Selected International Travel and Tourist Information
Passport and Visa requirements
Valid passport is required for nationals of all countries for visit to Bangladesh. However, passports are not required for the holders of identity certificate, laissez passers issued by United Nations and its affiliated bodies, continuous Discharge certificate/Nullies/Seaman Book (Traveling on duty to join or repatriate from ship) issued by any country recognized by Bangladesh.
(a) At present four types of visas are issued by the Government of Bangladesh.
(i) Single entry visa: Single entry visas which is valid for one Journey, is issued for a maximum period of six months and maximum duration of stay in Bangladesh not exceed for a period of three months from the date of entry.
(ii) Multiple Journey visas : Multiple Journey visas are granted to bonafide businessmen on the recommendation of the Ministry of Industries or Board of Investment, BEPZA (Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority). Dhaka and Chittagong and also foreigners holding valid work permits issued by the different ministries. Multiple visas are issued usually for five year or upto the validity of the work permit.
(iii) Re-entry visas : Persons who are holding valid visas and wish to leave the country with intention of coming back may apply for a re-entry visa to the Department of Immigration and Passports for a maximum period of six months (one month for Indian nationals).
(iv) Transit visas: It is issued from Bangladesh Missions abroad with a provision for fifteen days stay in Bangladesh.
It is in the interest of resident aliens to obtain Re-entry visa from the Department of Immigration and Passports. Temporary visitors are required to report their arrivals and departures to the Immigration authorities, so that the records of their entry and exit can be maintained.
(b) Visas are required for nationals of all countries with the following exceptions:
Bhutan, Barbados, Botswona, Burkina Faso, Congo, Cyprus, Fiji, Western Samoa, Tonga, Leone, Lesotho, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Greneda, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Jamaica, Mauritius, Malawi Maldives, Singapore, Swaziland, St.Kitts and Nevis, Ghana, and Gabon. No Visa required means that no visa is required for stay in Bangladesh upto 90 days only. No further extension of stay permission is desirable.
(c) In case of Sri Lankan and South Korean Nationals this facility is extended upto 30 and 90 days respectively and in case of Nigerians possession of return Air ticket is precondition for obtaining the facility for fifteen days.
(d) At present the Officer-in-Charge of Immigration at the Zia International Airport, Dhaka and Patenga International Airport, Chittagong are authorized to issue landing permission for Foreign tourists and businessmen provided they hold return Air Tickets. The landing permission enables the holder to stay in Bangladesh for a period of 90 days. Payments are required in applicable cases for obtaining "Landing permission" except the Nationals of SAARC countries (Pakistan, India, Srilanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives).
Foreign Missionaries or Social Workers or Persons employed in Bangladesh, are required to obtain visa. Prior clearance by sponsors are, however, required for these categories of persons.
Foreigners who are required to obtain visa for visiting Bangladesh but can not obtain the same due to unavoidable circumstances or inadvertence are generally allowed to enter the country for 72 hours. However, if the intended duration of stay exceeds 90 days, they are required to obtain visa from the Director General of Immigration and Passports or nearest regional passport office in Bangladesh.
Visas are issued by Bangladesh diplomatic Missions abroad. Trade Commissions issue visas when there are no Bangladesh Embassies or consulates.
(C) Classification of and procedures for sanctioning Bangladeshi visas:
* “A-1” Category Visa: Foreigners attending seminars, workshops, international conferences, official delegations, and examiners are included in this category. The concerned Bangladesh Mission will grant the visa with double-entry facility for a period of 15 (fifteen) days.
* “A” Category Visa: Specialists employed in projects under different government, semi-government and autonomous bodies, consultants under bilateral agreements signed with foreign governments and expatriate officials employed in organizations such as JICA, CIDA, SIDA, DANIDA, NORAD, ADB, ICCDR-B, etc. would fall under this category. The concerned Bangladesh Mission shall grant visa for a maximum period of 3 (three) months subject to submission of appointment letter. Later, the Department of Immigration and Passports can extend the validity of the visa for maximum 1 (one) year at a time with multiple-entry facility subject to getting necessary security clearance. This visa is renewable on the basis of tenure of service of the applicant.
* “B” Category Visa: Foreigners employed in UN Agencies and International Organisations in Bangladesh such as WHO, UNDP, FAO, WEF, UNICEF, UNESCO, BTA, IMF, World Bank, WFP, etc. would fall under this category. The concerned Bangladesh Mission would issue visa for a maximum period of 3 (three) months. Later, the Department of Immigration and Passports will issue visa for a maximum period of 1 (one) year at a time with multiple-entry facility on the recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This visa is renewable on the basis of tenure of service of the applicants.
