Most visitors from Europe, the UK, North America and Australia can get a tourist visa on arrival in Bangladesh, usually for up to 30 days. You still need the right paperwork, and immigration officers decide at the desk, so it pays to arrive prepared. This guide explains how it works and when it is better to apply before you fly.
Rules change, so always check the latest requirements with the Bangladesh embassy or high commission in your country and with your airline before you travel.
Who can get a visa on arrival?
According to the Bangladesh High Commission in London, tourists from the UK, any European country, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and a number of other countries are eligible for a visa on arrival. That covers almost all of our guests, including travellers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and France.
Eligibility is not a guarantee. The visa is granted at the discretion of the immigration officer, who can ask for supporting documents.
How long can you stay?
A visa on arrival is single entry and is usually issued for up to 30 days. The UK government notes that officers may issue between 15 and 30 days, so ask for the length you need and have your return ticket ready to show it.
If you plan to stay longer than 30 days, or to leave and re-enter (for example to visit India in the middle of your trip), apply for a tourist visa from a Bangladesh embassy before you travel.
What to bring
- A passport valid for at least six months from the date the visa is issued, with at least two blank pages
- A return or onward ticket
- Your hotel booking or tour confirmation, with the address of where you are staying
- The contact details of your host or tour operator in Bangladesh
- The visa fee in cash (the High Commission in London lists US$50; bring clean US dollar notes)
- Proof of funds: the High Commission lists US$500 in cash or a credit card
If you are travelling with us, we send you a confirmation letter with your itinerary, our address and phone number. Print it and keep it with your passport.
Fill in the forms online before you land
Bangladesh now lets foreign passengers fill in the visa on arrival application and the arrival card online before reaching the airport, through the Special Branch portal (edcard.specialbranch.gov.bd). It is not yet clear whether this is compulsory, but doing it in advance can save time in the queue at Dhaka airport.
Arriving at Dhaka airport
Most international flights land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Follow the signs to the visa on arrival desk before immigration, pay the fee, and then queue for passport control. Allow extra time: on busy evenings the process can take an hour or more.
Our team meets you after customs with a name sign, so you do not need to deal with taxis or SIM cards on your first night.
When to apply in advance instead
- You want to stay more than 30 days
- You need a double or multiple entry visa
- Your nationality is not on the visa on arrival list
- You are arriving overland from India, where visa on arrival is not reliably available at land borders
- You would rather not depend on an officer’s decision at the airport
Frequently asked questions
Do Germans need a visa for Bangladesh?
Yes, German citizens need a visa, but they are eligible for a visa on arrival as tourists. You can also apply in advance through the Bangladesh embassy in Berlin.
Do British citizens need a visa for Bangladesh?
Yes. British passport holders can get a single-entry visa on arrival for tourism, usually for up to 30 days, or apply in advance through the Bangladesh High Commission in London.
Can I extend a visa on arrival?
Extensions are handled by the Department of Immigration and Passports in Dhaka and are not guaranteed. If you think you will need more time, get a longer visa before you travel.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate?
Only if you arrive from, or have transited through, a country with a risk of yellow fever. See our health and vaccinations guide.
Not sure what your situation needs? Ask us before you book your flights and we will tell you what our recent guests from your country did.
