Bangladesh Visa for Indians 2026: Requirements, Fees, Documents & Application Process

Key changes to Bangladesh visa policies for Indian travellers:

A visa for Bangladesh is the official permit issued by the Government of Bangladesh that allows Indian citizens to enter and stay in the country for tourism, business, medical treatment, or family visits. Under the bilateral agreement, the government visa fee is completely waived for Indian passport holders — you pay only the applicable service charge at the visa centre.

Yes, Indian passport holders must obtain a visa before travelling to Bangladesh. The government visa fee is completely waived under the India-Bangladesh bilateral agreement — you pay only the service charge of approximately ₹825 at the application centre. Visa-on-arrival is not available for Indian citizens, so all travellers must apply before travel.

Available and Not Available for Indians

Transit Policy

If you are transiting through Bangladesh en route to a third country, a transit visa is available for stays up to 15 days. You must hold a confirmed onward ticket and a valid visa for the destination country (if required).

Territory-Specific Policy

The visa requirement applies uniformly across all of Bangladesh, including all administrative divisions. No separate territory policies apply for Indian citizens.

Bangladesh offers multiple visa categories for Indian citizens. The government visa fee is waived for all types under the bilateral agreement. Below is the complete overview.

Tourist Visa

The most common visa for Indian travellers visiting Bangladesh for leisure, sightseeing, or visiting friends and family. Allows a stay of up to 30 days with single or multiple entries. The visa is typically valid for 180 days from the date of issue. Requires a travel itinerary, hotel booking or invitation letter, and bank statements for the last 6 months.

Business Visa

For Indian professionals travelling to Bangladesh for business meetings, trade fairs, conferences, or exploratory visits. Allows stays up to 180 days with multiple entries depending on the invitation letter. Requires an invitation letter from a Bangladeshi company along with company registration documents. For comprehensive corporate visa solutions, visit BTWVisas corporate services.

Medical Visa

For Indian citizens seeking medical treatment at recognised hospitals or medical institutions in Bangladesh. Requires a letter from the admitting hospital or medical institution in Bangladesh detailing the treatment plan and duration.

Student Visa

For Indian students accepted into recognised educational institutions in Bangladesh. Valid for the duration of the academic programme. Requires an admission letter from the institution and proof of sufficient funds for tuition and living expenses.

Work Visa

Requires a valid employment contract and approval from the relevant Bangladeshi authorities. Valid for up to one year and renewable. Requires a work permit approval from the Bangladesh Board of Investment or respective ministry.

Understanding the exact fees and total cost is essential before applying for a Bangladesh visa. The breakdown below covers both government fees and service charges for all visa types.

Official Government Fees

Service Charges

Total Estimated Costs

Note: Service charges are set by the authorised visa application centres and are subject to change. Always verify current rates at the time of application.

The complete document checklist for Indian citizens includes a valid passport, photographs, bank statements, flight itinerary, accommodation proof, and cover letter. Each document must meet the specific requirements outlined below — missing or incorrect documents are the leading cause of application delays.

Core Documents Checklist

For a complete document checklist across all visa types, refer to the BTWVisas visa application requirements guide.

Per-Visa-Type Additional Documents

Bank Statement Requirements

Bank statements must be original, on bank letterhead, with official stamp and authorised signatory signature. Online printouts without a bank seal are not accepted. Maintain ₹50,000–₹1,00,000 consistently for the full 6-month statement period. Self-employed applicants can submit 2–3 years of IT returns as supplementary proof. No minimum balance is officially mandated, but consistent savings build credibility.

The application process for a Bangladesh visa involves two stages: filling the form online at visa.gov.bd, then submitting documents in person at a visa centre. Below is the complete step-by-step guide on how to apply.

Step 1 — Online Application (Bangladesh Visa Online Form): Visit visa.gov.bd and create an account with your email address. Select the correct visa category (Tourist for most Indian applicants). Fill in personal details, passport information, purpose of visit, travel dates, and complete address in Bangladesh. Upload a digital photo (45mm × 35mm, JPEG, max 300KB). Save and print the completed application form with the barcode.

Step 2 — Gather Documents: Collect all required documents as listed in the Documents Required section. Ensure bank statements cover 6 continuous months, photographs meet the 45mm × 35mm specification, and your cover letter is signed and addressed to the visa officer.

Step 3 — Submit at Visa Centre: Visit the nearest Bangladesh High Commission, Deputy High Commission, or authorised visa application centre in person. Carry the printed application form, original passport, photographs, and all supporting documents. Submit the documents and pay the applicable service charge.

Step 4 — Track Application: After submission, you will receive a tracking ID or receipt number. Use the tracking portal on the visa centre's website to monitor your application status. Standard processing takes 5–10 working days.

Step 5 — Collect Passport: Once processed, collect your passport with the visa sticker affixed from the same centre where you submitted the application. Verify all details on the visa sticker (name, dates, entry type) before leaving the centre.

The following are the Bangladesh High Commission, Deputy High Commissions, and authorised visa centres in India:

Biometrics

Biometric data submission is not required for Bangladesh visa applications from Indian citizens. Unlike many other countries, Bangladesh does not mandate fingerprinting or digital photograph capture at the visa application stage. However, immigration authorities at the port of entry may take photographs and collect basic personal information upon arrival as part of standard border control procedures.

Exemptions: No biometric exemptions apply as the requirement does not exist for Indian applicants.

Most Bangladesh visa rejections for Indians come from a handful of preventable mistakes. Each cause below includes why it happens and exactly how to fix it.

