Passport and Driver’s License for Bahrain

Certified ID Copies and Driving Records for Bahrain

Bahraini institutions verify identity carefully. A foreign shareholder or director of a Bahraini company, a non-resident opening a bank account, an overseas buyer of property, or a person appointing a representative from abroad will often be asked for a certified copy of their passport, authenticated for use in Bahrain. Because you keep your passport, it is the copy, not the passport itself, that receives the apostille.

When Bahrain asks for a certified passport copy

Company formation and changes: registrations through Sijilat require identification of foreign shareholders, partners and managers. Where they are not in Bahrain to present their passports, certified copies are used. Banking: Bahraini banks need verified identity for account holders and authorized signatories under their know-your-customer rules. Property and leases: transactions with the land registry and some lease registrations involve identification of the parties. Powers of attorney: a Bahraini representative often files a certified passport copy of the person who granted the power.

How the copy is certified

States differ on whether notaries may certify copies. Where state law allows it, the notary compares a color copy with your passport and certifies it as a true copy. Where it does not, you sign a short sworn copy certification before the notary, stating that the attached copy is true and complete. Either way, the Secretary of State of the notary’s state apostilles it. Use a valid passport and copy the full photo page clearly. Bahrain has accepted apostilles since December 31, 2013, so no embassy step is involved.

Driving in Bahrain

Visitors can usually drive for a limited period on their U.S. licence, often together with an International Driving Permit, which is not apostilled. Residents need a Bahraini licence, issued by the General Directorate of Traffic. Depending on current rules and your circumstances, a U.S. licence may be exchanged or you may need to complete training and tests. Where Bahrain asks for proof of your driving history or licence status, the right document is a certified driving record from your state motor vehicle agency, apostilled by the issuing state. A certified copy of the licence card itself, notarized like a passport copy, serves only as proof of identity.

Consistency matters

Bahraini systems link everything to your passport and CPR number. Make sure the name on every certified copy, power of attorney and corporate document matches your passport exactly, including middle names and the order of names.