Bahrain E-Secondment 2026: What Employers Must Check

Reviewed: 29 October 2026. Confirm the current process in Bahrain’s Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) system before making staffing or employment decisions.

Bahrain has introduced an electronic secondment service that can allow an employer to temporarily use an expatriate employee who is sponsored by another employer, subject to the required approvals and conditions. In an immigration alert dated 1 October 2026, EY reported that a secondment may be granted for up to 90 days.

This is a temporary assignment route, not a permanent transfer of sponsorship and not permission to begin work before the required approvals are complete. Employers, recruiters and workers should check the employee’s permit validity and follow the live instructions in the LMRA Expatriate Management System (EMS).

What is Bahrain’s electronic secondment service?

The service provides a process for one employer to request the temporary assignment of an expatriate worker who is sponsored by another employer. It can help with short-term operational needs or project support without making a permanent sponsorship transfer. The arrangement remains conditional on the worker’s valid work permit and the required approvals.

According to EY’s 1 October 2026 alert, the maximum secondment period may be up to 90 days. Treat that as a maximum, not an automatic entitlement: the approved dates and the current portal instructions control the specific arrangement.

Key conditions to check before applying

• Valid work permit: The employee must hold a valid work permit throughout the secondment period.
• Three-party approval: Approval is required from the current employer, the requesting employer and the expatriate worker.
• Employer responsibilities: Both employers must acknowledge and accept their respective obligations during the assignment.
• Maximum period: The secondment may be granted for up to 90 days, subject to the approval and conditions shown in the system.
• Permit expiry or cancellation: EY reports that the secondment arrangement becomes invalid if the employee’s work permit expires or is cancelled.
• Fee payment deadline: After the employee approves, the requesting employer is notified to complete payment of the secondment fee. EY’s alert says payment must be completed within 30 days.

How the electronic process works

EY’s review of the published workflow describes the following sequence. Employers should confirm the current steps and status in EMS, because portal procedures can change.

1. The requesting employer starts the request. The employer that needs temporary support initiates the secondment request through the LMRA Expatriate Management System.
2. The current employer reviews it. The employee’s existing sponsor must approve the request.
3. The employee reviews and approves. The worker’s approval is part of the process; do not assume that an employer-only agreement is sufficient.
4. The requesting employer completes payment. Follow the payment instruction and deadline shown in EMS. EY’s October alert specifies a 30-day payment window after the employee’s approval.
5. Confirm the final status before work begins. Keep a record of the approvals, payment confirmation, approved dates and any instructions displayed in the system. Do not send the employee to the secondment workplace while the request is still pending.

EY notes that its review of the published workflow did not identify a separate LMRA review-and-approval step after the three approvals. Because this detail is based on the workflow reviewed in the alert, employers should confirm the current transaction status and any updated instructions in EMS rather than relying on the article alone.

Employer and recruiter checklist

• Confirm that the assignment is temporary and falls within the period approved in EMS.
• Check the employee’s work-permit expiry date before submitting the request and monitor it throughout the assignment.
• Make sure the current employer, requesting employer and employee have each completed their required approval.
• Document the assignment dates, duties, work location, reporting arrangements and contact persons in writing as a practical record.
• Pay the fee through the official process and retain the confirmation.
• Set reminders for the approved end date. Do not continue the assignment beyond the approved period without confirming a lawful extension or a new approval.
• If the permit is cancelled, expires, or the portal status is unclear, stop and obtain guidance from LMRA before the employee continues the assignment.

What should the expatriate worker check?

Workers should ask both employers to explain the temporary assignment and confirm that the required electronic approvals have been completed before starting. Keep a copy of the assignment details and any confirmation available to you. Make sure the agreed dates and duties are clear, and do not rely only on a verbal assurance or a message from a recruiter.

If anyone asks for an unofficial payment to “release” or approve the secondment, pause and verify the request directly through official LMRA channels. Do not hand over your passport or original documents unless you understand the reason and have agreed to the arrangement. For broader pre-travel checks, see our Bahrain work-permit checklist.

Secondment is not the same as changing employers

A secondment is temporary and depends on the approvals and conditions for that assignment. A permanent change of employer follows a different process. Do not use the secondment route as a substitute for an employer-transfer application or assume that approval for one process automatically satisfies the other.

Before agreeing to any arrangement, compare the written terms and responsibilities. Our Gulf employment-contract guide explains why job duties, salary, allowances and other written terms should be checked rather than left to verbal promises.

Frequently asked questions

How long can a Bahrain secondment last?

EY’s 1 October 2026 alert says the service may allow a period of up to 90 days. The actual approved dates and current LMRA instructions must be checked for each request.

Does secondment permanently transfer sponsorship?

No. It is described as a temporary assignment. A permanent employer change is a separate process and should be handled under the applicable LMRA requirements.

Whose approval is required?

The workflow described by EY requires approval from the current employer, the requesting employer and the expatriate worker. Confirm the live EMS steps before acting.

Can the employee start while the request is pending?

Do not start on the basis of a pending request or verbal permission. Wait until the required approvals and payment steps are complete and the official system confirms the arrangement is valid.

What happens if the work permit expires or is cancelled?

EY reports that the secondment becomes invalid if the work permit expires or is cancelled. Contact LMRA and confirm the correct next step before the employee continues working.

Official resources

• EY: Bahrain electronic secondment process alert (1 October 2026)
• EY: Download the October 2026 immigration alert (PDF)
• LMRA Expatriate Management System (EMS)
• LMRA: Employer and Expatriate Management System information (PDF)

This article provides general recruitment and employment-process information, not legal advice. The electronic service and its conditions may change. Confirm the current requirements directly with Bahrain’s LMRA before arranging or beginning a secondment.