By SOMAN BABY

BAHRAIN’s e-visa facilities have proved a boon for the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), processing a record 16,000 applications last month, it was revealed yesterday.

The service was initially available for visit visas, with between 600 and 800 such e-visas being issued every month by the General Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Residence (GDNPR)..

“The facility was extended to LMRA to process work visas, starting July this year,” GDNPR assistant under-secretary Shaikh Ahmed bin Isa Al Khalifa told the GDN.

“Because of the e-visa facilities, the number of work visas being issued by LMRA has shown a steady increase.

“While only 1,000 work visas were processed in July, it increased to 7,000 in August, 10,000 in September and 16,000 last month.”

The service will become faster in the coming months when people would say that they never want to go back to the old system, said Shaikh Ahmed.

Under the old system, people had to go first to the Labour Ministry for work permits, which was later processed by GDNPR.

The new facility also allows people who are granted work visas to apply for family visas simultaneously, said Shaikh Ahmed.

“A tracking system is also in place which allows people to know the accurate status of their application,” he added.

Shaikh Ahmed was speaking to GDN on the sidelines of the Gulf e-Commerce Forum at the InterContinental Regency Hotel, where he presented a paper on e-visas and e-borders.

Shaikh Ahmed said the government had launched a major campaign to encourage more visitors to make use of the e-visa facilities.

All five-star hotels, major airlines and leading travel agents are now linked to the portal www.evisa.gov.bh.

All government agencies and the financial sector are also being linked to the system.

This has helped reduce the workload at GDNPR and minimise inconvenience to major customers, said Shaikh Ahmed.

“The customers can make payment online and it proves a great boon to thousands of visitors to Bahrain.”

The e-visa system is now moving to the next stage of development, said Shaikh Ahmed.

“The idea is to offer this facility for all potential clients in the public and private sectors,” he added.

“All government agencies will be linked to the system soon.”

Shaikh Ahmed said the financial community would also benefit from the new facility soon.

The facility has made people’s entry to Bahrain easier as they do not have to wait in the queue at the immigration counters or worry about changing the currency, he added.

“The e-gates at the arrival area at Bahrain International Airport have also become popular with Bahrainis,” said Shaikh Ahmed.

“The two old e-gates at the arrival area will be replaced with new ones by the end of the year,” he added.