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On 29 December 2025, Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister issued Edict 79 of 2025, increasing work permit fees for foreign employees effective 1 January 2026. The increase covers visa issuance fees, health care fees, and employer monthly contributions. The new rates apply to all new work permits and renewals. Domestic workers are excluded.
Confirmed by Bahrain News Agency (BNA) and Ernst & Young tax advisory alert, 15 January 2026.
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Edict number | Edict 79 of 2025 |
| Issued by | HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain |
| Issued on | 29 December 2025 |
| Effective date | 1 January 2026 |
| Recommended by | Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) |
| Duration | Phased increase – 2026 through 2029 |
| Applies to | All new and renewal work permits for foreign employees |
| Excluded | Domestic workers · Dependent visa fees · Other entity fees |
What changed and what did not
Not all LMRA fees increased. A lot of information circulating online conflates work permit costs with investor visa in bahrain costs – they are different.
Increased from 1 Jan 2026
- Work permit visa issuance fees
- Health care fees on work permits
- Monthly LMRA contributions per foreign employee
Unchanged
- Dependent (family) visa fees
- Investor residency permit fees
- Other entity issuance and renewal fees
Investor residency fees are not affected. The total cost for a 1-year investor residency permit remains BHD 605. The 2-year permit remains BHD 777. Edict 79 of 2025 applies specifically to employee work permits.
Full fee tables – 2026 to 2029
12-month work permit (most common)
| Fee component | 2025 (old) | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa issuance fee | BHD 105 | BHD 105 | BHD 111 | BHD 118 | BHD 125 |
| Health care fee | BHD 72 | BHD 90 | BHD 108 | BHD 126 | BHD 144 |
| Total per permit | BHD 177 | BHD 195 | BHD 219 | BHD 244 | BHD 269 |
In 2026, the health care fee increases from BHD 72 to BHD 90 – a BHD 18 increase per permit per year. The visa fee holds at BHD 105 in 2026, with the step-up beginning in 2027. Total cost per 12-month permit rises from BHD 177 to BHD 195.
6-month work permit
| Fee component | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa issuance fee | BHD 52.5 | BHD 55.5 | BHD 59 | BHD 62.5 |
| Health care fee | BHD 45 | BHD 54 | BHD 63 | BHD 72 |
| Total per permit | BHD 97.5 | BHD 109.5 | BHD 122 | BHD 134.5 |
24-month work permit
| Fee component | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa issuance fee | BHD 210 | BHD 222 | BHD 236 | BHD 250 |
| Health care fee | BHD 180 | BHD 216 | BHD 252 | BHD 288 |
| Total per permit | BHD 390 | BHD 438 | BHD 488 | BHD 538 |
Monthly LMRA contributions – the bigger change for larger companies
This is where the impact is largest for companies with 6 or more foreign workers. The monthly contribution per worker was BHD 5 for all companies. From January 2026, companies with 6+ foreign employees pay BHD 12.5 per worker – 2.5× the old rate.
| Company size | 2025 (old) | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–5 foreign workers | BHD 5 | BHD 7.5 | BHD 10 | BHD 20 | BHD 30 |
| 6+ foreign workers | BHD 5 | BHD 12.5 | BHD 15 | BHD 20 | BHD 30 |
What this means for a company with 8 foreign employees in 2026
Monthly contributions before
BHD 40 / month
BHD 100
8 workers × BHD 12.5
Additional annual cost
BHD 720
Monthly contributions alone
Monthly contribution trend – per worker (BHD)
What this means for foreign-owned companies
For most small foreign-owned WLLs with 2-5 employees, the 2026 impact is manageable – the work permit cost increases by BHD 18 per employee (health fee only), and the monthly contribution rises from BHD 5 to BHD 7.5 per worker.
The larger impact lands on companies with 6 or more foreign employees. For these companies, the monthly contribution nearly triples in 2026, and continues rising annually through 2029.
For companies planning significant hiring in Bahrain over the next four years, these changes need to be in the HR and finance budget now – not discovered at the next work permit renewal cycle.
Five actions to take now:
- Update your 2026 – 2029 workforce budget with the new permit costs and monthly contributions as line items.
- Check whether any current permits are due for renewal in 2026 – all renewals after 1 January 2026 use the new rates.
- If your company is approaching 6 foreign employees, model both the 1-5 and 6+ contribution rates before the next hire.
- Review Flexible Work Permit arrangements separately – Edict 79 covers standard commercial work permits only.
- Company formation in Bahrain should include workforce planning from the start, because the 2026 to 2029 fee increases will affect companies hiring foreign employees.
Frequently asked questions
Do the new fees apply to existing permits or only new applications?
Both. The new rates apply to all new issuances and all renewals processed on or after 1 January 2026. A permit issued in 2025 at the old rate will renew in 2026 at the new rate.
Are investor residency permits affected?
No. Investor residency fees are not covered by Edict 79 of 2025. The total cost for a 1- year investor residency permit remains BHD 605. The 2-year permit remains BHD 777. Only employee work permits are affected.
Are domestic workers covered?
No. Domestic workers are explicitly excluded from Edict 79 of 2025. The new fee structure applies only to commercial work permits for employees in registered companies.
Is the monthly LMRA contribution changing for companies with fewer than 6 foreign workers?
Yes, but by less. Companies with 1–5 foreign workers see the monthly contribution rise from BHD 5 to BHD 7.5 in 2026, reaching BHD 30 per worker per month by 2029. The larger jump falls on companies with 6 or more foreign workers, where the 2026 rate becomes BHD 12.5.
Will fees increase again after 2029?
The current edict sets a 4-year schedule through 2029. LMRA periodically reviews its fee structure. There is no published schedule beyond 2029 at this time.
Do the new fees apply to the Flexible Work Permit?
The fee tables published under Edict 79 cover standard commercial work permits. The Flexible Work Permit has a separate fee structure. If your company works with Flexible Work Permit holders, confirm the current applicable rates directly with LMRA.
Sources
1. Bahrain News Agency (BNA) – Edict 79 of 2025: bna.bh
2. Ernst & Young tax advisory alert, 15 January 2026: taxnews.ey.com
3. LMRA official work permit page (updated 30 December 2025): lmra.gov.bh
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