What you need to enter Bahrain with an Icelandic passport
Icelandic citizens need a visa for Bahrain, but they can get it on arrival at the border.
- Minimum passport validity
- 6 months
Why is this passport validity required? →
Last verified: 23 September 2026
Verified practical details
You can get your visa on arrival in Bahrain, but it's worth preparing the paperwork ahead of time:
Authorisation system
Visa on arrival or electronic visa (eVisa)
Bahrain issues the visa at the border, at Manama airport, or online through the official eVisa portal. The tourist visa is for two weeks, renewable for another two. Online, you pay twice: first the application fee and, if approved, the visa fee; neither is refunded if the visa is refused or entry is denied.
Apply on the official site →Visa, e-Visa, or electronic authorisation? What's the difference →
Required documents
- Passport valid for at least six months.
- Visa on arrival or electronic visa; proof of return or onward travel may be requested when applying.
- Foreigners who have been in countries affected by the Ebola outbreak in the last 30 days are not admitted.
Transit rules
Visas are renewed at the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs department of the Ministry of Interior. Departure can be blocked for anyone under a travel ban, involved in legal proceedings or with unpaid debts, and those affected sometimes only find out when they try to leave.
More Bahrain rules
They don't depend on your passport, so they are on the Bahrain page:
Official portal: https://www.evisa.gov.bh/. Destination data verified on 23 September 2026. Sources: exteriores.gob.es (travel advice of Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation for Bahrain, updated 10 June 2026: advice to postpone travel, passport validity, green booklet, two-week renewable visa at the border and online, currency, alcohol); evisa.gov.bh (official portal: visa on arrival country list, two non-refundable payments); gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bahrain (UK Government: renewal, exit bans, Ebola); who.int (WHO) and sanidad.gob.es (Spain's Ministry of Health, "Listado de países"): yellow fever; data.unesco.org (World Heritage List). All checked on 23 September 2026. Also: customs.gov.bh (Bahrain Customs Affairs, "Duty Free Allowances": tobacco allowances, 3 litres of alcohol, 12 cans of beer and 300 dinars; accessed 25 September 2026); gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bahrain (overstay penalties, re-read on 25 September 2026).
This pair in context
In the other direction, citizens of Bahrain need a visa to enter Iceland. See the Bahrain → Iceland page.
All 10 passports from Northern Europe that VisaRadar tracks need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival to enter Bahrain. Same result as Iceland: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia and Lithuania.
With a passport from Iceland, in the rest of Western Asia you can enter Armenia, Cyprus, Georgia, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Turkey and United Arab Emirates visa-free; you need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival for Azerbaijan, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria; you need a visa for Yemen.
A passport from Iceland ranks 40 of 199 in the VisaRadar passport ranking and reaches 154 of 198 destinations without applying for a visa in advance.
Counts from the same requirements matrix behind this page's verdict, using the UN M49 subregions.
Frequently asked questions
Do Icelandic citizens need a visa for Bahrain?
Yes, but you can obtain it directly upon arrival at Bahrain's entry point.
What minimum passport validity is required?
Passport valid for at least six months.
What currency is used in Bahrain?
Bahraini Dinar (BHD).
What do Icelandic passport holders need for the countries near Bahrain?
With a passport from Iceland, in the rest of Western Asia you can enter Armenia, Cyprus, Georgia, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Turkey and United Arab Emirates visa-free; you need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival for Azerbaijan, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria; you need a visa for Yemen.
Related pages
See Bahrain requirements for other passports →
Informational only. Always verify requirements with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.