1. Wrong Photo Size (45mm × 35mm)

Why: Indian standard photos are 35mm × 45mm (height > width). Bangladesh requires 45mm × 35mm (width > height) — the reverse. Centres reject non-compliant photos on sight.
Fix: Tell your photographer "Bangladesh visa — 45mm WIDTH × 35mm HEIGHT, white background." Take 4–6 copies. Rejected at the centre? Nearby studios know the spec — reshoot same day.

2. Incomplete Address in Bangladesh

Why: The online form requires: house/flat, road, area, police station (thana), district, postal code, city. Writing only a hotel name or city results in rejection.
Fix: Get the full address from your hotel confirmation or host before starting the form. For hosts: ask for thana name and district. Write it on paper first to avoid session timeouts.

3. Insufficient Bank Balance

Why: Bangladesh requires 6 months of statements. Accounts under 6 months old, balances below ₹50,000, or last-minute large deposits look unreliable.
Fix: Maintain ₹50,000–₹1,00,000 consistently for 6 months. Use your savings account if primary falls short. Self-employed: add 2–3 years of IT returns.

4. Missing Return/Onward Ticket

Why: Many Indians apply before booking flights. The form requires proof of a confirmed return ticket. Dummy bookings or unverifiable itineraries get rejected.
Fix: Book a fully refundable return ticket. Airlines held bookings also work. Land border (Benapole, Akhaura)? Submit bus/train confirmation — Maitree Express tickets accepted.

5. Application Form Errors

Why: Name mis-match, wrong passport number, incorrect DOB — the system cross-checks form data against your passport scan. Even minor typos cause rejection.
Fix: Fill the form with your passport beside you. Copy name exactly (including middle name). Check O vs 0, I vs 1 in passport number. Use DD/MM/YYYY for DOB. Review twice.

6. Missing Accommodation Proof

Why: Booking a hotel for only part of your stay, or assuming a verbal invitation is enough — gaps in accommodation proof trigger rejection.
Fix: Hotels: book full duration on free-cancellation platforms. Friends/relatives: get a signed invitation letter with their full address, passport/NID copy, and contact number addressed to the visa officer.

7. Unsigned or Improperly Signed Form

Why: Forgetting to sign, using a digital/printed signature, or signing outside the designated box — all invalidate the form at the centre.
Fix: Sign inside the designated box only, with a black-ink pen, matching your passport signature. No digital signatures, stamps, or thumbprints.

8. Weak or Missing Cover Letter

Why: Skipping the cover letter or writing something generic (no specific places, dates, or return intent) triggers additional scrutiny.
Fix: One-page letter addressed to "The Visa Officer." Include: name, passport number, purpose, travel dates, 2–3 specific destinations (Dhaka, Cox's Bazar, Sundarbans), accommodation, and a clear return statement. Employed? Mention employer and approved leave. Sign with original signature.

9. Undisclosed Prior Visa Violations

Why: Overstays or past rejections hidden from the application. Bangladesh shares immigration data with neighbouring countries — concealment guarantees rejection.
Fix: Disclose honestly in the form and cover letter. Provide context and any resolution documents. Honesty is far more likely to get approval than concealment.

10. Wrong Visa Type

Why: Selecting "Tourist" for business travel or "Business" for a leisure trip — category must match purpose.
Fix: Match exactly: Tourist (leisure, sightseeing, VFR), Business (meetings, trade — needs company invitation), Medical (treatment — needs hospital letter), Student (study — needs admission letter), Work (employment — needs work permit). Unsure? Call BTWVisas at +91-020-49027000.

11. Passport Below 6 Months Validity or Damaged

Why: Auto-rejected by the system if validity < 6 months. Damaged pages, torn lamination, or fewer than 2 blank pages also lead to rejection.
Fix: Check expiry before applying. If < 7–8 months, renew via Passport Seva (1–3 weeks). Confirm 2 blank pages. Submit old passports with previous Bangladesh visas.

12. Applying Too Close to Travel Date

Why: Applying 3–5 days before departure when processing takes 5–10 working days. Insufficient time = returned without processing.
Fix: Apply 2–3 weeks ahead. Account for peak seasons (Eid, Durga Puja), potential resubmission, and courier time (2–3 extra days). Express processing (2–3 days at extra cost) is for genuine emergencies only.

Reapplication After Rejection

Review the rejection letter for the specific cause. Fix that issue before reapplying — same deficiencies produce the same result. No mandatory waiting period. For a free application review before resubmission, contact our team at BTWVisas.

Success Tips

• Apply 2–3 weeks before travel; submit Monday–Wednesday for faster processing
• Keep photocopies of every document you submit and organise them in checklist order
• Use paper clips instead of staples for document organisation

Getting a visa for Bangladesh is straightforward: government fee waived (₹0), service charge ₹825, processing 5–10 days. Complete the online form at visa.gov.bd, prepare documents with 45mm × 35mm photos, submit in person, track status, and collect your passport. No e-visa or visa-on-arrival available — apply in advance. Need help? Call +91-020-49027000 or visit our contact page. Explore more guides at the BTWVisas visa guide hub.

Official Resources

Use the following official resources for accurate and up-to-date information on Bangladesh visa policies:

• Bangladesh Online MRV Portal
• Bangladesh High Commission, New Delhi
• Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, Kolkata
• Official Bangladesh Visa Application Centre
• Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Visa on Arrival Information
• MEA India — Travel Advisory for Bangladesh