Bahrain

Bahrain's Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, Ports and Maritime Affairs Directorate manages visiting-yacht permits and navigation in territorial waters. Its official yacht portal is for foreign non-commercial pleasure craft and offers a one-year, multiple-entry visit permit, as well as arrival and departure services. Merchant vessels and commercially operated craft should confirm the separate procedures that apply.

The Yacht Portal lists Amwaj Marina, Al Dur Harbour, and the Hawar Islands as approved stopping points. Customs clearance charges may apply when entering or leaving other marinas or locations. This list does not mean that any commercial port area can process private-yacht entry. Confirm reception and formalities with the portal and marina before departure.

Foreign non-commercial pleasure craft should apply for a visit permit through the Yacht Portal before entering Bahrain's territorial waters. Prepare vessel registration, navigation licence or safety certificate, valid insurance, AIS, and crew documentation. A vessel with a current permit must also submit the relevant application before re-entry and keep crew and passenger details up to date. Follow the application form for the required attachments.

Every crew member and passenger must independently meet Bahrain's personal entry requirements. Passport and visa rules depend on nationality and individual circumstances; check each person through NPRA/the official eVisa platform. A yacht visit permit does not replace a person's visa. The maritime guidance also requires crew/passenger visa formalities to be completed.

Visiting yachts follow the Ports and Maritime Affairs Directorate's visit/navigation permit process and submit arrival and departure requests. The official permit is valid for one year and allows multiple entries; it is not permanent vessel importation or customs approval for temporary import. Temporary-import periods, vessel stores, and equipment declarations are not fully explained on the yacht portal. Confirm requirements in writing with Bahrain Customs and the maritime authority for the specific vessel.

Check Bahrain's agricultural-quarantine requirements before carrying plants, plant products, seeds, or other regulated goods. Plant imports may require advance permits and inspection. Small quantities of plants for a traveller's personal use may be exempt from advance permitting, but may still be inspected and remain subject to quantity, species, soil, and prohibited-item rules. No complete yacht-specific list for pets or food aboard was found; contact agricultural quarantine in advance about animals, meat, dairy, or plants.

Bahrain Customs controls prohibited and restricted imports. The GCC Unified Customs Law treats weapons, ammunition, and explosives as strictly controlled goods. Do not bring firearms, ammunition, explosives, or other controlled goods into Bahrain or ashore without prior written approval from the competent authority. Confirm directly with Bahrain Customs how items kept aboard must be declared or sealed.

Submit the visit-permit/arrival application through the official Yacht Portal and a Departure Request before leaving. The portal manages vessel registration, insurance, crew documents, and permits. Contact: [email protected], telephone +973 1716 2070, WhatsApp +973 1716 2010. Approved marinas are Amwaj Marina, Al Dur Harbour, and the Hawar Islands; not every location has a resident customs or immigration counter.

The official portal lists: new visit permit, BHD 50 (valid for one year); no yacht customs clearance fee at approved marinas, and BHD 50 arrival clearance at other locations; passport inspection fee, BHD 5. For re-entry with a valid permit and for a departure request, clearance is free at approved marinas and BHD 50 at other locations, plus a BHD 5 passport inspection fee. The portal says fees are non-refundable once the permit is issued. Check the portal's current charges before applying.