* “M” Category Visa: Foreign Missionaries would fall under this category. Concerned Bangladesh Mission would issue visa for a period of maximum 3 (three) months subject to submission of appointment letter from the relevant Church in Bangladesh and no-objection certificate from the concerned Ministry. Later, the Department of Immigration and Passport shall extend visa for a period of 1 (one) year at a time with multiple-entry facility on the basis of security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs. This visa is renewable on the basis of security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs. This visa is renewable on the basis of security clearance and tenure of service.
* “N” Category Visa: Foreigners working in the scheduled Non-government Organizations (NGOs) fall under this category. Concerned Bangladesh Mission can issue this visa for a maximum period of 3 (three) months subject to submission of appointment letter of relevant NGO attested by the NGO Affairs Bureau. Later, the Department of Immigration and Passports can renew the visa with multiple-entry facility for a maximum period of 1 (one) year at a time subject to receipt of work permit and security clearance.
* “PI” Category Visa: Foreign investors or their agents of industries set up or to be set up through joint ventures or 100 percent foreign investment in the private sector, foreign businessmen and buyers or their agents, foreign contractors or their agents fall in this category. Concerned Bangladesh Mission can issue visa for a period of maximum 3 (three) months to foreigners who are capable of making investments in the fields of industry and commerce. Later, subject to receipt of work-permit and no-objection certificates from the security agencies, the Department of Immigration and Passports will extend the validity of the visa with multiple-entry facility for a period of maximum 1 (one) year at a time. This visa is renewable on the basis of work-permit and sponsorship tenure.
* “E” Category Visa: Foreign Officials working in/appointed to industrial establishments, specialists, agents of equipment suppliers, foreigners employed in private organizations, officials of liaison/branch offices, executives of airlines and company executives/representatives all under this category. The relevant Bangladesh Mission shall issue visa for a maximum period of 3 (three) months subject to submission of papers/documents in support of appointment. Later, the Department of Immigration and Passports will extend the validity of the visa with multiple-travel facility for a maximum period of 1 (one) year at a time, based on receipt of work permit in case of employees of Industries, airlines, banks and insurance companies and on the basis of recommendation of the Bangladeshi sponsors; alongside clearance of the security agencies in other cases. This visa is renewable on the basis of work-permit/period of sponsorship.
* “S” Category Visa: Foreign students and researchers of educational institutions fall under its purview. The relevant Bangladesh Mission can issue visa for a maximum period of 1 (one) year in case of students who have already taken admission into educational institutions of Bangladesh. Later on, the Department of Immigration and Passports can renew the visa with multiple-travel facility for a maximum period of 1 (one) year at a time on the basis of recommendation of the concerned educational institution and clearance from the security agencies. The recommendations of the Education/Health Ministries would be required in case of private educational institutions. This visa would be renewable on the basis of period of study/research. But the issue can be resolved in the light of bilateral visa policy as well.
* “T” Category Visa: Foreigners who arrive for tourism or in order to meet their relatives fall under this category. The concerned Bangladesh Mission can issue double-entry visa for a maximum period of 3 (three) months. In special cases, this visa is renewable for an additional period of maximum 3 (three) months after valid reasons are shown.
* “O” Category Visa: Sportsmen and foreigners arriving to attend religious or other programs fall under this category. The relevant Bangladesh Mission can issue single-entry travel visa for a maximum period of 45 (forty-five) days if they are satisfied.
* “D” category Visa: Members of the diplomatic service fall under the this category. Ministry of Foreign Affairs would take all necessary steps for the issuance of this visa.
Landing Permits :
* Foreigners coming to Bangladesh from those countries where Bangladesh Mission has a presence will have to bring classified visas with them. But for foreign investors and businessmen and foreigners coming from places where there is no Bangladesh Mission, the immigration authority can grant Landing Permits for a maximum duration of 45 (forty-five) days from the international airports of Bangladesh. The Department of Immigration and Passports shall resolve the issue of extension of Landing Permit if such an application is made. The period of validity of this type of visa shall not exceed 3 (three) months. If application is made for a period exceeding 3 (three) months, then the Department of Immigration and Passports shall have to seek permission from the Ministry of Home Affaris.
The following procedures shall be followed while issuing Landing Permits.
1. There should either be an endoresment cash of minimum US $200 in the passport of the applicant or may otherwise be decided on the basis of policy of reciprocity with the concerned country.
2. The applicant must possess a return air ticket.
3. The same route (entry/exit) should be used for arrival and departure.
4. The local address of the applicant, purpose of visit, and other necessary information should be recorded while issuing Landing Permit. The Special Branch shall submit this information to the Department of Immigration and Passports (in prescribed form) at the end of each week. The Department of Immigration and Passports shall prepare necessary forms for the purpose.
5. The issue of Landing Permit shall be resolved by an official not below the rank of Inspector at the entry point of the Arrival Lounge of the airport.
The above rules shall not be applicable for citizens of those countries with whom Bangladesh has no-visa agreement.