The Bahraini government has recently introduced new measures to tighten controls on visas and residencies, including tourist and work permits. One of these measures requires guarantors to pledge not to convert visitor visas into work permits. The government stated that this new policy aims to prevent visitor visas from being converted into work permits without a guarantor.
Represented by the Ministry of Interior, the government emphasized its commitment to safeguarding the Kingdom’s security by monitoring the legal status of foreign visitors and residents. The decision issued earlier this year by the Minister of Interior concerning the fees for services provided by the General Directorate of Nationality, Passports, and Residence Affairs (NPRA) also aligns with the goal of preventing unauthorized conversions.
The government urged the parliament to reconsider a draft law that would prohibit the conversion of entry visas granted for visiting purposes into work permits. It argued that existing laws and regulations, such as the Foreigners (Immigration and Residence) Law, already provide a framework for managing these matters. The government believes that the objectives of the draft law are already being achieved through these existing regulations.
The government expressed its view that the draft law contradicts the established legislative approach in the Foreigners Law. It emphasized the importance of adhering to the existing legislative framework when enacting new laws. The government believes that the general framework should be established in the law, with details left to executive regulations and ministerial decisions for greater flexibility and ease of amendment.
These regulations target the practice of changing business visitor visas into work permits and other similar conversions. The government has implemented a new policy requiring guarantors to pledge not to convert visitor visas to work permits. Immigration officials now have the authority to require a Bahraini guarantor before issuing a visa if deemed necessary.
Overall, the Bahraini government’s new measures aim to tighten controls on visas and residencies, including tourist and work permits. It emphasizes the importance of preventing unauthorized conversions of visitor visas into work permits and family reunification visas. The government is committed to safeguarding the Kingdom’s security by monitoring the legal status of foreign visitors and residents, and it urges the parliament to reconsider the draft law in alignment with existing legislative frameworks.
