commercial registration owner or his/ her representative (Either by using the Point of Sale (POS) machine, or via his/ her E-Key on the Expat Management System (EMS)).
4. Upon completion of the admin fees payment, the application will automatically be transferred for verification.
5. You can check the application status (whether it has been approved or rejected) by:
   • Logging on to the Expat Management System (EMS).
   • Calling LMRA's call centre on +973 17506055.
6. If the permit issuance request is approved, the biometric data must be collected and then the fees must be paid electronically via the Expat Management System (EMS) or by visiting one of the accredited banks.
7. Print the work permit via the Expat Management System (EMS).

eService (Expat Management System (EMS))

1. Click here to login to the LMRA Expat Management System (EMS) and start the process of applying for a new work approval for dependants.
2. Click on the Work Approval for Dependants folder, and then click on Work Approval Submission. Enter the required data in the designated fields and upload the form and the required documents all in 1 file in PDF format (Does not exceed 3000 KB).
3. Once you submit the application, an application ID will be issued and a notification will appear (Application has been successfully submitted, kindly pay the admin fees, as the application will be cancelled if the fees are not paid before the invoice due date).
4. Kindly pay the admin fees either via the Expat Management System (EMS) or by visiting one of the accredited banks.
5. Upon completion of the admin fees payment, the application will automatically be transferred for verification.
6. You can check the application status (whether it has been approved or rejected) by:
   • Logging on to the Expat Management System (EMS).
   • Calling LMRA’s call centre on +973 17506055.
7. If the permit issuance request is approved, the biometric data must be collected and then the fees must be paid electronically via the Expat Management System (EMS) or by visiting one of the accredited banks.
8. Print the work permit via the Expat Management System (EMS).

Legal Regulations

• Decision No. (76) (2008) Regarding Regulating Work Permits for Expatriate Employees Other than the Category of Domestic Employees and its Amendments.

Fees

• Service fee: BHD 172.
• Admin fee: BHD 5.

Processing Time

• 2 working days.

Service Access

We are Happy to Serve you in Any of the Following Branches:

* For commercial services only.

Phone Service Hours: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Application Forms/ Useful Documents

Permit/ Service Application Form PDF (1.39 MB)

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