Quick answer
Indian passport holders need a visa for Bahrain, and the standard route is the government eVisa, applied for online. The two-week single-entry visa costs about BHD 9–14 (₹2,100–3,300) including the application fee, and approval usually takes three to five working days. Indians holding a valid US, UK or Schengen visa, or a GCC residence permit, may qualify for a visa on arrival.
At a glance
- Visa type
- Tourist eVisa (two-week single entry; longer multiple-entry options)
- Stay allowed
- Up to 14 days on the basic visa; 3-month and 1-year multiple-entry options
- Fee
- About BHD 9–14 (₹2,100–3,300) for the two-week visa including the application fee; about BHD 17 and BHD 45 for the 3-month and 1-year visas
- Processing
- 3–5 working days
- Validity
- Usually to be used within about a month of issue
- Apply at
- Official portal
Documents checklist
- Passport valid for at least six months from arrival
- Colour scan of the passport photo page and a recent photo
- Confirmed return or onward air ticket
- Hotel booking, or the host's address and CPR (ID) details
- Recent bank statement; a balance of about USD 1,000 (₹88,000) is commonly cited
- For visa on arrival: valid US, UK or Schengen visa, or GCC residence permit
Common mistakes that get Indians refused
- Fees are paid in two stages on the portal (application fee, then visa fee); an application is not complete until both are paid.
- Crossing the King Fahd Causeway from Saudi Arabia needs a Bahrain visa obtained in advance and a Saudi visa that allows you to return if you plan to go back.
- Third-party sites charging USD 50 or more for the two-week visa are agents, not the government.
- Visa on arrival eligibility depends on holding the qualifying document in the same passport; carry it.
Do Indians need a visa for Bahrain?
Yes. Indian passport holders apply for an eVisa through Bahrain's official portal before they travel. It is one of the cheaper and quicker visas in the Gulf, and most Indian travellers use it for short trips, weekend breaks from Saudi Arabia or Qatar, or to watch the Formula 1 race at Sakhir.
How to apply, step by step
- Open the eVisa portal and choose the tourist visa type. The two-week single-entry visa suits most holidays.
- Upload your passport scan, photo, return ticket and hotel booking.
- Pay the application fee. Once the application is checked, pay the visa fee. The total for the two-week visa is about BHD 9–14 (₹2,100–3,300).
- Track the status online. Most approvals arrive in three to five working days.
- Print the approval and carry it with your passport.
Frequent visitors can choose the three-month (about BHD 17) or one-year (about BHD 45) multiple-entry visa.
Who can get a visa on arrival?
Indians holding a valid US, UK or Schengen visa, or a valid residence permit from a GCC country, have been eligible for a visa on arrival or a simplified eVisa. Eligibility rules change, so check the portal before you rely on it. If in doubt, the regular eVisa is inexpensive and removes the uncertainty.
What officers check
Bahrain International Airport is small and quick. Officers check the approval, the return ticket and occasionally the hotel booking. Business Today's 2025 guide lists a bank balance of about USD 1,000 as a requirement; it is rarely checked at the counter but can be asked for during the online review.
Families, seniors and combining countries
Each traveller needs a separate eVisa. Bahrain is compact, with short drives between Manama, the forts and the souq, which suits seniors. For multi-country Gulf trips, plan visas in the order you travel: see the Saudi Arabia visa guide, the Qatar visa guide and the UAE visa guide.
Driving over the King Fahd Causeway from Saudi Arabia is popular, but border queues on Thursday evenings and Friday mornings can run for hours. Cross on a weekday if you can.
Carry some dinars or a card with low forex markup; our foreign exchange desk can help. For paperwork support, contact our visa assistance team.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Bahrain eVisa for Indians?
Can Indians get a visa on arrival in Bahrain?
Can I enter Bahrain from Saudi Arabia by road?
Do I need a bank statement for a Bahrain visa?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
