Bahrain Permits Foreign Employees To Take Temporary Jobs

Foreign workers in Bahrain can now take temporary jobs with other employers for up to 90 days under newly introduced labor regulations.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 15, 2026 · 8:51 PM 1 min read

Key takeaways

Bahrain allows foreign workers to take temporary jobs with other employers for up to 90 days.

Workers must maintain a valid work permit throughout the temporary employment period.

New employers must pay an extra fee if their Bahrainization rate is lower than the current employer's rate.

Companies must pay a BHD 5 administrative fee when submitting an application.

All temporary arrangements must be managed through the Labour Market Regulatory Authority Expat Management System.

Bahrain established fresh employment regulations on short notice permitting foreign workers to take temporary jobs with alternative employers for a maximum of 90 days, providing expatriates increased mobility for short assignments.

Expatriates previously lacked permission to perform jobs for businesses besides their official sponsors. The updated regulations permit employment with a different company provided the worker maintains a valid work permit during the entire temporary stint.

The hiring company must pay an extra charge if its target Bahrainization percentage falls below the level of the worker's current employer. Officials calculate this fee by comparing company Bahrainization rates instead of evaluating the specific duties performed.

Businesses also need to cover a BHD 5 administrative charge when filing a request. All temporary work agreements require processing through the Labour Market Regulatory Authority designated Expat Management System.

These updated policies seek to increase labor market flexibility by letting businesses hire foreign staff for short assignments without holding original sponsorship.

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