The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Bahrain is currently not granting visas to Saudi Arabia to non-residents of Bahrain. If you are planning to visit Bahrain and may want to travel to Saudi Arabia, it is suggested you apply in the United States.

Services for Americans living in Bahrain include the following:

 

Passport replacement

In the event that a passport is lost or stolen, or if a new passport is needed, a consul can issue a replacement passport. If you believe your passport has been stolen, first report the theft to the local police and get a police declaration. For U.S. citizens age 16 and over a first-time or replacement passport costs sixty U.S. dollars (23 BD). For U.S. citizens under age 16 a first-time or replacement passport costs forty U.S. dollars (15 BD). The fee to renew a passport is forty U.S. dollars for all ages. All fees must be paid in Bahraini or U.S. currency. Passports generally take 2 days to process.

In order to obtain a replacement passport the following is needed:

- proof of U.S. citizenship (i.e. a previous passport, birth certificate, naturalization papers, previous registration with the Embassy, etc.)

- one 2" x 2" (5 cm x 5 cm) photo

- application form completely filled out

- application fee

Assistance in finding medical help

If you become sick or hurt, you can contact a consular officer for a list of local doctors, dentists, and medical specialists. If you are injured or become seriously ill, a consul will help you find medical assistance and, at your request, inform your family or friends.

 

Assistance in getting funds

Should you lose all your money and other financial resources, consular officers can help you contact your family, bank, or employer to arrange for them to send you money.

 

Help in an emergency

In the event that your family needs to reach you because of an emergency at home or because they are worried about your welfare they should call the State Department's Citizens Emergency Center at (202) 647-5225. The State Department will relay the message to consular officers in the country in which you are traveling. Consular officers will try to locate you, pass on urgent messages, and, consistent with the Privacy Act, report back to your family.

 

Visit in jail

If you are arrested, you should ask the authorities to notify a U.S. Consul. The Consular Officer cannot get you out of jail. You are in a foreign country and are subject to its laws. However, the Consul can work to protect your legitimate interests and provide a list of local attorneys. The Consul can also visit you while you are in detention and contact your family and friends.

 

Making arrangements after the death of an American citizen

When an American citizen dies abroad, a consular officer notifies the American's family and informs them about options and costs for disposition of remains.

 

Notarization

Notarization services can be provided for a fee of $55 effective Feb. 1998.

 

The consular section can also:

- issue a Consular Report of Birth Abroad,

- distribute federal benefits payments,

- handle personal estates of deceased U.S. citizens,

- assist with absentee voting and Selective Service registration,

- provide U.S. tax forms.

Consular officers cannot act as travel agents, banks, lawyers, investigators, or law enforcement officers. Please do not expect them to find you employment, acquire residence or driving permits, act as interpreters, search for missing luggage, or settle disputes with hotel managers. They can, however, tell you how to get help on these and other matters.

In order to allow the consular section to better help and serve you, please register with the Embassy as soon as you arrive in the country.

Embassy Hotline Text

Manama, Bahrain

September 10, 20002.   The US Government has continued to receive credible indications that extremist groups and individuals are planning additional terrorist actions against U.S. interests. Such actions may be imminent and include suicide operations.  The US Embassy in Manama will be closed on Tuesday, September 10 and also on Wednesday, September 11.  The Bahrain School will also be closed September 10 and September 11.   The U.S. Department of State also issued a worldwide caution on September 9, 2002.   We remind American citizens in Bahrain to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and exercise caution, varying their routines and avoiding places where Americans are generally known to congregate or visit in large numbers.   US Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or suspend public services from time to time to review their security posture and ensure its adequacy.  In those instances, US citizens are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with their nearest Embassy or Consulate.    For additional information, please refer to the US Department of State's worldwide public caution dated September 9, 2002.  More information on this announcement can be obtained from the State Department's website at www.state.gov.     May 28, 2002.  Message to all American citizens in Bahrain:     The Embassy is aware of several likely demonstrations this weekend that should be avoided. The following list of events should not be presumed complete, as demonstrations may occur anywhere in Bahrain with little or no advance warning. A large crowd is expected to gather on Budaiya Highway in and around the Shakhura area on Wednesday and/or Thursday evening. Due to limited travel options on the highway, traffic will likely be blocked. As a result, Budaiya Highway should be avoided these two evenings, and those living in the area should limit their travel on Wednesday and Thursday evenings to essential trips only.     There is a pro-Palestinian demonstration scheduled for 1600 on Thursday in Muharraq. However, the date of the event may change to Friday. American citizens are encouraged to avoid the Muharraq area during the weekend in the late afternoon. A demonstration is scheduled for Friday at 1630 in the Zinj District (American Embassy area). This rally has been widely advertised on the internet, on posters and in the media, and is expected to be very large.     The rally will begin near the Al Saboor Mosque near the Sulmaniya traffic circle (Dairy Queen) and then proceed to the American Embassy. The roads adjacent to or near the Embassy should be avoided on Friday afternoon. Each American traveling to or residing in Bahrain should continue to take seriously the State Department's recommendation to maintain a low profile, avoid large public gatherings and to vary their travel routes and times.     Whenever possible, Americans should continue to avoid the downtown Souq, Central Market, Exhibition Avenue and the Isa Town Souq. In addition to these areas, the Embassy cautions Americans against frequenting the Seef Mall/Karbabad area after dusk.     As part of the continuing effort to monitor the local security situation, Americans are requested to report to the Embassy any physical or verbal threats or attacks. The Embassy may be reached by calling 273-300 during operating hours, or at 275-126 after hours, or by email at consularmanama@state.gov. Travellers to Bahrain may obtain additional country-specific travel information from the Department of State internet site at http://travel.state.gov.

 

May15, 2002.  Message to all American citizens in Bahrain:     The Embassy has become aware of several recent incidents involving American citizens, one of which involved the beating of a US service member.     Although there is no evidence that these were politically motivated acts, that possibility does exist. For this reason we are reminding American citizens of the need for  continued vigilance and attention to security.     The incidents of the past week have included verbal harassment in the Central Market and Adliya, eggs thrown on a vehicle and vehicles swerving near cyclists and pedestrians. The most serious incident occurred on May 9 in Juffair, when two U.S. military personnel were assaulted by a group of young men.     These incidents underscore the need for continued security awareness on the part of the American community in Bahrain. Each American traveling to or residing in Bahrain should continue to take seriously the State Department's recommendation to maintain a low profile, avoid large public gatherings and to vary their travel routes and times.     Most of the reported incidents occurred in the areas previously identified by the Embassy as being likely centers of political demonstrations and anti-American sentiment. These areas are the downtown Souq, Central Market, Exhibition Avenue and the Isa Town Souq. In addition to these areas, the Embassy continues to caution Americans against frequenting the Seef Mall/Karbabad area after dusk.     As part of the continuing effort to monitor the local security situation, Americans are requested to report to the Embassy any physical or verbal threats or attacks. The Embassy may be reached by calling 273-300 during operating hours, or at 275-126 after hours, or by email at consularmanama@state.gov. Travellers to Bahrain may obtain additional country-specific travel information from the Department of State internet site at http://travel.state.gov.