Bahrain grants over 700 Golden Visas to applicants

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Over 700 Golden Visas were granted to applicants out of 1,680 applications received until now, said Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) at the Interior Ministry, today.

This came as the NPRA held a press conference at the Officers Club in Adliya. Shaikh Ahmed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Assistant Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs along with Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) Chief Executive Mohammed Ali AlQaed were present at the event.

Last month, Bahrain's government introduced the Golden Visa Scheme that will grant long-term residency to selected foreigners.

The Golden Residency Visa is part of the country's economic recovery plan and was approved following a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Interior.

The visa will provide the holder the right to work in Bahrain, residency benefits for a spouse and other close family members and unlimited entry and exit to the country.

A golden visa also allows recipients to extend the visa for an indefinite period. To qualify for the visa, an applicant should have resided in Bahrain for five years and must earn an average salary of at least BD2,000 per month.

Residents and non-residents who own property worth BD200,000 or more, retirees with an income of BD4,000 and highly talented individuals are also eligible for the visa.

The visa will be renewed every 10 years if the holder meets the eligibility requirements. Yusuffali MA, the Chairman of the LuLu Group became the first recipient of Bahrain’s golden visa for foreign nationals. Mr Yusuffali was handed the visa in a ceremony attended by His Majesty and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.