Bahrain to add two new types of visas

The Kingdom of Bahrain will soon introduce two new types of visas and is all set to launch a third in a bid to lure more visitors and entrepreneurs to the country. This plan was approved by the government on May 23 following the plan suggested by the Executive Committee, chaired by Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa. As per the plan, a single entry visa would be electronically issued or made available on payment of five BHD (Bahrain dinars) at entry points. Another visa, which is multiple-entry, would be issued electronically only following the payment of BHD85, allowing its holders’ eligibility to stay in the country for up to 90 days. Currently, multiple-entry visas are valid for three months and allow the holders to stay in the kingdom up to one month. The kingdom has now made citizens of 113 countries eligible for its eVisa, up from 38 countries in the past. In addition, visitors from 66 countries can obtain a visa upon arrival in Bahrain. Each week sees more than 250,000 people on an average visiting the kingdom. It was revealed that 280,983 people visited the kingdom from May 12 to 18. Of these, 233,199 arrivals were from Saudi Arabia and other GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) nations through King Fahd Causeway, while Bahrain International Airport saw 47,404 people land and seaports saw 290 disembark. Opened in November 1986, the King Fahd Causeway is a 25 km terrestrial link between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. It is said to be one of the most engaged road sectors in the Arab world. Meanwhile, on the anvil is a plan to build the King Hamad Causeway, which would be an additional link between the two kingdoms. With all these facilities, Bahrain is likely to see a surge in the number of tourists visiting the kingdom. Besides historical forts and mosques, the kingdom also offers tourist activities, such as scuba diving bird watching and shopping. So, people from India wanting to visit Bahrain for tourism or investment purposes can seek further details at on of Y-Axis offices spread across the country.