Edict on self-sponsored residence permits to be amended

The Cabinet yesterday chaired by Deputy Prime Minister, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa approved, based on a presentation by the Minister of Interior, to grant a self - sponsored residence permit to any foreigner whose share as a partner in any of the financial, commercial, industrial, tourism or other economic or investment projects in the country is not less than BD 50,000, instead of the current BD100,000 requirement.

The Cabinet also agreed to allow the issuance of self-sponsored visas and residency permits to retired foreigners if they come from one of the countries that are allowed to obtain electronic visas to enter the Kingdom of Bahrain. The session endorsed a draft ministerial edict on amending the provisions of Edict 74/2007 on granting self-sponsored residence permits for foreigners. Among other things, the Cabinet approved two draft edicts submitted by the Minister of Interior.

Under the first draft edict, Thai tourists will be exempted from the prescribed fees to enter Bahrain pursuant to the principle of reciprocity. Under the second, Ukraine and Serbia will be added to the list of countries whose citizens are allowed to obtain an electronic visa to enter the Kingdom, which raises the number of countries whose nationals are allowed to obtain electronic visas to enter Bahrain to 121 countries.