Immigration and visa for Bangladesh

Being in a good location surrounded by sea and land borders of India, Bangladesh has been a suitable place for business and tourist activity. It’s easy to enter Bangladesh through Indian land borders like Benapol (West Bengal), Dawki (Meghalaya), Karimganj (Assam), Kailashar, Agartala and Belonia (Tripura). Besides, it’s only 45 minutes flight from Kolkata and about 2 hours from New Delhi to Shahjalal International airport, Dhaka. Every day a good number of foreign tourists around he world enter he country for various purpose. Bangladesh has her foreign missions around he world. In some countries there is only consulate where a tourist may apply for entry visa.

Requirements for Visa: A tourist has to apply for visas prior to his or her travel plan to Bangladesh. Normally, a tourist needs a) return air ticket b) sufficient funds to meet the stay in Bangladesh c) valid passport d) 2 photographs e) sponsor or hotel reservation.  Visa process normally takes two working days. Visa is free of charge. This visa is valid for thirty days and a visitor may stay for thirty days counting from the date of arrival.

Extension of visa:   If a visitor nee to extend the tourist visa he has to apply to the consular section of the Department of Immigration and Passports, Agargoan, Sher-E-Banglanagar, Dhaka. Consular wings are also available in many districts including Sylhet, Chittagong and Noakhali. The applicant needs to apply personally with the documents:

a)      Passport with valid visa

b)      2 photos

c)      Sufficient reasons for the extension (such as sickness, death of a near relative, sickness of a fellow traveler, etc.)

It takes two days to process. If the new visa is considered th visitor has to leave the country on or before the specified date.

Travel Tax: The visitor who has entered by air will not require paying any tax for, the tax is counted and paid while purchasing tickets. In case of entry through land route, it is mandatory to pay BDT 300 as a travel tax at Sonali Bank Ltd in Bangladesh. Visitor aged below 2 does not require paying any tax and from aged from 2 to 12 requires paying BDT 150 only.

Money Change:  In all the airports, there are the facilities to change foreign currency. Besides cities, there is a number of private money changing offices.  Of course the visitor should ask for he receipts which must be preserved to produce in the immigration desk during exit.

Working / Residence visa: All tourists holding tourist visas are not allowed to work in Bangladesh either paid or unpaid. If a visitor wishes to work, he or she needs to manage a work. Worker for the particular post should not be available in the local labor market. For the residence and working visa, a visitor must apply to the consular section, Department of Immigration and Passports, Agargoan, Sher-E-Banglanagar, Dhaka. The requirement are : a) valid passport b) photos c) police certificate from the police station where the applicant is residing d) work contract or job appointment letter specifying the job title, duration, salary, etc. e) medical certificate.

This working / residence visa is renewable after every term. For further information regarding visa extension, one may contact the Director, Department of Immigration and Passports, Passport Building, 5^th floor, Agargoan, Sher-E-Banglanagar, Dhaka.

Housing in Bangladesh: Being in a moderate climate, Bangladesh is the abode of peace lovers. It is not too hot or too cold. Air conditioner or heater is not required for good accommodation. The cost of a handsome rental house ranges from 15.000 to 30.000 BDT every month. For a good accommodation in Dhaka, some residential areas like Baridhara, Gulshan, Banani, Mohakhali DOHS, Dhanmondi are better is respect of good location, security and marketing facilities.