Bangladesh Visa on Arrival (VOA) | Fees, Eligibility & Requirements

Banshi Tours provides all the information you need to understand the Bangladesh Visa on Arrival, including which nationalities are eligible, the required documents, the cost and payment methods, and the permitted ports of entry in Bangladesh.

"Countries Eligible for Bangladesh Visa on Arrival"

The following nationalities can get a Visa on Arrival (VOA) for Bangladesh:

• Australia
• Bahrain
• Brunei
• Canada
• China
• Egypt
• EU Countries
• Iceland
• Japan
• Kuwait
• Liechtenstein
• Malaysia
• Nepal
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Oman
• Palestine
• Qatar
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• UAE
• United Kingdom
• United States

Israeli citizens are not allowed to enter or transit through Bangladesh at all.

If your country is not on the list, you might be able to apply online through the official website, or at your nearest Bangladesh embassy. Check which countries can use these options.

"Bangladesh Entry Points for Visa on Arrival"

Arriving by air

Bangladesh has three International Airports where eligible travelers can get a Visa on Arrival.

• Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (Dhaka)
• Shah Amanat International Airport (Chittagong)
• Osmani International Airport (Sylhet)

Arriving by land

Bangladesh shares its borders with India and Myanmar, but the Myanmar-Bangladesh border is currently closed to foreign nationals.

Foreigners can get a Visa on Arrival at seven land border crossings between India and Bangladesh:

• Benapole/Petrapol (Jessore in West Bangladesh/West Bengal close to Kolkata)
• Darshana/Gede (Chuadanga in West Bangladesh/West Bengal)
• Sonamasjid/Mahadipur (Chapai Nawabganj in Northwest Bangladesh/West Bengal)
• Banglabandha/Fulbari (Panchagarh in North Bangladesh/WestBengal close to Nepal border)
• Burimari/Changrabandha (Lalmonirhat in North Bangladesh/West Bengal)
• Tamabil/Dawki (Sylhet in Northeast Bangladesh/Meghalaya)
• Akhaura/Ramnagar (Brahmnbaria in East Bangladesh/Tripura)

If you have any first-hand experience crossing these land borders please let us know in the comments! We would love to know how smooth the process was and if you encountered any confusion or inconsistencies with the VOA process. Tourism in Bangladesh is in its infancy so we know the infrastructure is not quite there yet, so we will constantly review this article with updates.

Trains

There are three passenger trains between West Bengal, India, and Bangladesh, but Visa on Arrival is not available. (As of August 2024, train services are still suspended, even though Bangladesh is now safe and peaceful after the political unrest.)

Required Documents for a Bangladesh Visa on Arrival

These are the documents you need for a Visa on Arrival in Bangladesh. Make sure to have PRINTED copies, as soft copies on phones may not be accepted.

The immigration officer may choose to ask for these documents, so you might not be required to show all of them. However, it's best to have them with you just in case.

The immigration officer may keep the documents, so please make sure every person in your group has at least two copies.

• Photocopy of passport
• Letter of invitation (LOI)
• Proof of onward travel (air ticket or bus ticket if leaving by land)
• Hotel reservation (for the first night at least)
• Bring a pen! If multiple people are trying to get a VOA having your own pen will speed up the process

Banshi Tours can provide these documents to you free of charge if you book a tour with us. Please check out our packages to find a Bangladesh tour that suits your style and budget, and experience authentic travel in one of the most captivating countries in the world!

Cost & payment method for Bangladesh Visa on Arrival (VOA)

The Bangladesh visa on arrival is officially $51 USD - You should bring the exact amount in American Dollars. 

Visa duration, extending and overstaying a Bangladesh visa

Visa Duration

Most nationalities who are eligible for a Bangladesh Visa on Arrival can stay for 30 days for tourism.

 If the immigration officer asks how long you'll stay, request THE FULL 30 DAYS. If you say your trip is only one week, they might give you a one-week stamp, which doesn’t leave any room for delays.  

Visa Extension

If you need to extend your visa, you can do so at the Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) in Dhaka. However, the process is complicated and takes several visits, so we only recommend it if it's absolutely necessary.

Visa Overstay

If you overstay your visa, you'll be fined 200 Taka per day for the first 15 days, and 500 Taka per day after that. In addition to the fine, you'll also need to pay for a new visa. This is not the VOA fee of $51, but the regular visa fee for your country. For example, for the USA, the fee is $160.

We hope this blog post answers all your questions about getting a visa on arrival for Bangladesh. If you have any uncertainties, please leave us a comment or contact Banshi Tours directly.