Work permit applications for foreign nationals over 60 must be submitted electronically through the Expatriate Management System, according to a Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) announcement. The new requirement also applies to work permit renewals and sponsorship transfers. Work permits for investors will continue to be processed manually.

Background

In Bahrain, applicants over 60 must obtain a pre-approval before the LMRA can grant them a work permit. The pre-approval process requires the sponsor to justify the need for the candidate by submitting supporting documents, such as a certificate of expertise, educational qualifications and a company letter.

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals

Following its implementation, employers in Bahrain can benefit from a more systematic process for over age work permit applications, as compared to the previous manual submission. However, in order to ensure that a detailed and robust case is presented, this may also mean for employers to prepare and review their cases more carefully.