Frequently Asked Questions

Applications are submitted through the (sijilat.bh) by attaching the required documents as specified on the Sijilat system then the application is automatically forwarded to the Authority.

• Short-term accommodation activities
• Food and beverage service activities
• Restaurants for Tourist Services
• Operation of Sea/Diving Tours
• Operation of Sea/Diving Tours without Pearl Diving
• Operation of Sea/Diving Tours
• Operation of Sea/Diving Tours with Pearl Diving
• Activities of amusement parks and theme parks
• Travel office activities
• Travel Agencies Office
• Arranging and Assembling Tours
• Tourism related consultancy
• Organization of conventions, events, and trade shows
• Offices for Organizing tourism festivals
• Production of live theatrical presentations and other stage productions
• Activities of head offices or Management Offices
• Hospitality Management

Each tourism license has activity-specific requirements, please refer to the Sijilat website when submitting your application.

According to Resolution No. 41 of 2021/ Resolution No. 38 of 2022/ Resolution No. 32 of 2023/ Resolution No. 12 of 2024 regarding the determination of tourist sites:

• Block 338, Adliya.
• Blocks 257 and 258, Amwaj Islands.
• Block 364, Reef Island.
• Block 264, Marassi Bahrain, Diyar Al Muharraq.
• Blocks 346 and 428, Waterfront.
• Block 345, Juffair.
• Block 322, Manama.

You can obtain the tourism license after completing the inspection visit, connecting the establishment to the electronic statistics system, and paying the licensing fees.

You can obtain the tourism license for travel and tourism offices after completing the inspection visit and paying the licensing fees.

(Travel and tourism offices are exempt from tourism licensing fees).

According to Resolution No. 36 of 2019, the necessary documents must be attached for a travel and tourism office license:

• Copy of the manager's certificate from an IATA-approved course in travel or tourism.
• Copy of the manager's experience certificate in the travel and tourism field.
• Copies of the experience certificates of employees working in the travel or tourism field.

According to Resolution No. 93 of 2017, the necessary documents must be attached for operating marine cruises:

• Copy of the vessel inspection certificate (for at least one vessel).
• Copy of the vessel insurance certificate.

You may conduct a trial (Soft) opening after the inspection visit has been completed and after obtaining the Civil Defense certificate. The trial opening period must not exceed three months.

No, you must complete the procedures for obtaining the tourism license before commencing operations.

To apply for a tourism restaurant at a tourist site, submit the application through the Sijilat website. The restaurant must be located within one of the designated tourist sites. You must also attach:

• Copy of the property title deed.
• No objection letter from the property owner if the applicant is not the owner.

Yes, applicants for a tourism restaurant license may choose the appropriate classification or more than one classification, in accordance with Resolution No. 11 of 2024.

Yes, applications can be submitted through the Sijilat website. There are no licensing fees for exhibition activities. However, organizing tourism festivals requires a licensing fee of BHD 250.

(According to Resolution No. 1 of 2025 regarding the regulation of conferences and trade fairs)

Yes. Resolution No. 3 of 2024 governs the classification of hotels and hotel apartments.

Tourism licensing fees are specified in Resolution No. 1 of 2018 regarding the fees for issuing and renewing tourism service licenses.

You may apply for license renewal no earlier than three months before the license expiry date.

The commercial registration (CR) must be valid.

License renewal applications are submitted through the Authority's portal using the Renewal service.

No documents are required for renewal for most activities. However, for marine cruise operations, the following documents must be attached:

• Copy of the vessel inspection certificate (for at least one vessel).
• Copy of the vessel insurance certificate.

No, tourism licenses must be renewed annually.