Bahrain has cut the minimum real estate investment for its Golden Residency to BHD 130,000 (US$345,000), down from BHD 200,000 (US$530,555), the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) at the Ministry of Interior announced.
The change slashes the property-based route to long-term residency by 35 percent.
Officials positioned the move as part of a strategy to strengthen Bahrain’s appeal as a hub for long-term residency, business, and investment.
Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for NPRA, said the step demonstrates the government’s commitment to foster an enabling environment for investors seeking stability in the Gulf region, adding that lowering the threshold will “boost the program’s competitiveness while preserving its standards and exclusivity.”
Bahrain’s new threshold undercuts Oman and Saudi Arabia but still sits above the UAE Golden Visa property route.
The new threshold positions Bahrain competitively within the GCC’s investor residency landscape:
- The UAE Golden Visa now offers the lowest entry point in the GCC, at AED 500,000 (US$136,000) for the property route.
- Bahrain, at BHD 130,000 (US$345,000), now has the second-lowest threshold.
- Oman’s Investor Residency requires an investment of RO 200,000 (US$520,000) in real estate.
- Saudi Arabia Premium Residency maintains the highest threshold, at SAR 4 million (US$1.1 million) in business or real estate.
- Kuwait recently became the latest GCC monarchy to launch a golden visa program, though authorities have yet to set a minimum investment requirements.
As such, Bahrain’s updated pricing places it in the region’s lower-to-mid-tier pricing.
Who Qualifies for Bahrain’s Golden Residency?
The Golden Residency extends to property owners who meet the revised threshold and to individuals under several established categories. These include:
- Professionals who have worked in Bahrain for at least five years with an average monthly salary above BHD 2,000 (US$5,306).
- Retirees with at least 15 years of service in Bahrain and pensions of BHD 2,000 (US$5,306) or more.
- Non-resident retirees with average monthly pensions above BHD 4,000 (US$10,624).
- The program also covers entrepreneurs, highly skilled professionals, and individuals who make significant contributions to the national economy or society.
Golden Residency status grants long-term residency, multiple-entry privileges, the ability to sponsor family members, and streamlined pathways for business establishment.
Bahrain, like most GCC countries aside from Oman, levies no personal income tax, and its residency provides visa-free access to all six countries in the bloc.
