Bangladesh:Visa Requirements

BangladeshLearn the visa requirements for this country. Last check:Last update:

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Bangladesh Visa Requirements Map

Bangladesh: Visa Requirements

Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.

Visa-Free Entry Requirements

  • Bangladesh's verifiable visa-free entry practice is conducted through a "No Visa Required – NVR" endorsement pre-affixed to eligible individuals' foreign passports. The NVR is not an automatic passport exemption; it is a passport endorsement that must be obtained from an authorized diplomatic mission of Bangladesh before travel.
  • The applicant must complete, submit, print all pages of, and sign the online NVR application form in English. The original foreign passport on which the NVR endorsement will be affixed is presented at the application. In the examined mission instructions, the passport is generally required to have a validity of at least six months.
  • To prove Bangladeshi origin, one of the following may be requested: the information page of a valid or expired Bangladeshi passport, a dual citizenship certificate, a previously issued NVR endorsement, or official documents showing a connection to Bangladeshi citizenship. For applications through a parent, the parent's Bangladeshi passport or national identity card and the applicant's birth certificate showing the parents' names may be submitted.
  • For applications through a spouse, the marriage certificate and the spouse's Bangladeshi passport, national identity card or NVR endorsement may be required. For children, a birth certificate showing the parents' names, copies of the parents' identity cards or passports, and in some missions a parent's request letter must be submitted.
  • The central online form provides an option to upload a digital photo measuring 45 × 35 millimeters, in JPEG format and no larger than 300 KB; this digital upload is indicated as optional on the central portal. The number of physical photos, background color, and recency requirement vary by mission. Not explicitly specified in the central official source.
  • The NVR is valid as long as the foreign passport on which it is endorsed remains valid. During this period, it allows multiple entries and an unlimited duration of stay in Bangladesh. When a new passport is issued, a new NVR application must be made for the new passport.
  • The NVR fee, payment method, how far in advance of travel the application must be made, and processing time vary by the diplomatic mission applied to. Not explicitly specified in the central official source. The requirement for translation, notarization or legalization of birth or marriage certificates issued in foreign countries may also vary by the country where the mission is located.

Visa on Arrival Requirements

  • For a visa on arrival, an account must be created on the official online portal with a valid email address and the account must be verified using the activation link sent to the email. The applicant must select the "On Arrival Visa" type and enter the passenger details exactly as they appear in the passport.
  • During the application, a recent photograph showing the face front and clearly is uploaded. The photograph must be in JPEG, JPG or PNG format and no larger than 5 MB. The biographical information page of the valid passport must be uploaded in JPEG, JPG, PNG or PDF format and no larger than 5 MB.
  • The portal also requires the upload of a valid invitation letter obtained from the relevant authority or the inviting organization. The invitation letter may be in JPEG, JPG, PNG or PDF format and no larger than 5 MB. Other supporting documents may be requested depending on the nature of the application.
  • After the application is submitted, the assigned tracking number must be kept and the application status must be monitored through the portal. The "Acknowledgement Receipt" document of the approved application must be printed, carried during travel, and presented at the visa on arrival counter and to the immigration officer.
  • Under official policy, the passenger must be able to present documents proving the purpose of travel, a return air ticket, and accommodation or contact information in Bangladesh. For travel other than official duty, at least 500 US dollars or equivalent foreign currency must be shown in cash or by credit card.
  • For business and investment travel, an invitation letter from the inviting company and a suitability or recommendation certificate from the relevant Bangladesh investment or export zone authority may be required. The inviting company may need to notify the Department of Immigration and Passports and the relevant immigration authority in advance of the passenger's arrival.
  • In the official portal's Dhaka airport procedure, the visa on arrival fee is shown as 50 US dollars, exclusive of processing fees, or as determined by the competent authority. Payment is made in cash only at the Sonali Bank counter, and the receipt obtained is presented at the visa counter. The fee may differ or not apply due to reciprocity arrangements or passport type.
  • The visa on arrival allows a stay of up to 30 days for tourism, business, investment, and official duty purposes. It does not grant multiple entry. Issuance of the visa is not automatic or guaranteed; the final decision depends on the immigration officer's document review and assessment of the purpose of travel at the point of entry. The passenger may be asked questions about the purpose of travel, duration of stay, and place of accommodation.
  • The application is envisaged for international airports and land border crossings. However, the detailed payment and counter procedure published on the official online portal is specifically described for Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
  • The exact minimum passport validity and number of blank pages required for a visa on arrival are not explicitly specified on the central visa on arrival portal. Not explicitly specified in the central official source.

