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Non-emergency American Citizen Services are now offered by appointment only. However, U.S. citizens renewing an adult passport do not need an appointment if they use the Consular Dropbox.
The Consular Section provides the following for United States citizens in Bahrain: updated security and travel information for those traveling to and living in Bahrain, information on how to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, information on voting overseas, information about filing taxes abroad. The Consular Section also offers the following services to American citizens: it accepts passport applications for first-time applicants and those who want to renew passports, registers the birth of children with the Consular Report of Birth Abroad certificate, provides notarial services for U. S. citizens as well as foreign nationals who will use certain documents in the U. S., provides a list of attorneys, offers medical information for American citizens in Bahrain, and aids those who are applying for social security benefits while overseas.
The Consular Section also provides emergency assistance to United States citizens in distress: when an American is financially destitute, arrested, separated from minor children, or sick. The Consular Section provides assistance to families of U. S. citizens who pass away in Bahrain.
American citizens are subject to local laws in the Kingdom of Bahrain. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Prior to travelling to Bahrain, please consult Bahrain’s Customs Authority website to learn about prohibited materials. In addition to the materials listed, the Embassy has received reports of foreigners arrested for bringing natural items commonly associated with drug use including CBD oil and poppy seeds.
The Department of State assists U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas and works to ensure their fair and humane treatment. If you are arrested in Bahrain, ask police or prison authorities to contact the U.S. embassy immediately.
The Department of State helps the family and friends of U.S. citizens who die abroad. We inform the U.S. citizen’s next-of-kin of the death and we provide information on arrangements for local burial or the return of remains to the United States and on disposition of estates and personal effects. We also issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad, an official record of death.
International Parental Child Abduction
Bahrain is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention). The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues works to resolve and prevent cases of international parental child abduction and to help children and families involved in abduction cases. For more information, see our international parental child abduction page on travel.state.gov. The Embassy can provide you with a list of local attorneys should you require legal representation. We can also monitor the welfare of children involved in custody disputes when the child is in Bahrain.
The Department of State helps U.S. citizens who are victims of crime overseas. We connect crime victims with police and other services and provide information and resources to assist with physical, emotional, and/or financial injuries from crime.
If you are concerned about the welfare of a U.S. citizen friend or family member in Bahrain, or if you need to contact them in an emergency, the Embassy can help. If you need the Embassy to check on the welfare and whereabouts of an U.S. citizen in Bahrain, please contact the Embassy at 1724-2700 or e-mail ManamaConsular@state.gov.
U.S. citizens in need of emergency financial assistance while abroad should first attempt to contact their family, friends, banking institution, or employer. Our American Citizen Services unit can assist in this effort, if necessary.
Use a commercial money transfer service, such as Western Union or MoneyGram., to wire money overseas. Money transfer cost comparison tools online can help you identify the best option. The person receiving the money will need to present proof of identity such as a passport. Link text: Be wary of International Financial Scams.
Sending Money through the U.S. Department of State
When the commercial options listed above are not available or feasible, family or friends may send funds via the U.S. Department of State for delivery to a destitute U.S. citizen abroad at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State assesses a $30 fee to establish an account and transfer funds.
Destitute U.S. citizens may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. government to travel to the United States. Repatriation loans must eventually be paid back to the U.S. government. Your U.S. passports will be limited at the time the loan is issued and in most cases you will not be issued a new passport until the loan is paid in full. Contact us for more information.
Consular Affairs (CA) is the public face of the Department of State for millions of people around the world. We provide many services, and the most common are listed below.
U.S. Citizens overseas can renew passports, replace passports, or apply for new passports.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
If you are a U.S. dual citizen or U.S. citizen living outside of the United States, you can register with the Selective Service System.
If you live in Bahrain and have questions about Social Security Administration (SSA) services, contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in Rome. For more information on their services and how to contact them, please visit their webpage at https://it.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/fbu/. For comprehensive information on SSA’s services abroad, please visit SSA’s webpage Service Around the World using the link below. If you are already receiving SSA benefits payments, there will be no change in the method of distribution of those payments.
U.S. service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services.
Depending on where you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) here. Print, sign, and return the FPCA to your local U.S. election office. Include your email address so election officials can reach you if there is a problem. If your state delivers ballots electronically by fax only, include your fax number. If you request electronic delivery and include your email address or fax number, you will receive your blank ballot 45 days before general and mid-term elections and generally 30 days before special, primary, and run-off elections for federal offices. We recommend completing a new FPCA each January, or when you move.
The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
Legal Assistance Medical AssistanceClick on the link below for a list of available local attorneys.
Click on the link below for a list of available local medical resources.
Bahrain is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption ( Hague Adoption Convention ). Therefore, when the Hague Adoption Convention entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008, intercountry adoption processing for Bahrain did not change. The Department of State does not maintain files on the adoption process in Bahrain because adoptions from Bahrain are rare. Fewer than five adoptions by American citizen parents have taken place in over a decade. You can find more information about authorized adoption service providers and the intercountry adoption process at travel.state.gov and are invited to direct questions to Adoption@state.gov.
If you have a child outside the United States the child may have acquired U.S. citizenship at birth if the requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act have been met as of the time of your child’s birth. To determine whether your child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth and to document that, you can apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) for your child. You may also choose to just apply for a U.S. passport for your child, although one benefit of a CRBA is that, unlike the U.S. passport, it does not expire and may be used as proof of acquisition of U.S. citizenship at birth. A full validity, unexpired U.S. passport is also proof of U.S. citizenship.
U.S. embassy and consulate personnel cannot perform marriages. Depending on the local law, civil or religious officials generally perform marriages. If your marriage overseas was performed in accordance with local law, it is valid in the country where it took place. Whether your marriage is recognized elsewhere depends on the laws of that place.
If you get married abroad and need to know if your marriage will be recognized in the United States and what documentation may be needed, contact the office of the Attorney General of your state of residence in the United States.
Transmission of U.S. citizenship depends on: 1) at least one parent having the nationality of the United States at the time of the child’s birth; 2) the existence of a blood relationship between the child and U.S. citizen parent(s); 3) documentary evidence demonstrating the U.S. citizen parent(s)’ presence in the United States prior to the child’s birth.
Please call: +973-1724-2700
Outside of Office Hours, contact: +973-1724-2700
Outside of Bahrain: +973-1724-2700
Emergency Contact – All Locations Get Travel Alerts International Parental Child Abduction Arrest of a U.S. Citizen Death of a U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Emergency Financial Assistance
