Most visitors need a visa for Bangladesh, but there are three main routes: a visa from an embassy before you travel, a visa on arrival for eligible nationalities, and the No Visa Required (NVR) endorsement for people of Bangladeshi origin. Here's which one fits you.
Safest: get a visa from a Bangladesh embassy or high commission before you fly (the online form is at visa.gov.bd). Visa on arrival: US$50 plus tax in cash, up to 30 days, for citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, European countries and others — pre-apply online, approval is discretionary. Bangladeshi origin? Apply for NVR. As of October 2026 Bangladesh does not have a general e-visa that is issued online.
I last checked these details in October 2026 against official and news sources. Bangladesh's visa, airport and customs rules change often. Always confirm with the official source (Bangladesh embassy, immigration or customs) before you travel. This is general travel information, not legal advice.
Fill in the online application at visa.gov.bd, print it, and submit it with your passport and documents to the Bangladesh embassy or high commission in your country. Requirements and fees depend on your nationality. For example, the US Embassy in Dhaka says visas for US citizens are generally multiple-entry, valid 1–5 years, and cost US$160. The US Embassy strongly recommends getting a visa in advance rather than relying on visa on arrival.
If you were born in Bangladesh, or your parent was, and you now hold a foreign passport, you can apply for an NVR endorsement. It lets you enter without a visa. You apply through the Bangladesh mission in your country (for example, the High Commission in London charges £70 and says NVR is never an urgent service). Spouses and children of eligible people can also apply. NVR is linked to your passport, so you need to transfer it when you get a new passport. More in my NRB visiting guide.
In August 2026 Bangladesh launched an optional online arrival and departure card. Paper cards are still available at the airport.
Not a general one, as of October 2026. You can fill in visa forms online and pre-apply for visa on arrival online, but the visa itself is issued by an embassy or at the airport. The government has talked about launching an e-visa — if it does, I'll update this page. Be careful of websites that look official and charge high fees for "Bangladesh e-visas".
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Most foreign visitors do. You can get one from a Bangladesh embassy before travel, get a visa on arrival if you are eligible, or use an NVR endorsement if you are of Bangladeshi origin.
50 US dollars plus tax, paid in cash, for stays of up to 30 days. Approval is discretionary.
Not a general online-issued e-visa as of October 2026. You can fill in forms and pre-apply for visa on arrival online, but the visa is issued by an embassy or at the airport.
No Visa Required is an endorsement for foreign passport holders of Bangladeshi origin, and their spouses and children, that allows entry without a visa. It must be transferred when you get a new passport.
Yes, US citizens are on the eligible list, but the US Embassy recommends getting a visa in advance because visa on arrival is discretionary.
Last updated: 6 October 2026. Written by Nazrul Islam, personal shopper in Dhaka.
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