Buying apartment in Bahrain

Depends on your objective.

If it's to be able to get a self sponsorship visa then no.

Read this.  The property purchase process and visa requirements are later on in the post:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=750635

Hi there XTang...thanks a lot for your reply. Visa is not my primary intention its basically to save on the rent for now and have a property towards a self sponsorship later on if at all the need arises. I have gone through your posts regarding this in detail.

I was a bit sceptical on this project since its an ongoing one headed for completion only in Dec 2021. The developer seems to be good. I wanted to buy the property either in Seef or Reef area. But as you know most of the properties there are priced much higher than normal.

Any suggestions or advise would be welcome.

Regards,

Well projects under construction are risky and especially with this economy. I would never advise investing in one as many people have lost money on those.

Thanks a lot buddy!

XTang....if I buy an apartment on a home finance when do they go for the security clearance? Is it done right at the beginning of sanctioning the finance or is it when the bank transfers the property to my name. When it’s financed by a bank normally the apartment would be under the ownership of the bank until I pay them off right. So would the security clearance be done towards the beginning or only when they transfer the property in the end?

It is done at the beginning - the moment you pay the token money, the clearance is applied for and the bank only steps in when you get it.  The apartment is in your name with a hypothecation or lien done by the bank which prevents you from selling it and they also keep the title deed.

Thank you XTang !!!

XTang, I've sent you a pm...could you please check

Can you please let me know where to apply for the security clearance when I want to buy an apartment in Bahrain? Thanks a lot for your answer

Notary in GOSI mall.  Copy of passport and CPR.  After you sign the presale agreement - the property agent should handle it for you.

hi dear, I was searching for some help on the security clearance process. My real estate agent mentioned that as per the new process we have to send all the documents via email to the public notary for approval but i got a reply back by email from them saying that since the property is under mortgage already the bank must raise the request to the public notary but the bank today got back saying security clearance must be done by the individual and not through the bank. I am confused now, could you please advise what I should do?

Are you the buyer or the seller?   Put it on your agent to sort it out.  The clearance is for the person whose name the property will be in.

Hello dear, i am the buyer of the flat. But the agent keeps saying the rules have changed recently and I need to email the public notary myself with all the documents but the public notary has already emailed me back saying that the property I want to buy is under the mortgage, therefore the bank must approach the public notary by email for this. I contacted the bank since I am going to applying with the same bank for my mortgage and they mentioned that the security clearance must be handled by me and nothing from the bank.

Security clearance is yours but you would need an NOC from the bank to be able to apply for it.

thanks again for getting back. Does it mean the current owner has to get the NOC from the bank?

Yes

Hi Xtang, thank you very much again for your valuable feedback and content here. I finally managed to get the security clearance by applying from the private notary in Gosi.

Also the property sales agreement has been signed in another private notary in financial harbor appointed by the bank given me mortgage loan.

The banks associate mentioned that it would take a month for my name to be added on the title deed and I could use the sales agreement to apply for electricity now.

Could you please guide me how to apply for citizenship, I am born, raised and living in Bahrain, the property i bought on loan is 57k bhd.

You can apply for citizenship on NPRA website but don't hold your breath.  Be ready to wait for decades after applying.......without wasta (connections), forget about it.  And this is after you satisfy all of the clauses i.e.

20 years of continuous stay in Bahrain for non-Arabs
Speak good Arabic
Property under your name
All degree certificates accompanied by letters from MOE Bahrain

Thanks for letting me know. Does this work with property under loan as well?

Theoretically no as bank name will be on title deed with hypo.

@XTang

Hi. Thank you for all the details. Security clearance is needed for residents holding VISA & CPR or only for the ones staying overseas. Thank you

Best

Everyone.

Thank you