Do I Need a Visa for Bangladesh?
Bangladesh requires all foreigners to obtain permission — specifically a visa — to enter its territory, unless they are specifically exempted. Understanding which category applies to your nationality is the first step in planning your trip.
Visas are issued by Bangladesh diplomatic missions located throughout the world, or — where applicable — on arrival in Bangladesh. For travelers who need to extend their stay, visa extensions are available at the Department of Immigration and Passports, located in Shere-E-Bangla Nagar, West Agargaon, Dhaka City.
| Regular vs. Visa on Arrival Regular visas (available at all Bangladeshi Consulates, Embassies, and High Commissions worldwide) are typically multiple-entry visas valid for up to 60 months. A Visa on Arrival, by contrast, is a single-entry visa valid for a maximum of 30 days. Both types can be extended or renewed at the Department of Immigration and Passports in Dhaka City. |
1. Visa Exemption — No Visa Required
Citizens of certain countries may enter Bangladesh without a visa for up to 90 days when travelling on ordinary (regular) passports. These visa-exempt countries are listed below.
1.1 Visa-Exempt Countries (Ordinary Passports — Up to 90 Days)
| Country | Max Stay | Visa Required? |
| Barbados | 90 days | No |
| Bhutan | 90 days | No |
| Botswana | 90 days | No |
| Burkina Faso | 90 days | No |
| Fiji | 90 days | No |
| Gabon | 90 days | No |
| Gambia | 90 days | No |
| Ghana | 90 days | No |
| Grenada | 90 days | No |
| Guinea | 90 days | No |
| Guinea-Bissau | 90 days | No |
| Jamaica | 90 days | No |
| Lesotho | 90 days | No |
| Malawi | 90 days | No |
| Maldives | 90 days | No |
| Papua New Guinea | 90 days | No |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 90 days | No |
| Samoa | 90 days | No |
| Seychelles | 90 days | No |
| Sierra Leone | 90 days | No |
| Tanzania | 90 days | No |
| Tonga | 90 days | No |
| Zambia | 90 days | No |
2. Non-Ordinary Passport Holders — Diplomatic, Official & Service Passports
In addition to the fully visa-exempt countries listed above, holders of diplomatic, official, or service passports from the following countries may enter Bangladesh without a visa for 30 days, unless a different duration is specified.
| Country / Group | Passport Types | Duration |
| ASEAN Member States (except Thailand) | Diplomatic, Official, Service | 30 days |
| Belarus | Diplomatic, Official, Service | 30 days |
| China | Diplomatic, Official, Service | 30 days |
| Estonia | Diplomatic only | 30 days |
| Eswatini | Diplomatic, Official, Service | 30 days |
| India | Diplomatic only | 45 days |
| Japan | Diplomatic only | 90 days |
| Oman | Diplomatic, Official, Service | 30 days |
| Pakistan | Diplomatic only | 30 days |
| Russia | Diplomatic, Official, Service | 30 days |
| Serbia | Diplomatic, Official, Service | 30 days |
| South Korea | Diplomatic, Official, Service | 30 days |
| Sri Lanka | Diplomatic, Official, Service | 30 days |
| Thailand | Diplomatic only | 30 days |
| Turkey | Diplomatic only | 30 days |
| Ukraine | Diplomatic, Official, Service | 30 days |
Note: Diplomatic, Official, and Service Passport Holders of Jordan may also be eligible for visa on arrival at any listed port of entry.
3. Visa on Arrival
According to Timatic (the IATA travel information system), citizens of the following countries may obtain a Visa on Arrival at Shahjalal International Airport for the purposes of official duty, business, investment, and tourism — regardless of the status of the local Bangladeshi diplomatic mission.
3.1 Countries Eligible for Visa on Arrival
| Country / Group | Entry Purpose | Max Duration |
| All EU Member States | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Australia | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Bahrain | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Brunei | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Canada | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| China | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Iceland | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Indonesia | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Japan | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Kuwait | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Liechtenstein | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Malaysia | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| New Zealand | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Norway | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Oman | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Qatar | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Russia | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Saudi Arabia | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Singapore | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| South Korea | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Switzerland | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| Turkey | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| United Arab Emirates | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| United Kingdom | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
| United States | Tourism, Business, Investment, Official | 30 days |
3.2 Visa on Arrival — Fees, Requirements & Conditions
| Visa on Arrival Fee The Visa on Arrival fee is USD $51 or €51 (all taxes included), payable in cash only in US Dollars or Euros at the port of entry. No other currencies are accepted. |
To obtain a Visa on Arrival, applicants must present the following documents:
- A valid passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity after the date of arrival in Bangladesh.
