Do Bahraini passport holders need a visa for the United States?
By Arun Singh · Destinations Writer, Tripmojo · Updated · Reviewed by Simran Raheja
Yes. Bahraini citizens need a B1/B2 visitor visa for the United States. Bahrain is not in the Visa Waiver Programme, so ESTA is not available, and the Qatari designation that people in the region have heard about does not extend to other GCC states. The visa costs 185 US dollars and requires an interview at the US Embassy in Manama. No visa bond applies to Bahraini nationals.
Quick facts
Visa required- Visa required
- Yes, a B1/B2 visitor visa
- ESTA
- Not available. Qatar is the only GCC state in the Visa Waiver Programme
- Cost
- USD 185, unchanged since May 2023
- Visa bond
- Not on the published bond list
- Interview
- Required in person, at the US Embassy in Manama
- Covers
- Tourism, visiting family, business meetings
Entry requirements
- A Bahraini passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned stay.
- An approved B1/B2 visa before you travel. There is no visa on arrival in the United States.
- A completed DS-160 and its confirmation page.
- Evidence of ties to Bahrain you will return to: employment, studies, business or family.
- Proof of funds for the trip, plus an itinerary or an invitation where you have one.
How to apply for a B1/B2 visa
Complete the DS-160 online, pay the 185 dollar fee, then book an interview at the US Embassy in Manama. The fee is paid before the appointment and is not returned if the application is refused.
A separate 750 US dollar fee can buy an interview appointment within ten business days at selected posts. It is optional, it is on top of the 185 dollars, and it is temporary: it took effect on 1 July 2026 and expires on 31 December 2026 unless extended.
Bring the DS-160 confirmation, your passport, the fee receipt, a compliant photograph and your evidence of ties to Bahrain. The decision is made at the interview.
Good to know
- Qatar joined the Visa Waiver Programme on 21 November 2024 and remains the only Gulf Cooperation Council state in it. The designation is national, not regional, so it changes nothing for Bahraini, Kuwaiti, Omani, Saudi or Emirati passport holders. A Qatari colleague travelling to the United States on an ESTA is not evidence that you can.
- Residence is not nationality here. Living in Bahrain, holding a Bahraini residence permit or working for a Bahraini employer has no effect on what the United States requires of you: the question is only which passport you present, which matters on an island where a large share of the workforce holds another one.
- A US visa in a Bahraini passport is commonly issued for multiple entries over a long period, which is why people are surprised to be refused boarding on an expired one. Check the visa expiry and the passport expiry separately before booking, because they are different dates and the earlier one governs.
Frequently asked questions
Do Bahrainis need a visa for the USA?
Yes. Bahrain is not in the Visa Waiver Programme, so a B1/B2 visitor visa must be obtained before travelling. The application fee is 185 US dollars.
Can Bahraini citizens use ESTA?
No. ESTA is limited to nationals of Visa Waiver Programme countries. Qatar is the only GCC member designated, and that designation applies to Qatari nationals only.
Where do Bahrainis apply for a US visa?
At the US Embassy in Manama, after completing the DS-160 online and paying the 185 dollar application fee.
Do Bahrainis have to pay a US visa bond?
Bahrain is not on the published list of countries subject to visa bonds. The list is revised on a rolling basis, so check it again close to your application date.
Does living in Bahrain affect whether I need a US visa?
No. The requirement follows the passport you travel on, not where you live, so a resident of Bahrain holding another nationality is assessed on that nationality.
Related pages
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against the official sources below on .
- US Department of Homeland Security — Visa Waiver Program designated countries. Bahrain is absent from the designation list of 42 countries; Qatar is listed with VWP travel beginning 21 November 2024. Read 2026-08-16.
- Federal Register, 9 June 2026, Schedule of Fees for Consular Services (2026-11513) — USD 185 MRV fee
- Federal Register, 3 August 2026, Visas: Visa Bond Program (2026-15726) — covered countries are published only on travel.state.gov, added on 15 days notice and modified on a rolling basis
- Countries Subject to Visa Bonds, 6 January 2026 revision: Bahrain not listed. travel.state.gov refuses automated clients, so this is taken from two independent immigration-law trackers of that revision, cross-checked against each other on 2026-08-16. NOT a browser read of the Department list.
Entry rules change without notice and the official source is always the authority. Confirm with the embassy or immigration portal before you book.
