A proposed legislation to link the validity of expatriates’ identity cards to the duration of their residency permits is set to be debated in Parliament, despite strong objections from the foreign affairs, defence and national security committee.
The government‑drafted bill, based on a parliamentary proposal, seeks to amend Article (3) of Law No 46 of 2006 on identity cards by stipulating that a foreigner’s ID would remain valid only for a period not exceeding their legal residency in Bahrain.
However, after consultations with government bodies, the committee recommended rejecting the bill in principle, warning that it is unnecessary, disruptive and financially counterproductive.
Committee chairman MP Hassan Bukhammas said the proposed amendment fails to achieve any practical benefit as the objectives it seeks are already implemented through existing administrative procedures.
“In practice, the identity card of any foreign worker is automatically deactivated immediately upon the expiry of their residency permit,” he said. “All relevant authorities are notified, and the individual is prevented from accessing government services or conducting financial transactions.”
Supporters of the bill argued that the amendment would tighten control over irregular workers, limit their use of government services and money transfers abroad, reduce unfair competition with Bahraini traders, and increase state revenues by requiring more frequent ID renewals.
However, the committee concluded that these aims are already being met without the need for legislative change.
The Interior Ministry confirmed that once residency expires, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority notifies the Information and eGovernment Authority, which in turn instructs banks and other entities to deactivate the ID card. The Central Bank of Bahrain also issues circulars to ensure compliance across the financial sector.
Foreign workers who permanently leave Bahrain are granted a 30-day grace period to settle their affairs, after which their identity cards are deactivated automatically.
Mr Bukhammas warned that linking ID validity to residency periods would introduce unnecessary complexity, given the wide variation in residency durations.
“Residency permits are not uniform,” he said. “Some are short-term, while others, such as Golden Residency, can exceed 10 years. Tying identity cards to these differing periods would create confusion and operational difficulties for government agencies.”
The committee noted that the current system applies a standard renewal cycle for identity cards, which simplifies procedures and ensures consistency across institutions.
Another major concern raised was the potential impact on public finances. Currently, the cost of issuing an identity card is around BD14, while the fee paid by the applicant is BD10, calculated over a five-year validity period.
Reducing the validity period in line with residency permits would alter this calculation, potentially increasing operational costs and reducing overall government revenues.
“Instead of boosting income, the amendment could place an additional financial burden on the state budget,” Mr Bukhammas said.
The proposal will be debated on Tuesday, when MPs will decide whether it should proceed or be formally dismissed.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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