Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Bahrain, you are subject to its laws.  Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Bahrain, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution. Persons violating Bahrain’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Bahrain are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. The use of vulgar language or hand gestures can result in heavy fines or criminal charges. Although alcohol is available, public drunkenness and disorderly behavior can result in arrest and one drink may be sufficient grounds for a drunken driving arrest. 

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Individuals subject to Bahraini court orders or involved in court proceedings arising from indebtedness, labor disagreements, family disputes, or other legal disputes may be prevented from departing Bahrain until their cases are resolved. Instances have occurred in which departure was prohibited for several years, since the legal process can be both lengthy and complex. Embassy Manama’s Consular Section maintains a list of local attorneys willing to represent U.S. citizens but cannot provide financial assistance for legal costs or living expenses while a person is prohibited from leaving Bahrain. 

If you will be working in Bahrain, we urge you to have a valid work permit and signed employment contract prior to arriving in Bahrain. In particular, the contract should be clear in the provisions related to relocation expenses, type of housing and number of occupants, any visa fees to be paid by the employee, when salaries will be paid, any salary penalties, who will pay transportation costs if the contract is terminated by either the employee or the employer, and whether different provisions apply within the probation period. Under no circumstances should you take up employment while in Bahrain on a tourist visa. Bahraini authorities will hold you personally liable for remaining in legal immigration status, regardless of incorrect advice received from the employer or the employer’s failure to obtain a valid work permit for the employee. It is illegal for Bahraini employers to confiscate or otherwise retain an employee's passport. Questions regarding employment in Bahrain can be directed to Bahrain’s Ministry of Labor hotlines, or to a local attorney. While many U.S. citizens have a wonderful experience working in Bahrain, some individuals have complained of unfair employment practices. Specifically, the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain has received a number of complaints from U.S. citizens employed in the education sector.

Obtaining an employment permit may require providing properly authenticated documents. Failure to provide these documents may delay the issuance of the work permit or residence permits for the employee’s family. Applicants may visit the website of Bahrain’s Labor Market Regulatory Authority for complete requirements, and the Department of State’s Office of Authentications and Authentication of American Academic Credentials for Use Abroad pages for authentication procedures. 

The Kingdom of Bahrain generally does not permit dual nationality. U.S. citizens eligible for Bahraini citizenship will usually be required to relinquish their U.S. passport to Bahrain’s General Directorate of Nationality, Passports, and Residence before they will be issued a Bahraini passport. However, the Kingdom of Bahrain has been known to make exceptions. For additional information, see our information on dual nationality.

There are no treaties in force between Bahrain and the United States dealing with international parental child abduction and custody cases. Child custody decrees issued in a U.S. court may be ignored by Bahraini courts, and may be unenforceable in Bahrain. Bahraini family law is different from U.S. family law. U.S. citizens who are divorced from or in the process of getting a divorce from a Bahraini citizen should seek legal counsel and ascertain their rights in Bahrain before visiting Bahrain, especially with their children. Please see the Department of State flyer on Bahrain for additional information. 

If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT ISSUES: While the law does not criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity between consenting persons who are at least 21 years of age, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) activities are not socially accepted. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Bahrain you may review the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.  For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Bahrain, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. Outside of a few of the more expensive hotels in the capital, individuals with disabilities will find almost no accessible accommodations. Similarly there are very few accessible restaurants, shops, or historical sites. Transportation is not accessible, and sidewalks and crosswalks, even in the main cities, are not accessible. Handicap accessible toilets and bathrooms, even in major hospitals, are generally not available. New public buildings in the central municipality must include facilities for persons with disabilities. The law does not mandate access to nonresidential buildings for persons with disabilities.