Lawmakers slam visa brakes

AFP | Los Angeles

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Entry visas should not be turned into work residence permits, lawmakers have warned, even as the government objects.

They say allowing this would harm job opportunities for Bahraini citizens.

MPs made the point as they tabled a draft law to amend the 1965 Aliens (Immigration and Residence) Law, scheduled for discussion next Tuesday.

Government objection rests on the argument that current laws already ensure this, and therefore there is no need for a new one.

Parliament responded positively to the call, but the Shura Council has raised objections and sent the bill back for a second review.

The Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee has now urged MPs to hold to their earlier vote.

Supporters argue the change would help slow the rise in unemployment among Bahrainis and keep citizens first in the hiring queue.

However, the government has written to the chamber urging a rethink, saying the existing law already covers the issues the bill seeks to address. It believes a full ban on converting visas would clash with Article 18 of the 1965 law, which allows the state to grant residence permits to foreigners who can support themselves or wish to work.

The Interior Ministry points to a 1976 ministerial decision that blocks entry visas for non-Bahrainis intending to work unless a no-objection certificate is issued after a work permit is secured, or a state body acts as sponsor. Embassies are also barred from issuing visit visas where documents or surrounding facts suggest the applicant intends to work.

Under a 2024 decision, visit visas without a sponsor can no longer be converted into work or dependent visas, while conversions are allowed only under the same sponsor on payment of a 250-dinar fee. The ministry says these steps have cut visitto-work conversions by more than 87%, and warns that a full ban would make it harder for families to hire domestic workers legally. The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) says conversion is already tied to clear conditions, with joint monitoring alongside the Interior Ministry.