Regulations for entering Bahrain

 

Bahrain is a rather unconventional travel destination in the Middle East, which is rarely on the bucket list of Germans. Many people may have never even heard of this kingdom, which stretches between Saudi Arabia and Qatar over some small islands in the Persian Gulf. Some stumble upon it by chance and immediately feel drawn to it. If you want, you should simply travel there and spend a vacation to learn more about Bahrain.

Of course, there are certain rules to follow when entering, also known as entry regulations. Those who break these rules can expect strict consequences. One of the main topics in this area revolves around visa issuance. Travelers need an entry permit in most countries, including this one.

Once you have obtained the document, you also need to think about other things. But what else awaits you? Find out more in this guide about travel insurance and vaccinations for your entry into Bahrain. We explain what you need to consider if you want to enter with a child or a dog (or both).

Get to know the country's airport and its fantastic transit options better and find out what customs regulations you need to comply with upon entry so that you are let in with a friendly smile. Finally, we will tell you how to reach the Bahraini representation in Germany and where the German Embassy in Bahrain is located.

For entry to Bahrain, you need a visa that allows you to enter the country. If you do not want to take care of the application and any follow-up questions yourself, you can simply and quickly commission us for this task. We contact the relevant authorities, submit all necessary documents, and finally send you the completed documents. We are also happy to organize multiple visas for you, for example for a travel group or for your family.

You generally have two options to apply for visas for your trip to Bahrain: in advance or upon arrival at the airport (on arrival). With a pre-submitted application, you can use the internet to obtain the document from the authority. A required document for success is a valid passport of the applicant.

An e-visa issued for Bahrain is usually valid for a period of 14 days. It is only valid for a single trip. In addition, there are also alternatives valid for three months for a duration of 30 days and for multiple entries. Another option is valid for one year, where you can also enter multiple times and stay on site for a total of 90 days. The longer you want to stay, the more the document will cost.

If necessary, you can extend your visa once or several times for an additional fee. To do this, contact the "General Directorate of Nationality, Passports & Residence" in your destination country. The extension is not always granted by the Bahraini authorities. It is helpful to have a "sponsor" located in the country by your side. This could be, for example, a hotel.

When traveling in the Middle East, you can benefit from overseas health insurance. You should always take out such insurance for all trips around the world, so that you are well covered in case of sudden illness or accident. While such travel health insurance is not mandatory in Bahrain, we still strongly recommend that you take out such a policy. Ideally, it should also include additional repatriation insurance.

An overseas health insurance with repatriation coverage will cover the costs of any necessary medical treatments and a return flight under special conditions. If you fall ill as a guest in Bahrain, you will receive high-quality care in the capital, Manama. This care meets European standards. However, treatment costs are high, which is why insurance is worthwhile.

In Middle Eastern countries, extremely high temperatures with peak values well above 40 degrees Celsius are possible. Many people underestimate that this heat not only affects them personally. In fact, medications brought along often suffer damage because they are not designed for such high temperatures. If you need to take medication, it is best to keep it chilled.

If you would like to take out additional insurance for your trip, we can most recommend travel cancellation and car rental insurance (if you plan to rent a vehicle). These policies offer additional benefits related to the costs of such a trip. For example, with travel cancellation insurance, you can get back a large portion of the money for the trip if you cannot take it. Car rental insurance protects you in heavy traffic from high costs due to damage to the vehicle.

Are there any pathogens in Bahrain that could be dangerous to you? The local climate is humid and subtropical. In addition, it can get very hot. These conditions are optimal for the development of certain viruses and bacteria. Potential pathogens on site include MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), poliomyelitis (polio), hepatitis A and B, meningococcal disease and HIV.

You cannot get vaccinated against all of these germs. In that case, there are only alternative ways to prevent infection through adapted behavior. However, vaccines are available against polio, hepatitis, and meningococcal disease. Nevertheless, there is no obligation in your holiday destination to get vaccinated. So it is your personal risk. Therefore, it makes sense to check your own vaccination protection and, if necessary, catch up on missing or outdated vaccinations.

Furthermore, you should definitely pay attention to avoiding certain dangers in order to minimize your risk of infection. For example, to avoid catching a diarrheal pathogen, you should pay more attention to the hygiene of food and drinking water. Camels are considered potential carriers of MERS. Even if Bahrain has not been affected by the MERS epidemic so far, it is better to stay away from the animals.

Covid-19 has also had an impact on life in Bahrain. However, there are few rules to follow on this topic. Vaccination or proof of vaccination is not one of them. However, please note that these entry requirements can change at any time if the situation worsens.

When it comes to Corona, this elegant travel destination is actually very relaxed. Not only do you not need proof of vaccination against Corona, you also do not need to present a negative test result from a PCR test. However, if you are experiencing acute Covid symptoms, you should be prepared to be quarantined. Only children under six years of age do not have to quarantine.

Many travelers want to explore countries like Bahrain with their children. In this country, you do not have to follow any special regulations for entry, as minors are treated like adults in most cases. The only difference is the quarantine requirement related to the coronavirus, from which all children under six years of age are officially exempt.

There is a slight special requirement regarding entry documents: Children from Germany must identify themselves with a child passport. This passport must be valid for at least three months on the day of your entry.

There are also no mandatory vaccinations for children before they are granted entry to the country. However, parents should ensure that their minors have all the common standard vaccinations. You can find out which vaccinations are required for your child, for example, from the Robert Koch Institute.

