Here’s good news from Bahrain for foreign investors. The Nationality, Passports, and Residence Affairs (NPRA) at the Ministry of Interior has announced a cut on the minimum real estate investment mandatory for the country’s Golden Residency Visa.

The strategic move would ensure that long-term residency stayed accessible to foreign investors, considering the growth of Bahrain in competitive sectors such as real estate, and other businesses. In accordance with this, property investment requirements has been slashed from BHD 200,000 (US$530,555) to BHD 130,000 (US$345,000), making it possible for foreign investors to qualify for the Golden Visa.

The lower threshold, which is down by 35%, is expected to stimulate high-end property demand in Bahrain.

Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for NPRA, said, “Lowering the threshold will boost the program’s competitiveness while preserving its standards and exclusivity.”

The revised BHD 130,000 threshold applies to people from every strata of society. It includes professionals earning at least BHD 2,000 per month with five years’ service in Bahrain; non-resident retirees with pensions exceeding BHD 4,000; retirees with 15 years of work in Bahrain and pensions above BHD 2,000; and highly skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, and contributors to Bahrain’s economy and society.

The visa application costs BHD 5. For visa issuance, applicants must pay BHD 300. The payments are non-refundable. Applicants must submit a valid passport, six months of bank statements, health insurance, and proof of residence via the NPRA portal.

Bahrain, which is evolving into a sought-after investment hub in the Gulf, also promises its visa holders family sponsorship privileges, work flexibility, lifetime residency, and full business ownership rights. – editor@nrifocus.com