FAQ

How do I register with the Bangladesh Embassy in Bahrain and why does it matter?The Embassy of Bangladesh is in Manama. Registering means the embassy has your details and can reach you and help faster in an emergency, a wage dispute, or if your passport is lost or held. Bring copies of your passport, visa, CPR card and work contract. The embassy has a labour wing that handles worker problems. You can email the mission at mission.manama@mofa.gov.bd or call +973 17233925. Save these numbers in your phone. Register early, before any problem, so it is easier to get travel documents and support later. Check the embassy's official website for its exact address and working hours before you visit, as these can change.What are the legal working hours in Bahrain?Under Bahrain's Labour Law (Law No. 36 of 2012), normal working time is limited, with reduced hours during Ramadan, plus rest breaks and a weekly rest day. Overtime must be paid at a higher rate than your normal pay. You are also entitled to paid annual leave. If you are made to work long extra hours with no overtime pay, keep a written record of your dates and hours, because that helps if you complain. Your employer must follow the law, and a contract cannot legally take away these rights. If your hours break the law, you can contact the LMRA on 17506055 or the Ministry of Labour for help.What is the end-of-service benefit in Bahrain and how do I claim it?Bahrain changed the system in 2024. Since 1 March 2024, for expatriate workers, end-of-service benefit is funded by monthly employer contributions to the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO), not paid as one lump sum by the employer. The employer pays 4.2% of your monthly wage for the first three years of service, then 8.4% for later years. When your job ends or you leave Bahrain, you claim the accrued benefit directly from the SIO, and it is paid as a lump sum. For any service before 1 March 2024, you claim that older part from your employer under the old rules. To claim, apply to the SIO when your employment ends. Keep your wage and service records.What is the cheapest way to get around in Bahrain day to day?Bahrain has no passenger metro or train in operation, so public buses are the main option. Buses are run by Bahrain Bus. A single trip bought from the driver costs 300 fils (BHD 0.300). If you travel often, a GO Card pass is cheaper: a weekly pass is BHD 3 and a monthly pass is BHD 12 for unlimited travel. The GO Card itself has a small one-time fee of 500 fils. Buy and top up the card, then tap on and off. For daily commuting, the monthly pass is the best value. Many workers also use company transport if the employer provides it, or shared taxis, which cost more.What is the summer midday work ban in Bahrain?In summer it is illegal to make workers work outdoors in the sun during the hottest hours. Bahrain applies a midday outdoor work ban during July and August, prohibiting work in open areas during set afternoon hours. Confirm the exact dates and hours for the current year on the Ministry of Labour website before relying on them, as they are announced each year. If your employer makes you work outdoors during the banned hours, you can report it to the LMRA on 17506055 or the Ministry of Labour. Rest in shade, drink water, and keep a note of the dates if you are forced to work through the ban. Employers who break the rule face penalties.What must my Bahrain work contract say and what should I not sign?Read the contract before signing. It should state your job title, your monthly wage in BHD, your working hours, the contract length, and who pays your return ticket. Do not sign a blank page or a contract you cannot read, and do not sign if the wage is lower than promised. Your job must match your work permit. In Bahrain the work permit and employment are regulated by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA). Keep your signed copy. You can check your work permit details free on the LMRA website using your passport number. If the employer later gives you a worse contract, that is a warning sign and useful evidence if you need to complain to the LMRA.What is the CPR and work permit in Bahrain, and what if my employer delays them?In Bahrain you have two key documents. The work permit is issued by the LMRA and gives you the right to work and reside; your employer sponsors it. The CPR (identity) card is issued by the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA). When you arrive, go to the LMRA counters with your visa and passport; the LMRA arranges your ID card, residence permit and medical check, and takes your fingerprints, photo and signature. The LMRA advises you to keep your own passport. If your employer delays your permit, you risk being without legal papers. You can call the LMRA on 17506055 or use the Expat Protection Centre if your employer will not sort out your status.What is the safest and cheapest legal way to send money to Bangladesh from Bahrain?Use a licensed exchange house or a bank, never hundi. Licensed exchange houses in Bahrain are regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain and give you a receipt and a tracking number. Hundi is illegal, gives no receipt, and you can lose your money with no recovery. When you send through a legal channel, your family in Bangladesh can also receive the government's 2.5% cash incentive on the amount. To send, bring your CPR card. Compare the rate and fee at a few exchange houses, as they differ. Keep every receipt. Sending money legally protects it and builds a record of your income for other official needs.How do I open a bank account in Bahrain and can I be paid without one?Salaries in Bahrain are covered by the Wage Protection System (WPS), run through the LMRA and the Central Bank of Bahrain, so wages should be paid into a bank account and tracked. This means you normally need a local account. To open one you usually need your CPR card, passport and a salary letter from your employer, who often helps when you start. Being paid only in cash, with no bank record, is risky because you have no proof if wages go unpaid. If you are still paid in cash after your CPR is ready, ask to be moved onto WPS bank payment. A bank record also helps if you ever file a wage complaint with the LMRA.What is the legal maximum I should pay to migrate to Bahrain?The Bangladesh government fixed a maximum legal migration cost for Bahrain of Tk 97,780, part of its 2016 migration-cost schedule. This covers the main official costs. In practice many workers report paying more. Paying above the legal ceiling is against the rules. Before paying, check that the recruiting agency is licensed by BMET, and always demand a receipt. Register on the Amiprobashi app and get your BMET clearance card, which you need to fly legally. If an agent asks for a very large cash amount with no paperwork, treat it as a danger sign. Keep every receipt as proof of what you paid, in case you need it later.Can I change my employer in Bahrain?Yes, Bahrain allows this more freely than most Gulf states. Through the LMRA