Part of our Nursing Councils of the World series. Last checked: October 2026.
Nurses in Bahrain are licensed by the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA). Applications are made through its online system, Mehan. Bahrain has some of the lowest licensing costs in the Gulf and a fast official turnaround once your file is complete.
It starts with an invitation
You cannot open an NHRA file alone. A licensed Bahrain healthcare facility must invite you through the NHRA system. The invitation email contains your link to Mehan. Get the job offer first.
Step by step
- Invitation from the facility.
- Primary source verification through DataFlow, QuadraBay or Clean Sheet Group.
- Mehan application at mehan.nhra.bh. You choose your profession, validate the verification report, enter your education and experience, answer the questionnaire and pay the application fee.
- NHRA review. If you need to sit the exam, an eligibility code appears in Mehan.
- Prometric exam. Book it with the code, then upload your result.
- LMRA letter. On approval, the NHRA notifies the Labour Market Regulatory Authority.
- Work permit, CPR and health check. Upload your CPR (Bahrain ID) and a fitness certificate from a licensed Bahrain facility.
- Pay the licence fee within two weeks of the notice. Your e-licence then appears in Mehan.
Do not start work before the licence is issued. NHRA circulars describe practising without a licence as a criminal act.
Documents
- The verification report.
- A good standing certificate issued within the last six months.
- Attested education certificates and transcripts.
- Experience certificates.
- A valid licence from your last country of practice.
- Your CV, passport and a white-background photo.
The NHRA assigns your category (for example, General, Practical or Specialist Nurse, or Midwife) during evaluation, based on your qualification and experience.
Fees
| Item | BHD | USD (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Mehan application | 20 | 53 |
| Prometric exam | 69.5 | 184.50 |
| DataFlow (regular) | 120 | 318 |
| QuadraBay (regular, alternative to DataFlow) | 110 | 292 |
| Licence issuance (nursing) | 50 | 133 |
| Yearly renewal (nursing) | 40 | 106 |
| Good standing certificate (later, if you leave) | 20 (30 urgent) | 53 (80) |
| Typical total to first licence | about 250–260 | about 665–690 |
Timeline
- Verification is the slowest step, typically 3–8 weeks. DataFlow’s express service promises about 14 business days in most cases.
- The NHRA’s own service standard (SLA v3.0, September 2026) allows 5 working days for its licensing step once the file is complete. The clock stops while anything is missing.
- Overall, most nurses take about 2–4 months.
Renewal, CPD and transfers
- Renew yearly through Mehan before expiry, with proof of at least 20 CPD hours a year, confirmation of employment and a periodic fitness report. Late renewal can bring penalties or force you to reapply.
- Moving to a new employer, or upgrading from General to Specialist, needs NHRA approval through Mehan.
- A Bahrain licence does not automatically transfer to other Gulf countries, but your DataFlow report often can.
For Indian nurses
Bahrain is an Emigration Check Required (ECR) country, so you need emigration clearance from the Protector of Emigrants before you fly. Since 25 August 2025, nurse recruitment to Bahrain no longer needs a Country Specific Order.
Comparing the Gulf? See Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.
Sources: Prosyllabus, NHRA nurse licence process (checked 25 September 2026), citing the NHRA cost sheet and SLA v3.0; NurseHub GCC, How to get a Bahrain NHRA nursing licence (April 2026). Confirm details in Mehan or with the NHRA.