An IMGlobalWealth.com News Report
Bahrain has reduced the minimum investment required to obtain its Golden Residency Visa, lowering the threshold from BHD 200,000 to BHD 130,000. The change forms part of a broader strategy to draw foreign investors, long-term residents and skilled professionals, amid a rapidly evolving Gulf residency landscape. The new threshold, equivalent to roughly USD 345,000, applies to those qualifying through real-estate investment.
Launched in 2022, Bahrain’s Golden Residency Visa grants a renewable 10-year residency permit, the right to work, and the ability to sponsor family members. The updated rules mean investors whose real-estate holdings meet or exceed the new BHD 130,000 value now qualify for the programme. Officials at Bahrain’s Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) have confirmed the revision, noting that it reflects the government’s commitment to creating a more “stable and welcoming environment” for high-value residents.
“the lower investment threshold is expected to stimulate demand in its property market and enhance the country’s position as a regional base for business and residence”
Importantly, the Golden Visa remains open to multiple categories beyond investors. Eligible applicants include skilled workers with at least five years of employment in Bahrain and a monthly income above BHD 2,000, retirees meeting specific pension criteria, entrepreneurs, and individuals deemed to offer notable economic or social value to the kingdom. This breadth of pathways underscores Bahrain’s ambition to expand its pool of long-term foreign talent.
Independent verification by reputable firms such as Fragomen, along with reporting from Gulf News and the Financial Express, corroborates the government’s revised investment criteria and the broader policy intent. These sources collectively point to an intensified regional contest for investment migration, with Bahrain joining Gulf neighbours in recalibrating residency schemes to attract globally mobile households and capital flows.
For Bahrain, the lower investment threshold is expected to stimulate demand in its property market and enhance the country’s position as a regional base for business and residence. For investors, the change improves accessibility, widening the segment of foreign nationals able to pursue long-term residency in the kingdom.
