Reviewed by Yasir Khan, Founder, LAMTANS Group of Companies, and British Council registered consultant
To study in Bahrain from Pakistan, a guarantor or authorised person applies to the National Passport and Residence Authority (NPRA) for your student visa while you are outside Bahrain. It costs BHD 40 and takes three working days. This guide covers the steps, fees, work rules and entry requirements.
Bahrain student visa process from Pakistan
- Get accepted by a university or institute in Bahrain and get an official letter from it.
- Guarantor applies. NPRA says the application must be submitted by a guarantor or authorised person, and you must be outside Bahrain when it is made. The form is available at a service centre only.
- Documents: a passport copy valid for at least six months, an ID copy of the applicant or legal representative, and the university letter. NPRA may ask for more.
- Apply online through the eGovernment website or in person at the Muharraq Security Complex or Isa Town branch, and pay within 30 days of approval or the application is cancelled.
- Enter Bahrain within three months. An unused visa becomes void.
The NPRA page also says students “must have permanent residence in Bahrain,” which conflicts with the outside-Bahrain rule. We could not resolve the wording, so we confirm it with NPRA for your case. The American University of Bahrain (AUBH) says its visa process needs enrolment, a paid seat reservation fee, a valid passport, proof of acceptance and proof of financial means, and can take up to three months.
Fees and the residence permit
| Student visa fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application (non-refundable) | BHD 5 |
| Approval | BHD 5 |
| Issuance | BHD 30 |
| Total | BHD 40 |
After you arrive, you apply for a student residence permit while inside Bahrain. It is valid for 5 years for students at a local institution and 1 year for students at an institution abroad. The issuance fee is BHD 60, the application fee is BHD 5 and renewal is BHD 60. NPRA lists no proof-of-funds document, and we found no official amount, so we confirm it at your consultation.
Tuition and living costs
| Item (from the university’s own pages) | Amount |
|---|---|
| University of Bahrain, non-Bahraini students | BD 80 per credit hour |
| University of Bahrain application fee | BD 10 |
| AUBH seat reservation fee | BD 600 |
| AUBH shared room (Fly Residences) | BHD 320 per month |
AUBH’s admissions page shows annual tuition in Saudi riyals (SAR 66,000 for business, SAR 70,000 for engineering and computing, SAR 71,000 for media and design). That currency looks unusual for a Bahraini university, so we confirm it with AUBH before quoting. Its housing figures are also inconsistent, so treat them as indicative.
Working in Bahrain as a student
Student visa and residence-permit holders are not allowed to work, paid or unpaid, unless the relevant authority issues an official permit. We could not find how a student applies for that permit. We also found no post-study stay or work route on NPRA’s pages, so ask us before you plan around staying on.
NPRA lists family visas for parents of foreign residents and for sons and daughters over 24, but we found no service named for a student’s spouse or children.
English requirements and entry with the HSSC
| University | Requirement |
|---|---|
| AUBH | IELTS Academic 6.0, TOEFL 69 or Duolingo 105 |
| AUBH entry | High school diploma with a 2.3 GPA (75%) or equivalent |
| University of Bahrain exemption | IELTS 5.5 or 90% secondary average or English mark |
AUBH’s page does not mention Pakistani boards, and says foreign documents need authentication by the relevant embassy and Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. HEC authentication is also listed. Engineering and Computing applicants need a science and a mathematics subject at 2.3.
Be careful with the University of Bahrain. Its undergraduate page says foreign applicants need a secondary certificate “from schools within the Kingdom of Bahrain only,” yet its FAQ mentions applicants from schools outside Bahrain. We confirm with the university before advising a Pakistan-based HSSC student. Postgraduate applicants there must hold a valid Bahrain residence, except Gulf students. Check recognition through the Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA) register before you pay.
Dates, scholarships and how we help
AUBH has Fall and Spring intakes, and its listed deadlines of 11 September 2025 and 25 January 2026 have passed, so check its calendar. The University of Bahrain admits once a year, in the first semester. AUBH offers scholarships to international students: the President’s Scholarship (25%) for a high school GPA of 90% or more, the Global Scholarship (15%) for 80 to 89.9%, an Early Enrollees Award (10%), and Inspire, Lead and Compete awards (25 to 50%). None starts until the BD 600 seat fee is paid. We found no confirmed government scholarship for Pakistanis.
We help with course choice, applications and your visa file. We cannot promise a visa. Compare other countries on our student visa from Pakistan guide or see all study abroad destinations, including the UAE, Malaysia and the UK.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Bahrain student visa?
NPRA charges BHD 5 to apply, BHD 5 for approval and BHD 30 for issuance, BHD 40 in total. Processing takes three working days.
Who applies for the Bahrain student visa?
A guarantor or authorised person submits it, and you must be outside Bahrain when it is made.
Can I work while studying in Bahrain?
No, unless the relevant authority issues an official permit. NPRA says student visa holders may not engage in any form of work.
How long is the Bahrain student residence permit?
Five years for students at a local institution and one year for students at an institution abroad. Issuance costs BHD 60.
Does the University of Bahrain accept Pakistani HSSC students?
Its pages conflict on schools outside Bahrain, so we confirm with the university before you apply.
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Official sources: NPRA: student visa · NPRA: student residence permit · AUBH: international admissions · AUBH: scholarships · University of Bahrain: international admission · University of Bahrain: admission guide · BQA: higher education programmes. Figures checked on 11 October 2026. Reviewed by Yasir Khan, British Council registered consultant, LAMTANS Consultants. Last updated 11 October 2026. Rules change, so we confirm the latest position at your consultation.