Document checklist
Cape Verde → Bahrain: New Work Permit
What you need before you submit, checked against official requirements, not guesswork.
Not yet checked. This page was drafted from the sources listed below but hasn't passed verification yet. Double-check anything critical directly with the official source before you rely on it.
Required documents
5 itemsIdentity
Copy of the expatriate employee's passport
RequiredA copy of the employee's passport, valid for at least 6 months (2 years is recommended). It must show all information, alterations and updates, with the first and father/family name on the first page, and for Indian and Pakistani nationals, the page showing the father's or spouse's name and any old passport number.
Source: Bahrain Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), New Work Permit
Financial
Work permit fees
RequiredLMRA lists these fees: a service fee of BHD 97.5 for 6 months (for an employee already inside Bahrain on a cancelled permit), BHD 195 for one year, or BHD 390 for two years, plus BHD 90 per dependant, a BHD 5 admin fee, and a BHD 30 job-advertisement fee if applying for an employee from outside Bahrain. Check the LMRA page for the current amounts.
Source: Bahrain Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), New Work Permit
Purpose of travel
Approval letter or no-objection certificate for specialised occupations
For certain specialised occupations, for example teachers, doctors, engineers, and some banking-sector roles, an approval letter or no-objection certificate from the relevant authority.
Source: Bahrain Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), New Work Permit
Other
License for non-commercial institutions or NGOs
If the employer is a non-commercial institution or non-governmental organisation, a valid license from the concerned authority, required in some cases, such as fishermen.
Source: Bahrain Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), New Work Permit
Medical examination report
A medical examination report done in the employee's home or current country of residence, no older than 2 months, showing a healthy/fit result. If the employee is outside Bahrain, it must come from a health centre accredited by the Gulf Health Council (Wafid), or a Non-Wafid checkup form if no accredited centre is available. It isn't required if the employee is already residing in Bahrain.
Source: Bahrain Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), New Work Permit
Why applications on this route get refused
Existing multiple-entry permit not cancelled first
If the employee already holds a multiple-entry permit, it must be cancelled before this application is submitted, whether they're in Bahrain or abroad.
How to avoid it: Check whether the employee holds a multiple-entry permit and have the employer cancel it before applying.
Failed medical examination
If the employee doesn't pass the required medical examination, the employer must process their deportation immediately.
How to avoid it: Make sure the medical exam is booked with an accredited centre and completed before relying on the application going through.
Admin or advertisement fees not paid on time
After submitting the application, the admin fee (and, for employees from outside Bahrain, the job-advertisement fee) must be paid before the invoice due date, or the application is cancelled.
How to avoid it: Pay the admin and advertisement fees through the EMS system or an accredited bank as soon as the application is submitted.
Sources
- Bahrain Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), New Work Permit · checked 23 Sept 2026
Check your documents against this list before you pay the Bahrain application fee.
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