LMRA Crackdown Results in 4,776 Deportations Following Widespread Inspections in 2025

Bahrain’s Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) has intensified its enforcement efforts against labour and residency law violations in 2025, leading to the deportation of 4,776 expatriates following tens of thousands of inspections conducted throughout the year.

According to the LMRA’s final weekly Inspection Campaigns and Visits report for 2025, more than 54,000 inspections were carried out nationwide with the aim of curbing illegal labour practices and ensuring compliance with labour and residency regulations. These campaigns focused on identifying irregular workers and violations related to overstaying, working without valid permits, and breaches of residency laws.

In the first half of 2025 alone, at least 6,988 violators were deported after inspections involving 98,428 individuals, reflecting the scale and intensity of enforcement actions during the year. Weekly inspection activity toward the end of 2025 averaged between 1,300 and 1,700 visits, with weekly deportations ranging from 57 to 61 individuals.

The LMRA confirmed that the inspection campaigns were carried out in close coordination with the Ministry of Interior, the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), and local police directorates, ensuring an integrated approach to addressing violations.

Authorities have reiterated the importance of public cooperation in maintaining a lawful labour market. Labour and residency violations can be reported through the official LMRA website or via its designated reporting hotline, as part of ongoing efforts to regulate the labour sector and uphold national laws.