Usually, when one of your friends tell you that they have recently come back from their trip to Asia, China, India, and Japan are three of the countries that they have most likely visited. But, of course, there are so many countries in Asia that unfortunately are quite underrated among international travellers, and today we will talk about one of those hidden gems of the South Asian region, to be precise about Bangladesh. For some readers who might hear the name of the country for the first time, let us do a brief introduction and some reasons why Bangladesh should be your next travel destination! Bangladesh is one of the countries in Southern Asia that is bordered to the south by the Bay of Bengal and is almost fully surrounded by India to the west, north, and east, as well as Myanmar to the southeast. Bangladesh is the world's eighth-most populous country, with a population of about 167 million people. Historical monuments, vacation villages, beaches, picnic places and wildlife of diverse sorts are among Bangladesh's tourism attractions. Bangladeshis are known for being warm and hospitable, and the nation is rich in cultural treasures. Other attractions include busy cities like Dhaka and rural paradises such as the national parks around the country. Dhaka is Bangladesh's political and cultural capital and one of South Asia's main cities and the biggest metropolis in Eastern South Asia. Dhaka's population, size, social, and economic variety have all increased dramatically since its inception as a modern capital city. The city is currently one of Bangladesh's most intensively industrialized areas. So, basically, there is no way that you might miss visiting this magical capital city during your trip to Bangladesh.
So far, I am pretty sure that we were lucky enough to convince you to visit this adventurous place that not even all of your friends have heard of, but before you start packing your luggage and hopping on the first plane from your homeland to Bangladesh, there is one very important detail that you should take care of, which surely is the visa for the country. I know for some of our fellow travellers, obtaining a visa might seem like a challenge, but with this article, we will make sure that you are completely ready to showcase the documents required for Bangladesh tourist visa and as well as we will answer some of the most commonly asked questions such as "how to get Bangladesh visa?" and go through the Bangladesh tourist visa apply online process. It is worth mentioning the fact that luckily enough, passengers who continue their journey on the first connecting flight do not need visas as long as they have valid onward or return documents and do not leave the airport.
However, keep in your mind that not all nationals are required to obtain a visa, and according to that factor, we can separate the countries from all around the world into some groups. The first group of nationals are the ones who are eligible for a Bangladesh tourist visa on arrival; this list includes the majority of world countries with, of course, European Union states and the USA included. And the second group of countries are the ones who are asked to apply for a visa prior to their arrival in the country; some African and Asian countries make up this list. And last but not least, the third group nationals are the ones that can travel to Bangladesh visa-free. For stays of up to 90 days, citizens of Barbados, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Jamaica, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Tonga, and Zambia do not need a visa. Even though we have mentioned the name of some countries according to the group they belong to, in order to check your specific situation about whether you need to obtain a visa or not, please do not forget to check the visa policy section on our website.
Once you have located your country on the given lists, it is just about the right time to start the visa procedures. To make your brief trip to Bangladesh, you should apply for Bangladesh tourist visa where the period of your trip should be less than 90 days long. Tourism, visiting family or friends, business travels, medical examinations or treatment, and short-term education are all examples of reasons to apply for this sort of visa. But do not forget, you can travel to Bangladesh without a visa if you are from one of the qualifying countries and apply for one when you arrive.
But what are the documents required for Bangladesh tourist visa upon arrival? The Bangladesh tourist visa application form must be fully completed electronically, and it should be signed and dated by the applicant. Secondly, a valid passport for at least 6 months after your intended entry into Bangladesh and has at least two blank pages is required. Another need is proof of sufficient funds, which, to be more exact, means at least $500 or an equivalent amount in foreign currencies in credit card or cash. Bangladesh tourist visa price on arrival is USD 50. However, if your country's name is on the list of visa-exempt countries, then the procedure is different for you. The Bangladesh no visa required sticker is valid for Bangladeshi nationals living in other countries, as well as their family members. Suppose you were a Bangladeshi citizen at one time and now have a passport from another country. In that case, you can get a "No Visa Required" stamp from the Bangladesh High Commission, which acts as a perpetual visa as long as the passport carrying the stamp does not expire. This option is also open to Bangladeshi citizens' children and grandchildren. There are no restrictions on how long you can remain as long as your passport is valid. The stamp takes between 5 and 20 working days to process on average. It is dependent on the country from which you are applying for a visa. If you fall under this category, then Bangladesh does not require a visa which obviously means that you have nothing to do with the Bangladesh tourist visa rate, although surprisingly enough, there is a stamping charge that might vary from $50 to 80 USD.
And now, most importantly, let us look at one of the most applied Bangladesh visa types, which is a tourist visa to Bangladesh. Applicants who want to visit Bangladesh for tourism and sightseeing will be given a tourist visa. To simplify, in order to carry out your tourist activities in Bangladesh, you should be applying for a tourist visa. And Bangladesh tourist visa requirements include: the candidate should print, sign, and date an online completed Bangladesh tourist visa application form. Additionally, two passport-size photos are required, also bear in mind that photos should be shot against a white backdrop.
You will also be asked to submit your passport and a copy of the passport's main page. Pay attention that a passport must be valid for at least six months and have at least two blank pages. Other requirements are flight ticket reservations and hotel reservations which make up the travel itinerary, and of course, a receipt for visa fee payment printed on paper. Most importantly, you need a letter of invitation from Dhaka, which must be written in English and signed. This letter should include the reason for the trip, the applicant's relationship with the invitation sender, address, phone number, and a planned list of sites to see in Bangladesh. If you are unable to submit an invitation letter, write your letter stating the purpose of your visit.
National ID card, resident permit/visa copy (if applicant's country of residence and citizenship are different), copies of previous visas and proof of financial means are also among the required documents.
But how to get Bangladesh visa? On a usual basis, a Bangladesh tourist visa takes between 3 and 15 working days to complete. However, the processing time might slightly differ, and the difference that might occur is solely dependent on the country from which you are applying for a visa. And how much does the Bangladesh tourist visa cost?
The Bangladesh tourist visa price ranges from 15 to 170 United States Dollars which as it was with the processing time, the charge may differ based on your nationality or the country where you submit your application, too. You must apply for Bangladesh tourist visa at one of the Bangladesh visa application centres, which can be Bangladeshi embassies, or consulates or any other institution that is responsible for processing the visas in your country of residency. However, if none of the above-given options exists in your country, then in the worst-case scenario, you must apply to the embassy or consulate that is closest to your location, which most probably will be located in one of the neighbouring countries to your homeland.
