Bahrain’s sole apostille authority is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — with same-day e-apostille and a BHD 20 flat fee; no intermediate notarisation required for public documents.
Overview
Bahrain acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention on 31 December 2013, implementing it through Decree No. 56 of 2012. The sole designated competent authority under the Convention is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), not any regional office or notary. This is a key difference from countries where district-level bodies issue apostilles: in Bahrain, MOFA handles all outgoing apostille stamps. No intermediate certification is required before the apostille can be issued on Bahraini public documents — MOFA applies the apostille directly. The fee is BHD 20 for all apostille types, issued on the same day in person or as an e-apostille. Bahrain operates a Category 2 e-Register using QR-code verification (since 2014) and began issuing e-apostilles in December 2015. For foreign documents presented in Bahrain, MOFA runs a separate attestation service: documents must first be authenticated by the issuing country’s foreign affairs ministry and then by Bahrain’s embassy or consulate in that country before MOFA will attest them. Verified against assets.hcch.net (Apostille Questionnaire 2021) and mofa.gov.bh as of June 2026.
Apostille for Bahraini Documents (Outgoing)
- Competent Authority: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is the sole Hague Convention competent authority for Bahrain. There is no regional or district authority — all apostille requests go to MOFA directly.
- No intermediate certification required: Unlike many countries where documents must first go through a notary or other body, Bahrain’s MOFA applies the apostille directly to public documents without requiring an intermediate certification step. MOFA verifies authenticity against an electronic database of signatures, seals, and stamps.
- Fee: BHD 20 for all apostilles (single flat rate). Issued on the same day for in-person requests and for e-apostille requests.
- e-Apostille: Bahrain has issued e-apostilles since December 2015 using Adobe-based digital signatures and QR-code verification. The e-Register is Category 2 and accessible for verification. E-apostilles are sent to applicants via email.
- Languages: The apostille form is available in three languages (Arabic, English, French); the blank fields are completed in English using computer software.
- Enquiry about destination country: MOFA’s apostille application form asks for the destination country — applicants should confirm whether the receiving country is a Hague Convention member (if not, full legalisation is needed instead of an apostille).
Continue reading — paid members only.
This guide is part of our full paid membership library. Upgrade to access all 10 Bahrain guides, plus Migration Fee Protection up to USD 25,000 if your application doesn't go ahead for a qualifying reason.
See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues apostilles in Bahrain — is it the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a notary?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is the sole competent authority designated by Bahrain under the Hague Apostille Convention, as confirmed in Bahrain’s official response to the HCCH Apostille Questionnaire 2021. Unlike countries where notaries or district governors issue apostilles, in Bahrain all apostille requests go to MOFA. The fee is BHD 20 per document, issued on the same day.
Do I need a notary or intermediate certification before applying for a Bahraini apostille?
No. Bahrain’s MOFA confirmed (HCCH 2021 Questionnaire, Q.12) that no intermediate certification is required for any public document before an apostille is issued — MOFA applies it directly. The authority verifies authenticity through its own electronic database of signatures and seals from Bahraini public bodies.
Can I get a Bahraini apostille electronically without visiting MOFA in person?
Yes. Bahrain has issued e-apostilles since December 2015. The e-apostille is signed electronically using an Adobe-based digital certificate, affixed to a scanned public document, and sent to the applicant by email. Bahrain also maintains a QR-code-based e-Register (Category 2) for verification of issued apostilles. Processing is on the same day as the request.
What is the correct chain for getting a foreign degree certificate accepted by LMRA or NHRA?
The standard chain is: (1) authenticate the document at the ministry/authority in the issuing country; (2) have it attested by Bahrain’s embassy or consulate in that country; (3) submit to MOFA’s attestation service in Bahrain for final attestation. Additionally, for professional licensing, NHRA may require credential verification through its online Mehan system (mehan.nhra.bh) in addition to the MOFA attestation. Always confirm current requirements with the receiving agency before dispatching original documents.
Does Bahrain recognise apostilles from all countries automatically?
Bahrain accepts apostilles from all Hague Convention contracting states, as it has not reported any systematic refusals (HCCH 2021 Questionnaire, Q.34). However, Bahrain’s MOFA does not automatically recognise apostilled documents from non-Hague countries — those require full consular legalisation via the Bahraini embassy in the country of origin and MOFA in Bahrain.
I need to attest my documents for use in a country that is not a Hague member. What do I do?
If your Bahraini document needs to be used in a non-Hague-Convention country, you must go through MOFA’s legalisation service rather than the apostille route. Contact MOFA’s Consular Services Sector (mofa.gov.bh) to initiate legalisation, which involves a different procedure and fee from the BHD 20 apostille stamp. MOFA’s application can be submitted via the bahrain.bh government portal.