Bahrain Launches 90-Day Temporary Work Rule for Expats
Bahrain has introduced a new regulation that allows foreign expatriate workers to undertake temporary assignments with a second employer for up to 90 days without needing to transfer their primary work permit.
The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) announced the implementation of Resolution No. 2 of 2026, a move designed to help businesses manage short-term staffing requirements and project-based workloads more effectively. The rules were issued on 22 September 2026 and officially announced on 28 September 2026.
How the temporary assignments work
Under the new framework, employees are permitted to work for a secondary entity provided they remain within their licensed occupation. This initiative is expected to provide greater flexibility for the kingdom's large expatriate population, which includes over 3 lakh Indian nationals.
To qualify for this arrangement, several specific conditions must be met:
- The worker must provide written consent for the secondment.
- Both the current employer and the receiving employer must reach a formal agreement.
- The process must be completed through the Expat Management System (EMS) using the eKey 2.0 digital identity.
- Final formal approval must be granted by the LMRA.
Fees and Bahrainisation requirements
The cost of facilitating these temporary roles falls on the receiving employer. A standard BHD 5 administrative fee is required to initiate the process. However, there is an additional financial consideration regarding local employment targets.
If the receiving employer’s Bahrainisation target rate is lower than that of the worker's original employer, they must pay a non-refundable parallel fee of BHD 62.5 for the 90-day period. This ensures that the temporary movement of labour does not undermine national employment goals.
The regulation also allows employers to deploy staff across their own group companies or establishments, even those with different commercial registration numbers, provided the receiving entity meets or exceeds the necessary Bahrainisation percentages.
Rules and restrictions to note
While the policy offers new opportunities for project-based work, it is not a loophole for unrestricted job changes. The regulation includes several strict limitations:
- Exclusions: Domestic workers and companies currently undergoing ownership transfers are not eligible for this scheme.
- Employment Limits: The rule does not permit multiple simultaneous employment or unrestricted changes in job roles.
- Legal Protection: During the secondment period, both the original and the receiving employers share joint liability for the worker's salary, legal rights, and all other employment obligations.
Expatriates are strongly advised to verify their legal status through official channels, such as the LMRA website, before beginning any temporary work assignments to ensure full compliance with the new laws.