Bahrain 90-Day Work Rule: Foreign Workers, Second Employer

Bahrain Lets Foreign Workers Take 90-Day Jobs With Second Employer

Bahrain now allows foreign workers already employed in the country to work for another employer for up to 90 days without transferring their work permit. The rule comes from Decision No. 2 of 2026 of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), which amends Decision No. 76 of 2008 on work permits. Labour Minister and LMRA board chairman Yousif Khalaf issued it on September 22, 2026. The LMRA announced it on September 28, and it took effect immediately. Until now, foreign workers were tied exclusively to the employer named on their permit.

Three agreements before a worker can start

A temporary assignment needs the worker’s written consent, the agreement of both employers, and LMRA approval. The worker must wait for the LMRA to approve and register the arrangement before starting the new duties. The LMRA then registers it and notifies the parties through its systems. Applications and approvals run through its Expat Management System.

In practice, this is an employer-led process, not something a worker can start on their own. The worker’s permit stays with the original employer throughout.

Who is excluded and when a fee applies

Domestic workers are excluded. The rule also covers only workers who are already authorised and living in Bahrain, and the LMRA has stressed that it does not create a new recruitment route from abroad. That means a Pakistani still at home cannot use it to get a Bahrain job. It helps Pakistanis already working there who could take a short assignment elsewhere.

The decision also lets an employer assign a worker to another establishment it owns, or to one in the same corporate group, for up to three months. The fee depends on Bahrainisation, the share of jobs reserved for Bahraini nationals. If the other establishment’s activity requires a lower Bahrainisation percentage than the worker’s registered employer, the other employer pays an additional fee. If it requires the same or a higher percentage, no extra fee applies.

The LMRA says the changes are meant to meet labour market needs, strengthen oversight and reduce unauthorised labour practices.