- A printout of a return or onward air ticket, international train ticket, or international bus ticket.
- A printout of a confirmed hotel booking or tour company booking valid for the entire intended duration of stay in Bangladesh; OR an invitation letter from a business or company operating in Bangladesh; OR the contact details of close Bangladeshi relatives residing in Bangladesh who are expecting and will vouch for the applicant.
- Entry must be by air, sea, or road — entry via train is not eligible for Visa on Arrival.
| Important Note on Visa on Arrival The issuance of a Visa on Arrival is at the sole discretion of the immigration officer at the port of entry. Most diplomats travelling on diplomatic passports can also obtain a Visa on Arrival. The Visa on Arrival can be extended for an additional 30 days, but applications must be submitted no more than one week before visa expiry. |
4. Visa Required in Advance
Travelers who wish to enter Bangladesh for any purpose other than tourism, investment, or business — as well as all foreigners who are not visa-exempt — must obtain a valid Bangladeshi visa prior to travel. The following countries and territories must obtain a visa in advance from a Bangladeshi diplomatic mission:
| Country / Territory | Special Note |
| Afghanistan | — |
| Algeria | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Belize | — |
| Brazil | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Egypt | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Hong Kong | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| India | — |
| Iran | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Iraq | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Jordan | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Kenya | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Lebanon | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Libya | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Macao | — |
| Mauritius | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Mexico | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Morocco | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Myanmar | — |
| Nigeria | — |
| Paraguay | — |
| Philippines | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| South Africa | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Sri Lanka | — |
| Syria | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Thailand | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Tunisia | — |
| Uzbekistan | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Vietnam | Unless residing in a country without a Bangladeshi representation |
| Yemen | — |
Note: Citizens marked above who are residing in a country that does not have a Bangladeshi diplomatic mission may apply for a visa through alternative channels.
5. Entry and Transit Refused — Israel
| Israeli Citizens — Admission Refused Entry and transit is refused to all citizens of Israel. Israeli passport holders cannot enter or transit through Bangladesh under any circumstances. |
6. No Visa Required (NVR) Seal / Vignette
Bangladesh missions provide a special No Visa Required (NVR) seal or vignette (sticker) for two categories of people:
- Citizens of Bangladesh who hold a foreign passport and dual nationality.
- Non-Bangladeshis who are the legally married spouses or children of Bangladeshi citizens.
6.1 How the NVR Works
The NVR is placed on a blank page in the holder’s foreign passport. It originally came in the form of a seal but this is being phased out and replaced by a vignette (sticker). Once obtained, the NVR allows the passport holder to travel to Bangladesh an unlimited number of times, with no restrictions on duration or limits on entry, for the full validity period of the passport containing the NVR.
6.2 Renewal of NVR
The NVR remains valid until the expiry of the non-Bangladeshi passport in which it is placed. Once the passport expires, a new NVR can be obtained in a new passport by presenting the previous expired passport containing the old NVR.
| Note on Spousal NVR The guidelines issued by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs do not explicitly state whether the spousal NVR entitlement applies only to opposite-sex couples. Travellers in same-sex marriages should seek up-to-date guidance from the nearest Bangladeshi diplomatic mission. |
7. Quick Reference Summary
| Visa Category | Who it Applies To | Duration |
| Visa Exempt (Ordinary Passport) | 23 specific countries (see Section 1) | Up to 90 days |
| Visa Exempt (Diplomatic/Official/Service Passport) | 16 countries/groups (see Section 2) | 30–90 days (varies) |
| Visa on Arrival | 25+ countries/groups including EU, US, UK, Australia (see Section 3) | Up to 30 days (extendable once) |
| Visa Required in Advance | 29 countries/territories (see Section 4) | As per visa issued |
| Entry Refused | Israel | Not permitted |
| NVR Seal/Vignette | Bangladeshi dual nationals & family members of citizens | Unlimited / passport validity |
8. Where to Apply for a Bangladesh Visa
Regular visas are available at all Bangladeshi Consulates, Embassies, and High Commissions worldwide. Applications for a Visa on Arrival are processed at the port of entry (primarily Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka).
For visa extensions and the NVR, travelers must visit:
- Department of Immigration and Passports
- Shere-E-Bangla Nagar, West Agargaon, Dhaka City
| Online Visa Portal Bangladesh operates an online visa portal at www.visa.gov.bd — travelers should check this portal for the most up-to-date information on visa requirements, fees, and application procedures before travelling. |
