Visit eVisa: Sri Lankan citizen in United States → Bahrain
Sri Lankan citizens living in the United States need a visa to visit Bahrain — GCC citizens are the only ones exempt. The standard route is the official Bahrain eVisa platform (evisa.gov.bh): a two-week single-entry visit eVisa (9 BD + 4 BD application fee) or a 3-month (29 BD) / 1-year (44 BD) multiple-entry eVisa, decided in 3–5 working days. You apply online from the United States (or anywhere); the process is identical regardless of residence.
Bahrain's short-visit entry visa for tourism, business or family, applied for online via the official eVisa platform — a two-week single-entry eVisa or a 3-month / 1-year multiple-entry eVisa.
- Validity
- Two weeks (single entry) for the two-week eVisa; the multiple-entry visit eVisas are valid for 3 months or 1 year
- Entries
- Single entry (two-week eVisa) or multiple entry (3-month / 1-year eVisa)
- Max stay per visit
- Two weeks per the single-entry eVisa (extendable inside Bahrain by a further two weeks); the multiple-entry eVisas are valid 3 months / 1 year
When to start
Start 5–14 days before your travel date.
The official Bahrain national portal states that all visitors to the Kingdom need a visa except citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates). Sri Lankan passport holders are not in that group, so an entry visa is required — the standard route is the official eVisa platform.
Bahrain offers a two-week single-entry visit eVisa as well as 3-month and 1-year multiple-entry visit eVisas. Each is issued to nationals of 212 countries via the official eVisa portal; pick the option that matches how long and how often you plan to visit before you apply.
Complete the application on the official Bahrain eVisa platform (evisa.gov.bh) and upload the required documents — a copy of your passport, a hotel reservation, a return ticket and a three-month bank statement. No embassy or visa-centre visit is needed for the eVisa.
Pay online when you apply. The two-week single-entry visit eVisa costs 9 BD (visa fee) plus a 4 BD application fee; the 3-month multiple-entry eVisa is 29 BD and the 1-year multiple-entry eVisa is 44 BD.
Applications are processed after a security check on the applicant; the Ministry of Interior — Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs decides within 3–5 working days. Apply well before you travel.
Once approved, the eVisa is issued to you; carry the printed eVisa and your supporting documents when you travel. A two-week single-entry visit eVisa can be extended inside Bahrain for a further two weeks (25 BD, decided in 1 working day) at a service centre.
What you'll need
- Copy of your passport — A copy of your passport, uploaded with the online application. ✓ verified
- Hotel reservation — Proof of a hotel reservation for your stay in Bahrain. ✓ verified
- Return ticket — A confirmed return (onward) air ticket. ✓ verified
- Three-month bank statement (in English) — A three-month bank statement, in English, showing a minimum regular income of 300–500 BD per month (a regular salary or pension), or any amount equivalent to 150 BD for each day of the visit. ✓ verified
- Payment card — A credit or debit card to pay the visa and application fees online. ✓ verified
Where you'll apply
You apply online on the official Bahrain eVisa platform from the United States (or anywhere) — the eVisa is issued online, so there is no US visa-centre step and no embassy or visa-centre visit is needed. If your passport is not eVisa-eligible, an entry visa must instead be issued in advance via a Bahrain embassy, a Bahraini sponsor or a travel agency.
Fees
| Two-week single-entry visit eVisa | BHD 9 |
| 3-month multiple-entry visit eVisa | BHD 29 |
| 1-year multiple-entry visit eVisa | BHD 44 |
Gotchas to watch
- GCC citizens (Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE) are exempt — but that exemption is for passport holders, not for expatriates who merely live in a GCC country.
- eVisas are available for visitors from 209 countries; a separate list of 69 nationalities can instead get a visa on arrival at Bahrain International Airport — check the official eVisa portal for your exact passport before you book.
- The bank statement must be in English and show the required income; applications are processed after a security check, so apply 3–5 working days ahead.
- The eVisa is not a guarantee of entry — the final decision is made by immigration at the border.
- If your nationality is not eligible for the eVisa or a visa on arrival, an entry visa must be issued in advance via a Bahrain embassy, a Bahraini sponsor or a travel agency.
