Immigration law in Bangladesh

The relevant rules are based, among other things, on the Foreigners Act 1946, the Registration of Foreigners Act 1939 and its Rules of 1966, and the Passport Act 1920. In principle, a foreign national is any person who does not have Bangladeshi nationality. Article 31 of the Constitution protects every person in Bangladesh through the right to legal protection. At the same time, the state may restrict or regulate entry, departure, stay, movement, reporting, biometric registration, medical examinations and certain activities. DIP handles visas, NVR, visa issued at the border (Visa on Arrival), transit permits, exit permits and certain changes of stay category. NVR means visa-free entry status (No Visa Required) and facilitates entry and stay for eligible persons. Bangladeshi diplomatic missions issue visas outside the country. The immigration authority at the border crossing decides on entry and departure. The Ministry of Home Affairs sets immigration and visa policy; the police security branch (Special Branch) may conduct registrations and security checks. Bangladesh is a unitary state, but practical processing may differ depending on the port, airport, authority and individual case. A visa permits only the stay and activity covered by its category. Tourist visas typically permit stays of up to three months and prohibit employment. Business visas may be valid for up to one year, usually allow no more than 90 days per entry and likewise do not authorize employment. Student visas require admission to a state-recognized institution and proof of funding; their extension may last until the end of the studies or for a maximum of five years. Family visas apply, among other cases, to foreign spouses or children of Bangladeshi nationals. Medical, religious, journalist, cultural, sports and investment-related visas each have their own requirements. To work, a foreign worker generally needs a work permit in addition to the appropriate visa. Depending on the sector, BIDA, BEZA, BEPZA, BHTPA, PPA or the NGO Affairs Bureau issue or review the approval. The work-permit application must generally be filed within 15 working days after the first entry. When changing employers, the existing work permit must be cancelled, Bangladesh must be left, and the person must re-enter with the correct visa and a new permit. Employment on a tourist, business, student or family visa may put the immigration status at risk. Visa on Arrival is issued only at certain border crossings and generally for a maximum of 30 days with a single entry. An invitation or other evidence, hotel details, a return flight and sufficient funds may be required. Eligibility depends, among other things, on nationality, purpose of entry, whether a Bangladeshi diplomatic mission is available and official approval. For transit information, official time limits conflict, stating either 72 or 96 hours; this limit should be confirmed before travel with the responsible border crossing or a diplomatic mission. Changing the visa category after entry is generally excluded, but is expressly provided for in certain Visa-on-Arrival cases. An application is normally prepared through the online visa application system (MRV), then printed and submitted with a passport, supporting documents and the fee to a responsible visa office or diplomatic mission. The passport generally must remain valid for at least six months. Fees depend on nationality, reciprocity rules and bilateral agreements and are not automatically refunded after a refusal. False documents or statements may result in refusal, a multi-year entry ban or criminal consequences. Registration duties depend on the visa, nationality and length of stay. The Visa Policy 2026 states that Indian and Pakistani nationals with a visa valid for at least 90 days must register within 14 days after entry. A separate Special Branch page, however, states a seven-day deadline for many foreign nationals with visas valid for more than 90 days and lists exceptions for certain categories. Because of this conflict, the responsible authority should be asked about the currently applicable deadline before entry. Where registration applies, reporting the address, changes of residence, identity details and forms may be required. An extension should be requested at least 15 days before the visa expires. After expiry, the general charges are 1,000 BDT per day for the first 15 days, 2,000 BDT per day up to the 90th day and 3,000 BDT per day thereafter; proceedings under the Foreigners Act may also follow. Exceptions may apply to certain unavoidable events such as an accident, natural disaster or flight cancellation. The Ministry of Home Affairs may waive or reduce fees for medical or credible humanitarian reasons. After payment at a bank, departure may be permitted within up to seven days, while the overstay may be recorded in the passport. NVR facilitates entry and stay for eligible Bangladeshi nationals abroad, persons of Bangladeshi origin and spouses and children of Bangladeshi nationals. NVR is neither Bangladeshi nationality nor an automatic right to permanent settlement. The current fee is stated as 80 US dollars; investors need, among other things, a qualifying investment of 100,000 US dollars and a certificate from the responsible investment authority. Bangladesh has no general visa for permanent settlement and no general statutory asylum procedure with a central asylum authority or a formal procedure for refugee recognition. For Rohingya, the status as forcibly displaced people from Myanmar (Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN)) is handled mainly administratively through cooperation between the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, security authorities and UNHCR, particularly in Cox's Bazar and on Bhasan Char. According to the available information, other asylum seekers generally receive neither general official registration nor a residence permit through an asylum procedure. The international-law principle of non-refoulement may nevertheless be relevant; its domestic implementation and a specific legal remedy depend on the individual case. The government may grant a right to permanent settlement under Article 4A of the Citizenship (Temporary Provisions) Order 1972 subject to prescribed conditions. For the relevant certificates, the responsible authorities list, among other things, an application from Bangladesh, a passport, photographs, an affidavit, an examination and, for investors, a report from BIDA. Official information on the minimum investment, fee and processing time conflicts: one current table states 75,000 US dollars, 15,000 BDT and six working days after the reports, while another page states 7,000 BDT and 90 working days. There is therefore no automatically granted permanent status. Nationality may be acquired, among other ways, by descent, naturalization, marriage, special investment or special contribution. Depending on the route, the statutory requirements include periods of residence, good character, sufficient knowledge of Bengali, an intention to reside in or serve the Republic, and official review and discretionary decision-making. For naturalization, twelve months of continuous residence and a total of four years of residence during the preceding seven years are stated. Information on marriage and investor procedures, fees and processing times differs between official services and must be confirmed with the responsible Ministry of Home Affairs before applying. According to DIP guidance, a visa decision may be final; the reviewed sources do not identify a separate statutory appeal procedure for every visa refusal. Questions and complaints may be raised through the diplomatic mission, DIP, the Ministry of Home Affairs or the government complaints channel GRS. In the event of arrest, special duties for immediate production before or transfer to the police and a magistrate apply depending on the legal basis. Because of the extensive powers to control and remove persons, anyone facing a refusal, arrest, threatened deportation or unclear immigration status should obtain professional legal advice in Bangladesh at an early stage.