BAHRAIN COMPANY FORMATION
Company Formation Cost in Bahrain: Packages and Pricing
Company Formation | Investor Visa | Banking Assistance | Compliance Support
The cost of company formation in Bahrain is the government charges plus the package fee; both depend on the company type and activities. Compare the packages below or ask for an exact quote.
BAHRAIN
01 — 04
Company Formation Packages
| Scope of Services | Essential BHD 350 |
Professional BHD 500 |
Enterprise BHD 600 |
Executive BHD 750 |
Premier BHD 1,200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Consultation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Application Processing through Professional Body (Without POA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Commercial Registration Application | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Security Clearance & Name Approval | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Preparation & Submission of Project Summary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Commercial Address Lease Registration | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| EWA Account Opening (If Applicable) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drafting of Company Legal Documents (MOA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bank Account Opening Documentation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Notary Assistance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Commercial License Activation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| LMRA Registration | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Company Stamp Issuance | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dedicated Account Manager | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Priority Bank Account Assistance | – | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| BCCI Registration | – | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| GOSI Registration | – | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bahrain Investor Visa Application | – | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bahrain ID Assistance for Investor | – | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Medical Appointment Scheduling | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Banking & Medical Visit Assistance | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Personal Bank Account Assistance for Investors | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online Banking Activation Support | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| VAT Registration | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Complimentary Document Expiry Reminder (1 Year) | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Multi-Currency Banking Activation | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| One-Year Business License Compliance Management | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
Estimated Government Charges
Transparent fee structure for Bahrain company formation and regulatory approvals.
| Fee Category | Amount (BHD) | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Trade Name Reservation | BHD 50.000 | One-Time |
| Commercial Registration Issuance | BHD 50.000 | One-Time |
| Activity Licensing (First 3 Activities) | BHD 100.000 | Annual |
| License Issuance | BHD 20.000 | One-Time |
| Deed Notarization (Private) | BHD 125.000 | One-Time |
| Municipality Pre-Approval | BHD 10.000 | One-Time |
| Municipality Deposit (Refundable) | BHD 100.000 | Refundable Deposit |
| BCCI Membership | BHD 16.000 | Annual |
Cost Guide
What Affects the Cost of Company Formation in Bahrain?
Company type
Common choices are a WLL (limited liability company), a branch of a foreign company, a representative office, a partnership or a B.S.C. (shareholding company). The type decides which documents you prepare and whether a memorandum of association (MOA) must be drafted and notarised.
It also sets your yearly duties. WLLs, B.S.C.s and foreign company branches must file audited annual reports with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) within six months of the financial year-end.
Business activities and approvals
Every activity on your Commercial Registration (CR) is licensed. The first three share one activity-licensing charge (see the table above), and each extra activity adds to the yearly charge.
Some activities also need another authority's approval, such as a Central Bank of Bahrain licence for regulated financial services, and a few are not open to 100% foreign ownership.
Office or virtual office
Your company will need a registered commercial address. A virtual office in an approved business centre suits activities that run from a laptop. Activities that need storage, a workshop or a customer-facing counter usually need a traditional lease.
Rent is paid to the landlord or business centre, not the government. Compare your office options in Bahrain before you set a budget.
Visas and staff
Foreign shareholders who want to live in Bahrain usually apply for an investor visa, and each foreign employee needs a work permit from the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).
Visas bring their own charges, such as permit, health-care, medical test and ID card fees, and the LMRA also charges a monthly fee for each expatriate employee. The Bahrain investor visa application is included from the Enterprise package up.
Bank account
Every package includes bank account opening documentation. Higher packages add priority bank assistance, help with a personal account for the investor, online banking and multi-currency activation.
The bank sets its own charges and any balance requirements. Any share capital you pay in stays the company's money; it is not a fee.
Document attestation
Individual shareholders mainly need clear passport copies and proof of address. Corporate shareholders and parent companies must provide documents such as the certificate of incorporation and a board resolution. These are usually notarised, then apostilled or embassy-attested, depending on the country that issued them.
The cost depends on how many documents need attesting and where they were issued. See the company formation document checklist.
One-Time vs Recurring
One-Time and Annual Costs of a Bahrain Company
Some costs are paid once, when the company is formed.
|
Cost Type
|
Examples
|
When You Pay
|
|---|---|---|
| One-Time Costs | Trade name reservation, CR issuance, license issuance, deed notarization, municipal pre-approval, refundable municipal deposit | At the time of formation |
| Recurring (Annual) Costs | Activity licensing (from BHD 100 for first 3 activities), BCCI membership, LMRA charges (per employee), license renewal | Every year |
Choosing a Package
Which Company Formation Package Fits You?
Essential: BHD 350
Suits: founders who already have residency, or who do not need an investor visa through the company.
Includes: every core setup step in the table above, from consultation, CR application and MOA drafting to bank account documentation, licence activation and LMRA registration.
Professional: BHD 500
Suits: founders who want one named contact to manage the whole process.
Adds to Essential: company stamp issuance and a dedicated account manager.
Enterprise: BHD 600
Suits: foreign founders who need Bahrain residency as an investor. This is the first package that includes the investor visa.
Adds to Professional: priority bank account assistance, BCCI registration, social insurance registration (listed as GOSI in the package table), the Bahrain investor visa application and Bahrain ID assistance.
Executive: BHD 750
Suits: founders moving to Bahrain who want their personal banking and medical steps handled, and businesses that will register for VAT.
Adds to Enterprise: medical appointment scheduling, banking and medical visit assistance, personal bank account assistance for the investor, online banking activation and VAT registration.
Premier: BHD 1,200
Suits: founders who want the first year of licence compliance managed for them.
Adds to Executive: one-year business licence compliance management, a complimentary one-year document expiry reminder and multi-currency banking activation.
Not sure yet?
Start with the structure. Our guide to company formation in Bahrain explains the company types and how the process works.
When renewal time comes, our business licence renewal service can handle your CR renewal and compliance checks.
FAQ
Company Formation Cost Questions
1. Is the government fee included in the package price?
2. Which package includes the Bahrain investor visa?
3. What will my Bahrain company cost to run each year?
4. Do I need to register for VAT when I set up the company?
5. How can I keep my company formation cost low?
6. Can I get an exact quote before I commit?
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