School and College Diplomas for Bahrain

U.S. Degrees for Jobs, Licences and Study in Bahrain

Bahrain’s workforce is international, and U.S. degrees are widely respected there. But employers, licensing bodies and education authorities in Bahrain do not take a diploma at face value. They expect it to be authenticated, and for many professions they also verify it with the university. Knowing which Bahraini body will review your degree helps you prepare the right documents the first time.

Employment and work permits

Many Bahraini employers ask new hires for an apostilled degree when they apply for a work permit through the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), especially for professional and managerial roles, and for the employee’s file afterwards. Government and semi-government employers, banks and large companies are particularly likely to insist on it. Ask HR early, because they may need it before your start date.

Regulated professions

Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals are licensed by the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA), which commonly verifies qualifications directly with the issuing institution through a primary-source verification process, in addition to reviewing the documents. Engineers apply to the Council for the Regulation of Practicing Engineering Professions, and teachers and lawyers face their own requirements. Authenticated degrees and transcripts are part of nearly every one of these files.

Equivalency and further study

To have a degree formally recognized in Bahrain, for example for a government post, a promotion tied to qualifications, or admission to a graduate program, graduates apply for equivalency with the Bahraini education authorities. They review the institution’s accreditation, the mode of study and the transcript, so prepare the diploma and transcripts together. Fully online degrees and qualifications from unaccredited institutions may be examined more closely or refused.

Registrar, notary, apostille

A Secretary of State cannot apostille a university registrar’s signature directly, so the standard method is for the registrar or another school official to sign a certification before a U.S. notary, confirming that the diploma is genuine. The Secretary of State of the notary’s state then issues the apostille. A photocopy that you notarize yourself is not accepted by most states for academic documents. Bahrain has accepted apostilles since December 31, 2013, so no U.S. Department of State or Bahrain Embassy step is needed.

Names and translation

If your name has changed since graduation, include a marriage certificate or court order linking the names. Bahraini authorities may ask for an Arabic translation, made by a certified translator in Bahrain.