Bahrain’s Shura Council Committee Rejects Plan to Block Visit-to-Work Visa Switch

Rules ‘enough’, no need for ban Shura Council committee rejects plan to block visit-to-work visa switch Mohammed Darwish TDT | Manama A plan to block the path from visit visas to work permits has been rejected by a Shura committee, which argues that existing rules are already addressing the issue. The Council will debate and vote on the proposal on Sunday, but the committee has made its position clear: the system is already tightening without the need for new laws. The plan, backed by MPs, sought to amend Bahrain’s Aliens (Immigration and Residence) Law of 1965, banning any visitor from switching to a work visa under any circumstances.

Loopholes

Supporters of the change argue that businesses are exploiting loopholes to hire tourists instead of Bahraini jobseekers. After reviewing the proposal and consulting the Interior Ministry and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), Shura’s foreign affairs committee, chaired by Dr Ali Al Rumaihi, remains unconvinced. It found that Bahrain already prohibits expat workers from taking jobs without a work permit, with laws in place to penalise businesses and individuals who try to bypass the system.

Controls

The Interior Ministry pointed to existing controls, particularly Ministerial Decision No. 25 of 1976, which blocks entry visas for work purposes unless the applicant has a No Objection Certificate (NOC). This certificate it stressed, is only issued after securing a work permit or government sponsorship, meaning the rules already prevent visa misuse. The ministry also cited Ministerial Decision No. 16 of 2024, which introduced stricter limits on visa conversions, allowing them only through the same sponsor and with a BHD 250 fee (~US$633).

Proof

Since that change, visa switching has dropped by 87 per cent, which the committee sees as proof that the system is already functioning as intended. A complete ban, the committee warned, would create new complications — particularly for Bahrainis who rely on domestic workers and other foreign staff. If visit visas can no longer be converted, employers would have to cover the cost of return flights, only to bring workers back again on a separate work visa, adding unnecessary expenses.

Stance

The LMRA, which oversees work permits and visas, backed the Interior Ministry’s stance, stating that it already closely monitors individuals who repeatedly convert visit visas.