Consular Visa Application Requirements

  • The consular visa application for Bangladesh is initiated online on the MRV portal in English. After submission, the form must be printed, signed by the applicant, and submitted together with the passport, supporting documents, and proof of fee payment to the selected Bangladeshi embassy, high commission, or consulate. This system is not a fully electronically issued e-visa system.
  • For the online form, an email address, passport details, and an address or contact information to be used in Bangladesh must be prepared. Dates are entered in day/month/year format. Information can be modified before the form is submitted; after final submission, online corrections cannot be made.
  • Saved but incomplete applications are deleted from the system after seven days. The submitted application form is also valid for seven days from the date of submission. For a form not presented to the relevant visa center or diplomatic mission within this period, a new application must be created.
  • The original valid passport and a photocopy of the biographical information page are presented in the application. In the examined official mission instructions, the passport is generally required to have a validity of at least six months, contain at least two blank visa pages, and not be torn, damaged, or unusable. However, the exact application of these conditions must be checked with the mission being applied to.
  • The central portal offers a digital photo option for the online form, measuring 45 × 35 millimeters, in JPEG format, and no larger than 300 KB. The number of photographs required for the physical application varies as one, two, or three depending on the official mission. Details such as a white or other background requirement and that the photo was taken within the last six months may also vary by mission. The number of physical photographs and all technical specifications are not explicitly specified in the central official source.
  • A person applying from a country of which they are not a citizen may be required to provide a valid residence permit or an official document showing their legal residence in that country. This condition and accepted proof of residence vary by the mission applied to.
  • For tourist or short-term visit applications, a flight itinerary or reservation, along with a hotel reservation, accommodation proof or invitation letter may be requested. For an applicant invited by an individual, a copy of the inviting person's Bangladeshi passport or national identity card and contact information may be requested. For an invitation by an organization, an invitation letter on the organization's letterhead and documents explaining the purpose of the visit may be submitted.
  • For a business visa, an invitation letter from the company or organization in Bangladesh and a letter from the applicant's employer explaining the job and purpose of visit may be required. For employment, investment, student, research, internship, journalism, religious activity, NGO, or international organization visas, a recommendation or approval letter from the relevant Bangladeshi authority, employment contract, acceptance letter, assignment letter, sponsor certificate, or corporate documents may be requested.
  • Bank account statement, employment certificate, salary certificate, student certificate, company registration, or sponsor's financial documents may be requested depending on the visa type and the mission applied to. No central value applicable to all applications has been published for the number of months the bank account statement must cover and the minimum balance required in the account. Not explicitly specified in the central official source.
  • For applicants under eighteen years of age, written consent from both parents, copies of the parents' passports or identity cards, and a birth certificate or family registration document showing the parents' names may be required. If the child travels alone or with one parent, additional consent documents may be required. The exact document format varies by the mission applied to.
  • No central rule applicable to all consular visa applications has been published regarding whether travel health insurance is mandatory and, if so, the minimum coverage amount. Not explicitly specified in the central official source. Similarly, no central and universally applied requirement for biometric data or routine fingerprint collection has been announced.
  • The visa fee varies depending on the applicant's passport, visa type, and single or multiple entry request. The central portal does not accept online payment and states that fees paid are non-refundable. Bank deposit, card, postal money order, or other accepted payment methods are determined by the diplomatic mission applied to.
  • No central processing time or universal deadline for how many days before travel the application should be made has been published. The times announced by missions are generally different and may be longer for categories requiring security screening, police verification, or approval from another Bangladeshi authority. Not explicitly specified in the central official source.
  • The current official passport rules allow a single-entry visa to be issued for up to six months or a shorter period, and the stay in Bangladesh must not exceed three months. A multiple-entry visa may be issued for between six months and five years; each stay must not exceed three months. The actual validity, number of entries, and duration of stay granted to the applicant are determined based on the visa label, purpose of travel, visa category, and decision of the competent authority.
  • The competent mission may reject incomplete or inconsistent applications; it may request additional documents, an interview, security clearance, police verification, or approval from the relevant Bangladeshi body. Providing false information, concealing important information, or submitting forged documents may lead to rejection of the application and restriction of future entries.

Transit Visa Requirements

  • In Bangladesh, the transit visa obtained in advance from a diplomatic mission and the short-term transit visa that may be issued at the point of entry during a connecting flight are subject to separate procedures.
  • For a transit visa obtained in advance, a valid passport, a completed and signed visa application form, a continuing ticket or flight reservation showing direct travel through Bangladesh, and the visa or entry permit required for the final destination country must be presented. A passport photocopy, photograph, and fee payment receipt are required according to the general visa requirements of the mission applied to.
  • A transit visa issued in advance may be valid for up to six months or a shorter period. The validity period cannot exceed the validity period of the visa held for the final destination country. The visa may be issued for one or more direct transit journeys, and each transit stay in Bangladesh may be up to 15 days. The actual duration granted is limited to the period indicated on the visa.
  • A transit visa to be issued at the point of entry for a connecting flight may be granted upon request of the airline carrying the passenger until the next available flight or for a maximum of 72 hours. This short-term transit permit is subject to the immigration authority finding the documents and travel connection sufficient.
  • For a transit visa on arrival, an account can be created on the official online system and transit visa can be selected as the application type. Passenger details must be entered exactly as in the passport; a current facial photograph, the passport's biographical information page, a document from the relevant authority, and other supporting documents that the system may require must be uploaded. The approval or registration document of the application must be printed and carried.
  • For the short-term transit visa issued at the airport, a service fee of 20 US dollars or equivalent foreign currency per person is foreseen. Payment is made to a designated bank and account. Holders of certain official, special or diplomatic passports may be exempt from the fee according to the relevant visa exemption agreement.
  • The exact minimum passport validity, number of blank pages, number of physical photographs, payment method, and consular processing time for a transit visa may vary by the mission or point of entry applied to. Not explicitly specified in the central official source.
Population
177,818,044(2026 est.)
Official language
Bangla
Government type
Parliamentary republic
Continent
Asia
Capital
Dhaka
Currency
Bangladeshi takas
Area
147,570 km²
Phone code
+880

Bangladesh: Key Destinations

Dhaka, the capital, is the primary gateway for international travelers. Other major cities include Chittagong, the main port city, and Sylhet, known for its tea gardens.

Bangladesh offers rich cultural heritage, including ancient mosques and Buddhist ruins. The world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Cox's Bazar boasts the longest continuous sea beach.

Domestic flights connect Dhaka to major cities, while road and rail networks link other regions. Visitors often combine a visit to the Sundarbans with stops in Dhaka and Chittagong for a varied itinerary.