you can transfer to a new employer without your current employer's consent once you have completed at least 12 months of service. You must give notice by sending your resignation through Bahrain Post, and keep the pink registered-mail card as proof the employer received it. The new employer then files the transfer request with the LMRA, at least one month before the transfer date. Note: if the request falls in the last three months of your work permit, the current employer's consent is needed. Check the current rules on the LMRA website, and keep all your proof of resignation and service.My wages are unpaid or late in Bahrain, what is my first step?Keep proof first: your contract, bank statements showing missing pay, and any messages. Then contact the LMRA Expat Protection Centre, which helps workers with employment problems. Call the LMRA on 17506055. Staff can give guidance and help you prepare and file a labour case, including translating documents and lodging the case with the Ministry of Justice, then following up. Bring your CPR card and contract copy. Do not just stop working without advice, as an absence from work report can be filed against you; the Expat Protection Centre can also help you challenge such a report. The process can order the employer to pay, but you must file to start it.What is a normal rent for a bed space or shared room in Bahrain?Rents depend on the area. In Manama areas like Gudaibiya, Hoora and Juffair, and in Muharraq and Riffa, workers rent bed spaces and shared rooms. Live listings show bed spaces roughly from BHD 30 to BHD 70 a month, and shared or single rooms higher, often BHD 80 or more. Before you pay, see the actual room, ask what is included (electricity, water, internet), and get a receipt for any deposit. Never hand a large cash deposit to someone who cannot prove they control the property. Ask how many people share the room, as overcrowding can breach rules. A written receipt is your only proof if there is a dispute over the deposit later.Is it legal for my employer to keep my passport in Bahrain?Your passport belongs to you. The LMRA's official guidance tells workers to keep their passport in their own possession and not to give it to anyone unless they fully agree and consent to the employer keeping it. If your employer has taken your passport and will not return it, ask for it back in writing first. If they refuse, contact the LMRA Expat Protection Centre on 17506055, which can intervene in cases where documents are being held, and can help you file a case. The Bangladesh Embassy labour wing can also help. Keep copies of your passport photo page and visa saved separately, so you always have your details even if the original is held.How do I get a SIM card in Bahrain and which is cheapest for calling Bangladesh?Bahrain's main operators are Batelco, stc Bahrain and Zain. Buy a prepaid SIM in person with your passport, which is required to register (fingerprint plus passport at the point of sale). The cheapest starter is around BHD 4 (Batelco), with Zain and stc a little higher. For calling Bangladesh, compare the international minute bundles, or use app-based calling over data, which is usually cheapest. Zain's prepaid, for example, offers weekly and monthly bundles with call minutes and data. Once you have your CPR card you can switch to a postpaid plan. Keep the SIM registered in your own name so you keep control of the number. There is a limit on new numbers per CPR per month.Can I still get the Flexi Permit in Bahrain?Not as a new applicant. The Flexi Permit let some expatriate workers live and work in Bahrain without a single employer-sponsor, for a yearly fee. However, the LMRA stopped issuing new Flexi Permits on 31 October 2022, and existing holders were given time to regularise their status. So if you are arriving now, this route is closed to you. Instead, most workers are on a standard employer-sponsored work permit, and there is a Registered Worker permit route for certain eligible categories. Check the current options on the LMRA website before assuming any self-sponsorship path is open. Do not pay an agent for a Flexi visa, as new ones are not being issued.Can I convert my Bangladeshi driving licence in Bahrain?In Bahrain, driving licences are handled by the General Directorate of Traffic. Whether you can convert a foreign licence, and the fee, depends on your nationality and papers; many workers must sit tests rather than getting a direct conversion. You need a valid CPR card to apply. Check the current requirements and cost with the Traffic Directorate before you start, as rules can change. Do not drive on a foreign or expired licence, because driving without a valid Bahraini licence is an offence and insurance will not cover an accident. If you do not qualify or cannot afford it, use Bahrain Bus or company transport instead. Keep your CPR and licence papers with you when driving.What emergency numbers do I need in Bahrain?In Bahrain the single national emergency number is 999 for police, ambulance and fire. Calls are free and one number reaches all services. For labour problems such as unpaid wages, being made to work in banned hours, or your passport being held, call the LMRA on 17506055, which runs the Expat Protection Centre. There is also a national human trafficking hotline, 995, run through the LMRA, for serious abuse or forced-labour situations. Save all these numbers now. When you call 999, say clearly where you are and what help you need. If you are in a workplace accident, call 999 first for medical help, then tell your employer and the Bangladesh Embassy.What is the LMRA Expat Protection Centre and how does it help me?The Expat Protection Centre (EPC) is an LMRA centre set up in 2015 as a one-stop place for expatriate workers with problems. It receives complaints and inquiries about your job, gives legal and administrative guidance, and steps in where employers wrongly hold documents. It can help you prepare a labour case, including writing the case statement, translating your documents, lodging it with the Ministry of Justice, and following up. It also screens for signs of human trafficking and runs a shelter for workers in urgent danger. Call the LMRA on 17506055, or the human trafficking hotline 995 for serious abuse. Bring your CPR, passport copies and any proof.What medical test do I need before flying to Bahrain?Before travelling to Bahrain you must pass the Wafid (GAMCA) medical test in Bangladesh at a Gulf-approved centre. Book on the Wafid website, bring your passport, and test before you fly. It checks for diseases like tuberculosis, hepatitis and HIV. You need a fit result before your work visa can proceed, and the result is sent electronically to Gulf authorities. The fit slip is valid only a short time, so do not test too early. After you arrive in Bahrain there is also a confirmation medical check as part of getting your work card and residency. Keep all medical papers. If you are found unfit in Bangladesh, you cannot travel to fix it later.

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