Bahrain: Decision No. 2 of 2014 Regulating the Permits for the Professional Activities of Expatriate Business Owners

Title

Bahrain: Decision No. 2 of 2014 Regulating the Permits for the Professional Activities of Expatriate Business Owners

Date of adoption

Entry into force

Text versions

English

Source:

– Official Journal Issue No. 3140 (23 January 2014), pp. 36 – 40, Legislation & Legal Opinion Commission, Kingdom of Bahrain, accessed: 01 September 2014, http://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/Media/LegalPDF/RBLMKT0214.pdf

Abstract

Expatriate business owners are not permitted to conduct any professional activities without obtaining the relevant permit in accordance with terms and conditions of this decision (Art. 2).

Art. 3 lists the conditions for granting a foreign business owner a permit to conduct professional activity which include payment of fees to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA); physical fitness and absence of infectious diseases; having medical insurance for himself and members of his family; having never been deported from the Kingdom for criminal reasons or violating the law regulating the labour market or one of its implementing regulations; verifying that the foreign business owner has not violated of any of the essential commitments as defined by the law regulating the labour market or any of its implementing regulations; payment of any penalties imposed under the law regulating the labour market; and verifying that the foreign business owner has not conducted any activity he is authorized to carry out in a manner which violates the law.

Art. 6 lists the commitments of the foreign business owner who is authorized to conduct professional activity which include not working for any employer who is legally considered to be a foreign worker; conducting only the professional activity he is authorized to; providing the LMRA with his fingerprints and photo within 30 days of entering the Kingdom; payment of permit fees; informing the LMRA of any changes in his personal data; informing the LMRA as soon as any of the conditions, on the basis of which the permit was granted, is no longer applicable; and informing the LMRA once his activity has been liquidated or his permit has been cancelled.

The permit is valid for two years from the date of the foreign business owner’s arrival in the Kingdom or from the date of the permit’s issue if he is already residing in the Kingdom. The permit may be renewed more than once for a similar period of time in accordance with the rules set out in this decision so long as the request is submitted within 180 days from the date of expiry of the permit (Art. 7).

The permit is invalidated if the foreign business owner does not enter the country within six months of its issuance (Art. 8).

The foreign business owner must leave the country within 30 days of the permit’s expiry unless it has been renewed (Art. 11).