Visa information: Tourist Visa

Visas

The citizens of the following countries do not require visas for stays of up to 90 days: Barbados,Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Congo, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles,Swaziland, Western Samoa, and Zambia.

Australian citizens, according to the current VISA database can pay 50 USD for a 90 day visa on arrival.

Transit passengers continuing their journey on the first connecting aircraft also do not require visas, provided they hold valid onward or return documentation and do not leave the airport.

On occasion, tourists and business travellers arriving at airports in Dhaka and Chittagong may be granted 'landing permission' by the Chief Immigration Officer for stays of up to 15 days, as long as they hold return air tickets. Although this method is fairly unorthodox, and is not available for the average traveller.

Citizens of all other countries need a visa to enter Bangladesh. It is preferred you obtain it in your home country, but it's also possible to process a visa at embassies and consulates in neighboring countries. Visas are available on arrival are available to most nationalities, even to those nations with Bangladeshi Embassies. There is a flat fee of US $50, plus VAT of BDT 7 (approx. $0.08). From the VOA desk near immigration you will be escorted to the currency exchange to pay for your visa. You can pay in most currencies. You will be given a receipt, which you hand back to the VOA officials. Your details will be written into a big book, and then you will be escorted to a special VOA immigration desk. No documentation or photos are required, although it is a good idea to have details of your accommodation printed out. Duration of the visa is decided by the VOA officials – it would seem that they give you as long as you ask for, but probably with a 30 day maximum. Whoever escorts you from desk to desk will probably harass you (gently) for a tip.. Be ready to show paperwork indicating invitations from the said government organizations.

Since most passengers are either Bangladeshi, or have pre-obtained visas, there is rarely a queue for VOA. Combined with a special VOA immigration lane, applying for a VOA might be quicker than arriving with a visa (for tourists only).

If you were a Bangladeshi citizen at some point in time and now hold a passport from a different country, you can contact your nearest Bangladesh High Commission for your "No Visa Required" stamp, which works as a permanent visa as long as your passport containing the stamp doesn't expire. This option is also available to the children and grandchildren Bangladeshi citizens.

If you apply in your home country you can usually obtain a 3 month visa if arriving by air, or 15 days if arriving at a land border crossing. Fees vary depending on nationality and length of visa requested.

§   Australian citizens - All visas cost AU$150 from the Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra. For further information, visit the High Commission's official website. See note above where apparently visa can be purchased on arrival.

§   Canadian citizens - A single-entry visa for 3 months is C$80 and a multiple-entry visa is C$158. Tourist visas are now issued upon arrival for 30 days at the airport, and may be extended for stays up to 60 days.

§   UK citizens - A single-entry visa is £40, double entry is £52, 3 entries for £75, and £104 for 4 entries. The London High Commission is hectic. A visa of arrival is preferable to dealing with the "queues" here. The UK also boasts a large number of Bangladeshi consular offices.

§   US citizens - The embassy is in is in Washington D.C.:  The visa fee is currently $131 if obtained from within the USA, and can be applied for by mail. There are also consulates in Los Angeles  and New York  who will answer most questions; ensure you read the 'visa requirements' sections carefully. A U.S. cashier's check, money order or bank draft should be made payable to "Consulate General of Bangladesh". International money orders, personal checks and cash are not acceptable. Visas on Arrival are available to US tourists for up to 30 days (length may differ at some land borders), provided they have at least $500 in cash or travellers checks. The fee, still $131, must be paid in cash (USD, EUR or GBP).

The Bangladesh High Commission in Kolkata, Circus Ave (Just east of AJC Bose Rd), +91 (0)33 2290 5208/5209, issues only 15 day visas, ranging from free for Indians to a hefty Rs 5000 (~US$110) for American citizens. Applications are received at window #4 weekdays from 9-11AM, and visas are generally ready the next afternoon. Bring 3 passport photos and copies of passport and Indian visa.

Visa extensions

Visa extensions are possible in Dhaka at the Immigration and Passport Office on Agargaon Rd. Fees are the same as a single-entry visa, even if just trying to expand your 15 day pittance into a full-fledged 30-90 day visa, making a sidetrip from India for longer than 15 days an expensive endeavor. If you want to stay only a little longer, it's better to just pay the overstay fee of Tk 200/day for up to 15 days, which grows substantially to Tk 500/day thereafter. Some of the smaller backwater crossings such as Tamabil may not even notice that you've overstayed if you don't point it out yourself.