Bahrain: Law No. 11 of 1975 Regarding Passports

Title

Date of adoption

5 June 1975

(last amended: 20 September 2011)

Entry into force

Text versions

Source:

– Official Journal Issue No. 1126 (5 June 1975), pp. 3 – 6, Legislation & Legal Opinion Commission, Kingdom of Bahrain, accessed: 30 July 2014, http://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/Media/LegalPDF/K1175.pdf

Abstract

Bahraini citizens shall not leave or return to the country unless they carry a passport in accordance with the provisions of this law (Art. 1)

The Minister of Interior may issue a travel document or a transit ticket for the following categories of non-Bahrainis residing in the country (Art. 3):

1. Stateless persons or persons with no permanent nationality.
2. Persons with permanent nationality but who cannot obtain a travel document from their country of origin; or who are present in Bahrain because they have lost their passports or their passports have expired and whose country of origin has no representative office in Bahrain; or for any other reasons as determined by the Ministry of Interior.

The travel document or transit ticket referred to in the previous article do not authorize their holder to enter or transit through Bahrain without acquiring an entry, transit or return visa. They are also only valid for two years from the date of issue and are not renewable (Art. 4).

In accordance with Art. 5, leaving or returning to Bahrain may only take place in designated areas and with the permission of the responsible passports official in the form of a visa stamped on the passport or travel document.

Under Art. 13, a wife may not be issued an independent passport without her husband’s permission.

Without prejudice to any harsher penalties stipulated by another law, a penalty of imprisonment for one to four months and/ or 50 to 400 dinars shall be imposed on (Art. 18):

1. Those who violate article 5 of this law
2. Those who submit false data or claims in order to obtain a Bahraini passport either for himself or another person
3. Those who sign a false statement for the applicant of a passport or travel document.