Who can buy property in Bahrain

Who may own a home or land in Bahrain depends on nationality: Bahraini and other GCC citizens may buy anywhere, other nationalities in designated zones and projects. Buying property worth enough can also lead to a Golden Residency.

Bahrainis may buy anywhere, and citizens of the other GCC states are treated like Bahrainis. Other nationalities may own buildings and land only in the residential-building zones (A), (B) and (C) and in the listed investment and tourism areas and projects shown on the official maps. Property with a title deed worth at least BHD 130,000 can qualify for a Golden Residency, with BHD 300 for each dependant's permit.

Not a valid document. Estimate for information only — not financial advice, not an offer of credit and not a bank document. Errors are possible. Only your bank's or finance company's official offer letter, contract and statements are binding.

The rules

• GCC citizens: Citizens of the GCC states may own buildings and land in Bahrain and are treated like Bahraini citizens. (Decree-Law 40/1999)
• Other nationalities: Other non-Bahrainis may own buildings and land only in the residential-building zones (A), (B) and (C) and in the listed investment and tourism areas and projects, as shown on the official maps. The rule is Prime Minister's Decision 43/2003, as replaced by Decision 38/2023; Decision 27/2025 replaced the maps.
• Platinum residency: Holders of a platinum residency may also own property outside those zones, except in areas the Minister of Justice excludes.

Checking a plot

This guide lists no zones or projects beyond what the decisions say: the maps are the authority. The Survey and Land Registration Bureau's own page Other Nationalities Ownership shows the areas — check the plot or unit there before you pay a deposit.

Who is eligible for a golden visa in Bahrain?

A foreigner who owns property in Bahrain registered in their own name and bought for at least BHD 130,000 in total — one property or several — can apply for a Golden Residency, if they also have good conduct, health insurance in Bahrain and a lawful income. The permit runs 10 years, is renewable, needs no minimum stay, and a spouse, children and parents may be granted dependant permits; for a family of four the fees are BHD 1,205 for 10 years (BHD 5 + BHD 300 + 3 × BHD 300, our arithmetic), plus any application fee per dependant, which NPRA does not state.

The conditions in detail

• Threshold: Golden Residency through property: a title deed for property worth at least BHD 130,000. The BHD 130,000 property threshold is set by Ministry of Interior Decision 150/2025, which replaced BHD 200,000 in Decision 20/2022 and removed the 90-days-a-year presence condition.
• Several properties: Golden Residency through property: the BHD 130,000 can be the total value of several properties, counted at their purchase price.
• Which value counts: The value that counts is the price paid when the property was bought, as shown in the ownership documents registered in the applicant's name — not a later valuation.
• For everyone: Every applicant also needs good conduct with no conviction for a felony or a dishonesty offence, health insurance in Bahrain for the whole validity of the permit, and a lawful income enough to support themselves and their dependants; each application is decided case by case.
• Staying in Bahrain: There is no minimum stay: Decision 150/2025 cancelled the rule that a permit could be cancelled if the holder did not live in Bahrain 90 days a year, and nothing replaced it.
• Validity: The Golden Residency permit is valid for 10 years and can be renewed for further 10-year periods. Golden Residency is permanent, with an administrative fee of BHD 300 every 10 years.
• Family: A husband or wife, children and parents of the holder may be granted non-working dependant permits, on the holder's request. Golden Residency: BHD 300 for the permit and BHD 300 for each dependant's permit (Decision 20/2022 Art. 7).
• Work: Golden Residency does not by itself allow work: a holder may take a job in the government or private sector only after getting the necessary permits.
• Applying: Documents NPRA asks for: passport valid for more than 6 months, ID card, the title deed(s) showing at least BHD 130,000, a valid health insurance certificate issued in Bahrain, a six-month bank statement and any previous residence permit. NPRA states about 5 working days to process a property owner's application; the fee must be paid within 30 days of approval or the application is cancelled. The application fee is BHD 5, not refundable.

What the official rules do not say

• A property bought with a loan: the decisions ask for property registered in your name at its purchase price; they say nothing either way about a mortgage on it.
• Off-plan: a title deed in your name is required; there is no official word on a unit still under construction before its deed is issued.
• Selling later: selling the property is not among the listed reasons for cancelling the permit, and no rule addresses it.
• Jointly owned property: how a share is counted is not stated.

Ask the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) of the Ministry of Interior before you buy for residency; it decides each application. This page is not immigration advice. The bahrain.bh service card still shows the old BHD 200,000 — the decision and NPRA say BHD 130,000.

What buying costs on the day

Registering a sale with the Survey and Land Registration Bureau: 2% of the property value. The 2% falls to 1.7% if the registration application is filed within 60 days of notarizing the sale contract (Law 13/2013: 15% off the fee). On a BHD 125,000 home that is BHD 2,125.000 or BHD 2,500.000. All the costs: costs of buying a home · the loan: home loan calculator · what CBB sets for home loans: Bahrain home finance rules.