New rules regulating entry visas and residence permits for the relatives and foreign spouses of Bahrainis have been officially outlined.
Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa announced seven criteria for the new regulations, under a ministerial edict in the Official Gazette, with immediate implementation.
They are:
• The request should be made by a Bahraini
• Both the requester and the expatriate must have no criminal record
• The foreigner should have valid health insurance
• The requester should have a legitimate source of income enough to meet family needs
• The expatriate should have suitable accommodation
• Both the requester and foreigner should be Bahrain residents
• The Under-Secretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs may add other stipulations at a later date.
This follows the Cabinet approval last Monday of a memorandum by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs recommending the move.
The Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs would also have the right to allow exemptions from some of the criteria on a case-by-case basis.
Under Article Two of the edict, the requester has to attach evidence detailing the relationship to the foreigner, alongside forms approved for such a purpose.
The foreigner will have no right to get a job in the public and private sectors unless particular approvals have been received from the relevant ministries and government bodies under Article Three.
Also, under Article Four, those with new residency will have the right to leave and enter the country whenever they want. However, under Article Five, residency would be immediately terminated if there was a threat to security, a breach to general rules or national interests harmed.
Action would also be taken against anyone proven to have provided false information during the application process, a status change that doesn’t comply with the seven criteria, or those in violation of the 1965 Foreigners (Immigration and Passports) Law.
Should the residency permit be cancelled, or remain expired without renewal up to a maximum of 14 days, then immediate deportation could be enforced.
However, the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs has the power to extend that period to allow the foreigner to clear business or commitments and leave the country, under Article Six.
All rules contradicting the edict are considered void under Article Seven.
Parliament woman and child committee chairman Bader Al Dossary welcomed the move saying that it provided ‘necessary stability’ to several mixed-nationality families.
“What was being done on an exceptional case-by-case basis for mixed nationality families is now a clear rule,” he said.
“This move ensures family stability and means that, as legislators, we don’t have to spend time seeking permits for families suffering under the previous regulations.”
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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