
Bahrain Slashes Golden Residency Threshold by 35% to US$345,000
Bahrain’s program now prices into the GCC’s lower-to-mid band, undercutting Oman and Saudi Arabia, but at nearly twice the UAE’s Golden Visa minimum.
The Bahrain Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit allows foreigners who retire after a career in GCC, with a minimum stable income of 500 (~US$1,325) per month, to obtain or renew residence permits for durations of 2, 5, or 10 years, depending on the fee they elect to pay.
This visa provides retirees the opportunity to reside in Bahrain independently, provided they continue to meet the required terms and conditions.
Retirement Status:
Stable Income:
Valid Documentation:
Residency Proof:
Medical Insurance:
Financial Compliance:
Permit Fees and Durations:
Applicants can choose between 2, 5, or 10-year renewable permits. The fees for each duration are as follows:
Similar to other residence programs in Bahrain and the broader GCC region, the Bahrain Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit does not lead to citizenship. GCC countries strictly regulate citizenship and grant it only in extremely rare cases, often through a royal decree.
Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.
Applications for this program may be directed to Government of Bahrain.
Legislation upon which this program is based Ministerial Resolution No. (142) of 2019.
As noted in the program qualifications above, an investor can qualify for this program with a local property purchase above the minimum investment threshold. View eligible properties curated by IMI and our real estate partners:

Bahrain’s program now prices into the GCC’s lower-to-mid band, undercutting Oman and Saudi Arabia, but at nearly twice the UAE’s Golden Visa minimum.

While the UAE leads with its Golden Visa, other GCC nations are quickly catching up with competitive investor residency pathways.
See more statistics on this program and others in the IMI Data Center.