If you are planning a holiday in Bahrain with your children, many child-friendly activities await you and your family. Everything is taken care of. For active play, for example, the Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park is a great option. Those who want to splash around in the water can also visit the beaches of Al Dar Islands. For sightseeing, destinations such as the Al-Fatih Mosque, the ancient ruins of Qal'at al-Bahrain, and the Tree of Life are recommended.

Would you like to do some shopping with your children as well? Numerous shopping centers are waiting for you, including Dragon City or The Avenues. Some malls even have play areas for children. Other highlights include the Bahrain International Circuit, which is a racing track, and the Royal Camel Farm, where you can observe camels.

Dogs can only be brought into the country with great effort. This is mainly due to the fact that all animals must first undergo a quarantine of about four weeks. Unfortunately, we cannot report on the conditions of the quarantine stations here. However, it can be assumed that the conditions are very difficult. For this reason, it may be the best idea to entrust your pet to a well-run dog boarding kennel for the duration of your vacation.

Only if you meet certain conditions, the state-mandated quarantine may possibly be bypassed. To do this, you need to take a lot of time to clarify everything before the trip. You need, above all, a vaccination certificate with all relevant vaccinations and a health certificate for the dog from the veterinarian. Contact the Bahraini Embassy in Germany in a timely manner to discuss the next steps to bypass the quarantine.

The customs authority of a country fulfills some important tasks. It is responsible for collecting taxes and duties on the entry and exit of tourists, visitors, and business people who are temporarily staying in the country. In addition, they monitor the movement of goods between their country and other countries.

Travelers often come into contact with a customs authority. This is also possible in Bahrain. However, the customs regulations of the kingdom are relatively simple and clear. What you are not allowed to bring into the country are any kind of pornographic material. Also, drugs, weapons, cultured pearls, and ivory are absolutely prohibited items that you should not bring in under any circumstances.

Other items and products are allowed, but limited in quantity. For example, note that you can bring a maximum of 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars. If you regularly use perfume, it is advisable to bring not a new and unopened bottle, but an already opened one. This way, the authorities can see that you use the fragrance yourself and do not plan to sell the bottle. Also, the amount of perfume should be considered 'appropriate'. When it comes to alcohol, no more than two liters are allowed. Gifts brought for friends and family should not exceed a value of 250 Bahraini Dinar (BHD).

There are also guidelines for carrying large amounts of money. For amounts up to 6,000 BHD, which is approximately 15,441 EUR or 15,918 US dollars, there are no restrictions. If the amount brought exceeds this sum, you must declare it upon entry. It does not matter whether you are bringing the sum in the local currency BHD or a foreign currency. The rules apply in both cases.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is a small archipelago consisting of 33 islands. The total area of the island group is only about 750 square kilometers. This area is smaller than that of the German capital Berlin. There is only one airport on the islands: the Bahrain International Airport. It is located on the island of al-Muharraq.

If you are looking for an alternative way to travel, take a look at the neighboring countries of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. In Saudi Arabia, King Fahd Airport is not far away. It is located about 50 kilometers from Bahrain in the city of Dammam. The two places are connected by the King Fahd Causeway over the sea. In the future, a similar highway is planned to connect Bahrain and Qatar.

Furthermore, you can travel around Bahrain by ship. There are some cruise offers that also stop at Bahraini ports. During these trips, you may also have the opportunity to visit other important cities in the region such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Doha. Combining a cruise across the sea with a visit to Bahrain's desert will give you a vacation full of strong contrasts.

In Bahrain, you have the opportunity for a transit stay under very pleasant conditions. You may be provided with a hotel room and an entry permit, which you do not have to pay for. Instead, others will pay for you! This sets the transit in Bahrain apart from many other countries.

To enjoy these privileges, however, you must be a guest of the Bahraini airline Gulf Air and land at the country's airport with this airline. Furthermore, you can only benefit from the advantages if your connecting flight is delayed by over seven hours, but the waiting time does not exceed 24 hours.

Please note that even if you meet all the conditions for a comfortable transit stay, you may still not be able to check into a hotel and enter the country. Ultimately, the Bahraini Ministry of Interior also decides whether you will be allowed to enter. A rejection can be particularly annoying.

Furthermore, the offer can change at any time. Do not assume blindly that you will already be accommodated in a hotel in your transit country to freshen up or get some sleep. Therefore, carefully check your tickets or other information provided by the airline before departure.

There are situations when planning a trip to Bahrain where a guide like this no longer helps solve problems. These include expected issues with importing items or regulations around the COVID policy. If even the Foreign Office can't help anymore, you should contact the diplomatic representation of your destination country in Germany directly.

There is currently only one place that qualifies for this: the Bahraini Embassy. The building is located in Berlin at Klingelhöferstraße 7. You can reach the embassy by phone at +49 30 868 777 77 and by email at info@bahrain-embassy.de. Additionally, the representation operates a website at https://www.mofa.gov.bh/Default.aspx?tabid=4355&language=en-US with valuable information.

Germany is also diplomatically represented in Bahrain. The German Embassy ("Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany") is located in the capital (Address: P.O. Box 10306, Manama, Bahrain). On-site, you can access all consular services and assistance. The staff can also help you if you have a problem in your destination country.

Bahrain is not a classical holiday destination. But that could be just another reason why you should take a closer look at it - preferably on a beautiful trip!

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