 Visitors to Formula 1 events on April 4-6 can obtain free visas from March 23 to April to 6. The multiple re-entry visa is valid for two weeks from the date of first entry.
Visitors don’t need to carry passports as no visa stamps will be put on them. A document indicating the two-week visa will be issued to visitors on arrival.
They can also apply for visa through www.evisa.gov.bh or the General Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Residence. The application’s conditions depend on the visa-seeker’s nationality.
Visitors from G35 group of nations can get visa on arrival. The countries include Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, the US and Vatican City.
Visitors from Brazil, Chile, Cyprus, Hungary, Panama, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan and Venezuela can also obtain visa on arrival.
GCC residents can also obtain F1 visa on arrival or obtain a pre-arranged visa over the Internet.
All nationals except the above and GCC residents must have a sponsor to obtain a pre-arranged visa. The sponsor can be a Bahraini commercial entity or individuals.
Sponsored visas can be pre-arranged by the sponsor and obtained from the directorate in Manama. These are available only to Bahraini commercial entities. People selling F1 tickets outside Bahrain and whose customers are not G44 or GCC residents must have a Bahraini sponsor to arrange F1 visa on their behalf.
The directorate encourages Bahraini commercial entities selling tickets or providing accommodation, to register online.
Fast-track lanes have been set up at the airport to deal with F1 passports and immigration procedures. The visitors will have to fill in arrival/departure cards which will be distributed to airlines and be available at the information desk before the immigration counters. A special entry stamp will be put on the passport and the card. The hard copy of the card will be attached to the passport and removed at departure.
Regulations
Visitors must retain the stamped departure card in their passports to speed up departure.
They must produce a valid F1 ticket, proof of purchase or identification proving he/she is associated with the F1 events.
Passport must be valid for length of stay in Bahrain.
Visitors must have a valid confirmed travel tickets to leave Bahrain.
Visa holders must not take up paid employments.
They must be able to support themselves during their stay in Bahrain.
F1 visa is not available for applicants with endorsees and cannot be extended. Source: Bahrain Tribune |
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