The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) is the primary government authority responsible for regulating expatriate employment in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It oversees work permits, employer registrations, labour market compliance, and workforce mobility in coordination with other government entities.
Role of the LMRA in Business Setup
Once a company obtains an active Commercial Registration (CR), it must complete the necessary LMRA employer registration requirements before sponsoring expatriate employees or applying for relevant work authorization services.
Inter-Agency Coordination: The LMRA works closely with the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) and the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) to facilitate employment authorization, identity registration, and residency-related processes.
Key Visas and Permits
Depending on your role within the company, the LMRA issues specific categories of permits:
-
👑Investor Permit Available to eligible business owners, shareholders, and investors operating businesses in Bahrain, subject to applicable regulatory requirements.
-
👔Standard Work Permit Issued to expatriate employees employed by Bahrain-registered companies, subject to labour market regulations and employer compliance requirements.
-
👨👩👧👦Dependent Residence Permit Available for eligible spouses and dependent children of qualifying residents, subject to meeting applicable sponsorship requirements.
-
⏱️Temporary and Project-Based Permits Available for specific short-term assignments, projects, technical services, and specialized professional activities, subject to LMRA approval.
Bahrainization & Compliance Requirements
To hire foreign workers, companies must adhere to Bahrainization targets—a mandated ratio of local Bahraini citizens to expatriate employees, which varies by sector: