Labour Market Regulatory Authority

Transfer for Over 60

Through this service, expatriate employees over 60 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.

Service Conditions

• The transfer process is only available while the expatriate employee's permit is still valid for at least 15 days.
• If applying for transfer, without the consent of the old (current) employer, the expatriate employee needs to have completed at least 12 months of service with the same employer before a new employer can apply for his/ her transfer.
• Once the transfer application has been processed, the old (current) employer would be credited with the unused remaining period of the work permit as a credit note in the Expat Management System (EMS).
• If the consent of the expatriate employee’s old (current) employer is obtained electronically in the EMS system through the “allow transfer function, the transfer will be instant (the expatriate employee does not need to wait or to complete 12 months of service). The employer would be then instantly credited with the unused remaining period of the work permit as a credit note in the system.
• Expatriate Employees with expired work permits need to apply for a new work permit (Not Transfer).
• In case of permit expiry or termination/ cancellation the expatriate employee has 30 days from the cancellation or expiry date in order to obtain a new work permit on the new employer, otherwise he/she needs to travel out of the Kingdom of Bahrain first, before the new employer can apply for him / her.
• The expatriate employee continues to work for the first employer; and his due monthly fees shall be paid until the approval of the transfer application and the new employer’s payment of the new work permit fees.
• The new employer commits to pay the new work permit fees within thirty days from the date of the transfer approval otherwise, the approval will be declined.
• The expatriate employee would not be allowed to transfer in the following cases:
  • If the expatriate employee ceases to comply with one or more of the conditions for issuing the permit.
  • If a final criminal judgment has been passed against the expatriate employee for a felony ‎or a crime that violates honor or honesty.
  • If the expatriate employee violates the terms under which his work permit was issued.
  • If the new employer does not have the required Bahrainisation quotas or has a violation which prevents him from applying for transfer.
  • If the employee has a violation which prevents his transfer.
  • If the date of the transfer request falls within the last three months of the validity of the work permit (in the case of the expatriate employee’s transfer without the consent of his employer).

Required Documents

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 Expat Management System (EMS) to submit the application and attach all required documents.
2. Once the transfer application is submitted, 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).
3. Kindly pay the admin fees either via the Expat Management System (EMS) or by visiting one of the accredited banks.
4. Upon completion of the admin fees payment, the application will automatically be transferred for verification.
5. You can check the application status by:
   • Logging on to the Expat Management System (EMS).
   • Calling LMRA’s Contact Centre on +973 17506055.
6. After receiving the approval on the new work permit, pay the fees via the Expat Management System (EMS) or by visiting one of the accredited banks.
7. Print the work permit from the Expat Management System (EMS).

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 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. Once the transfer application is submitted, 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 by:
   • Logging on to the Expat Management System (EMS).
   • Calling LMRA’s Contact Centre on +973 17506055.
7. After receiving the approval on the new work permit, pay the fees via the Expat Management System (EMS) or by visiting one of the accredited bank.
8. Print the work permit from the Expat Management System (EMS).
9. Upon transfer, the first (old) employer will be refunded the fees of the remaining period in the expatriate employees work permit.

Legal Regulations

• Law No. (19) of 2006 with Regard to the Regulation of the Labour Market.
• Order No. (28) of 2008 With Respect to Refund of Work Permits Fees, Reducing Fees for Change of Profession Request and Imposing Fine on the Delay in the Payment Monthly Fee for a Foreign Worker.

Fees

• Service fee:
  • One year: BHD 172.
  • Two years: BHD 344.
  • Dependants: BHD 90.
• Admin fee: BHD 5.

Processing Time

• LMRA: 3 working days.
• Cooperative Entities: 5 working days.

Cooperative Entities

• Information & eGovernment Authority (IGA).
• Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA).

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

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