Bangladesh Business Visa - Definitive Guide

There are different kinds of visas for different purposes. A Bangladesh business visa is a permit granted to the business person who is willing to carry out business in the country. It is basically a short term visa that can be valid up to 6 months. A Bangladesh business visa can be issued for various causes, which include attending business conferences, meetings with the employees or the clients, expand your business or open a new branch in the country. Without this permit, you will not be allowed to carry out any kind of business-related errands. The business visa can be extended up to three to five years as well.

The process of applying for the Bangladesh business visa is online. It is an e-visa which can be obtained through an application process on the online portal. The procedure is mentioned as follows:

1. Apply online by filling out the online visa application form on the official website.
2. Attach 2 passport size photos to the application form.
3. Provide a valid passport.
4. Confirmed flight tickets (both to and from tickets if the visa is short term).
5. Submit the form along with the scanned copies of the required documents to the Bangladesh mission.

After the completion of the above process, your documents will be processed and the visa stamp will be provided. You can then collect it from the High Commission yourself or get it collected from your visa agent.

While you are at it, it is quite essential to keep in mind that the documents being provided are true and verifiable. Submission of wrong or false documents may lead to visa rejection. Such a visa rejection can influence your future visa application processes as well.

There are certain factors that are to be kept in mind at the time of issuance of the business visa. If you are applying for a visa, you must take care of the following criteria:

• You must have proof of business ownership and purpose of visit
• You must have proper proof of your business enterprise to show it to the authorities.
• If you have been invited to a business conference or to attend a business or client meeting, an invitation letter from the company must be provided to the embassy.
• You must meet the health requirements
• You must be healthy enough to travel to Bangladesh.
• You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide a relevant documentary proof.
• You must be within the age limit to be able to apply for a work permit.
• You must meet the character requirements
• You must be of good character and have genuine intentions behind working in Bangladesh.
• You need to provide a relevant documentary proof for the same as well (if asked) in the form of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
• You must have sufficient funds
• You must possess or have access to sufficient funds to be able to cover your stay and other expenses in Bangladesh.
• Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.

There are several documents required for the Bangladesh business visa.The documents necessitated along with the visa application form are as follows:

• Passport with a validity of 6 months ahead of the date of travel.
• Visa application forms, completely filled and signed.
• 2 passport size photos (35x45mm) with 80% face coverage and white matt finish background.
• Proof of accommodation - Hotel Bookings, Invitation letter, etc.
• Confirmed airway tickets.
• Letter of invitation from the host company (if applicable).
  

The photo specification of Bangladesh business visa are as follows -

• Coloured photos
• Dimensions: 35mm x 45mm
• White background
• Neutral expressions on the face
• Head must be square to the camera
• Any kind of glasses are not allowed
• Headgears are prohibited except for religious reasons
• Photographs shouldn’t be older than 3 months

The time taken for the processing of documents and the visa depends upon several factors. These include the type of visa, the number of entries, the workload at the embassy, and others. The Bangladesh business visa is generally processed within the next 4 to 5 business days. The time span may increase or decrease depending upon the factors previously mentioned.

The visa fee for the Bangladesh business visa that is to be paid by Indians actually depends on a set of factors. These include the type of visa, the validity of the visa required, the urgency of the visa issuance, etc. The fee includes the charges paid to the High Commission of Bangladesh and the visa services that you avail. The fees can be paid online or offline when you are submitting the visa.

A considerable period of time is taken for the processing of the visa. When the form is submitted along with the fees, there are certain things that you need to keep in mind:

• If there are any other requirements to be fulfilled or if there are any mistakes in the application, the embassy or the agency must be informed.
• If there are any changes related to the application, for instance, change in marital status or birth of a child, you must inform the embassy/agency.
• You can even check the status of the application and the processing in the meantime. 
• If there is a change of plans, you can withdraw the application.

You can check the status for your business visa online. To do so, you have to visit the official website of Bangladesh mission, enter your visa application number and you can check the track the status of your visa. An alternative can be that you can directly call the contact number provided by the embassy and ask for the status of your visa.

When the visa is received, you need to make sure that you take precautions to not get the visa cancelled. Some pointers are as follows:

• Before you travel
1. Make a note of the visa expiry date, as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
2. You should travel to Bangladesh within the validity of your visa.
3. Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
4. Issue health insurance and travel insurance from a certified company.

• At the Border
1. Get your documents checked and your passport verified.
2. Obtain the entry stamp on your passport.
3. Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
4. Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.

• When you enter Bangladesh
1. Ensure not to get involved in any kind of employment. You can, however, do volunteer work.
2. The business visa does not permit you to employ the residents or reside in the country.
3. It is a permit that allows you to only perform business and business-related operations in the country. You are still permitted tourism.
4. The tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
5. Make sure you don’t overstay and apply for a visa extension in time.