Things to Know About Bahrain Citizenship

Atomic Answer: Danish citizenship can be acquired through 'naturalization' after living in Denmark for a continuous period of 9 years (shorter for refugees or those married to Danes), passing a language test, and a citizenship citizenship test.

Things to Know About Bahrain Citizenship

The Citizenship Law of the Kingdom of Bahrain, which includes the necessary regulations for Bahraini citizenship, came into force on 16 September 1963, which coincides with the 28th of the month of Rabi' al-Akhir. The Citizenship Law of the Kingdom of Bahrain specifies the rules regarding who is a Bahraini citizen, who can become a Bahraini citizen, and the methods of obtaining citizenship.

What are the Ways to Obtain Bahraini Citizenship?

Bahraini citizenship can be obtained in the following 4 ways.

• Bahraini citizenship by birth
• Bahraini citizenship through lineage
• Bahraini citizenship through marriage
• Bahraini citizenship by application

Bahraini Citizenship by Birth

Bahraini citizens by birth are those who were born in Bahrain after the law came into force, who do not have any other citizenship and who have made Bahraini permanent residents, and those who were born in Bahrain from unknown parents and whose contrary cannot be proven.

Bahraini Citizenship Through Lineage

Bahraini citizenship through lineage can be acquired by persons born in Bahrain after the relevant law came into force and whose father was a Bahraini citizen at the time of birth, by persons born outside Bahrain but whose father or grandfather was born in Bahrain and whose father was a Bahraini citizen at the time of birth, and by persons whose father is unknown or whose paternity cannot be proven but whose mother was a Bahraini citizen at the time of birth.

Bahraini Citizenship Through Marriage

While female spouses who marry a Bahraini citizen are eligible for Bahraini citizenship through marriage, a foreign male spouse who marries a female Bahraini citizen is not eligible for citizenship.

Foreign women who marry a Bahraini citizen become Bahraini citizens when they marry a Bahraini husband, while Bahraini women who marry a foreign man lose their Bahraini citizenship and take the citizenship of their husband. Bahraini citizenship can be regained upon the woman's request if the marriage continues and the permanent residence is in Bahrain or if she returns to Bahrain to live. Foreign women who marry a Bahraini man can start their residence in Bahrain by completing the Bahraini family reunification visa procedures.

Women who acquire Bahraini citizenship as described above or in accordance with Article 6, paragraph 4 of the law do not lose their Bahraini citizenship as long as they do not retain their original citizenship or acquire another citizenship while they are married. The citizenship status of the woman is maintained by the governorate upon her request.

Bahraini Citizenship by Application

Bahraini citizenship by application is available to individuals who have resided in Bahrain for at least 25 years with a permanent residency visa. Individuals must meet certain conditions to apply for citizenship.

For those who wish to apply for citizenship, in addition to having resided in the country with a Bahraini residence permit for at least 25 years , they are also evaluated based on criteria such as having a good and honorable character and having a clean criminal record.

Bahrain Citizenship Application Eligibility Status

Eligibility criteria for Bahraini citizenship application are listed below.

• The application must be made in person by the applicant.
• Applicants of Arab origin must have resided in Bahrain consecutively and legally for at least 15 years, and others must have resided in Bahrain consecutively and legally for at least 25 years.
• The applicant must know Arabic.
• There must be immovable property registered in the name of the applicant at the Cadastre and Land Registry Office.
• The applicant must be a moral person.
• The applicant must be a mentally competent person.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers to the questions asked to our consultants about Bahraini citizenship are given below.

How to Apply for Citizenship in the Kingdom of Bahrain?

Citizenship applications for the Kingdom of Bahrain are made to the Citizenship, Passport and Residence Affairs Directorate. The necessary documents for applications must be prepared completely and the application form must be filled with correct information. After the citizenship applications are accepted, individuals can receive their Bahraini passports from the relevant authority during working hours.

The spouse and minor children of a man who has recently acquired citizenship are also considered to have been accepted as citizens.

What are the Required Documents for Bahrain Citizenship Application?

The required documents listed below must be submitted for the Bahraini citizenship application.

• A letter addressed to the King of Bahrain, declaring that he wanted to become a citizen
• Identity of the applicant
• Original and photocopy of the applicant's current passport and birth certificate
• Marriage certificate of the applicant issued in Bahrain
• Title deed document showing the property of the applicant obtained from the Cadastre and Land Registry Office
• Evidence that the applicant is healthy and fit

Does Bahrain Allow Dual Citizenship?

Bahrain does not allow dual citizenship and anyone who acquires a different citizenship loses their Bahraini citizenship. It is also possible to renounce Bahraini citizenship.

Since 2016, those who had dual citizenship illegally before November 2016 have been granted the right to apply until February 4, 2017 to maintain both nationalities. In this practice, the authority to allow dual citizenship is at the discretion of the Ministry of Interior and a decision is made on a case-by-case basis for each application. Dual citizens who do not apply by February 4, 2017 are subject to a fine of $27,000 and are stripped of their Bahraini citizenship.

In what cases can Bahraini citizenship be lost?

Bahraini citizenship may be lost if it is determined that citizenship was acquired based on false pretenses and if crimes against honesty and honour are committed within 10 years of acquisition of citizenship.

A Bahraini citizen can be stripped of his citizenship if he has served in the military for another nation, served an enemy or caused harm to the state, despite being told otherwise.