No on-arrival Bahraini visa at causeway for some expats 

(MENAFN - Arab News) The chief of the Saudi Passport Department at the King Fahd Causeway has confirmed reports that Bahrain is stopping some expatriates with Saudi work permits from entering the country via the causeway.

"Yes, that is true," said Col. Sami Al-Rasheed. "Expatriates whose profession in the iqama is listed as house driver, watchman, laborer, plumber, electrician, painter, welder, mason or shepherd will no longer be allowed to enter Bahrain without a valid entry visa issued by the Bahraini Embassy in Riyadh."

Until Sunday, all Saudi iqama holders with valid exit/re-entry papers were given an on-arrival visa irrespective of the visa category. While those having professional category visas were given free entry, the labor category arrivals had to pay 2 Bahraini dinars. The visa was valid for 72 hours.

Al-Rasheed admitted that the decision came as a surprise to a large number of regular causeway commuters. "On Sunday, we saw many students, especially women, who are enrolled in Bahraini institutions and who depend on their family drivers to take them to and from Bahrain, being stuck for many hours," he said.

Al-Rasheed said all travelers had been informed about the new Bahraini system at the Saudi immigration counter. "Unless specified otherwise, expatriates will have to get the Bahraini entry visa from the country's embassy in Riyadh," he said.

There is no bar from the Saudi side, he clarified. The Saudi Passport Department issues six-month multiple exit/re-entry permits to all legal expatriates irrespective of the profession on their iqama. Drivers, electricians and plumbers — everybody gets these permits provided the request is signed by their Saudi sponsors.

For nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council states, there is no visa requirement. In Dubai and other GCC states, only expatriates with professional work permits in any member country are given on-arrival visas. All GCC countries' immigration data is in one network. In Dubai, for instance, the immigration authorities demand your iqama number and immediately check your profession before granting you an on-arrival visa.

By Siraj Wahab