Online visas for 11 additional countries to take effect on Friday

Interior Ministry Undersecretary of Nationality, Passport and Residence Affairs (NPRA), Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa announced today that the cabinet order to include 11 African countries in the list of states that their citizens can get e-entry visas will take effect on Friday (January1), with consideration to applied conditions and rules.

He said that the countries are Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Cameroon, Gabon, Senegal, Mauritius, Seychelles. The citizens of those countries can get online entry visas through the e-visa website www.evisa.gov.bh.

This brings the overall number of countries benefiting from online visas to 113 states up from 102 at present. He said that the selection of countries was made after a joint study between the NPRA and the Economic Development Board, as part of the directives of His Royal Highness Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier to support economic growth and further link Bahrain with regional and international markets through updating rules and procedures.

He said that this is the third phase of the projects of the NPRA to facilitate entry visas, as last year, 36 countries were included in the list. The number of countries that get on-arrival-visa also increased to 66 countries up from 38. He said that remarkable improvements were also included this year as privileges to make Bahrain an advanced location in entry and transit procedures.