The restoration of visa services marks a positive step towards normalising relations and strengthening economic and cultural ties between India and Bangladesh
India is preparing to fully restore visa services for Bangladeshi travellers in the coming weeks, following the formation of a new government in Bangladesh. The Indian High Commission in Dhaka confirmed that all major visa categories, including tourist, employment and student visas, will soon be reinstated. At present, only medical and limited business visas are being issued.
The move comes after a period of reduced visa operations during Bangladesh’s political transition in 2024–25, which strained bilateral relations and disrupted cross-border travel. With the Bangladesh Nationalist Party securing a decisive victory and Tarique Rahman taking office as Prime Minister, both countries are now signalling a desire to rebuild ties and encourage people-to-people exchanges.
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Restoring visa services is expected to support key sectors that rely on frequent travel, such as garments, pharmaceuticals and information technology
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Buyers, engineers, consultants and students often travel between the two countries, and easier visa access will help revive collaboration, trade and academic exchanges
Indian companies are likely to benefit from shorter project deployment timelines, as they will no longer need to rely on third-country locations for visa processing. Bangladeshi firms hiring Indian specialists, particularly in infrastructure and power projects, will also gain from predictable and streamlined entry procedures.
Applicants are advised to prepare their documents in advance, including invitation letters and passports with at least six months’ validity. New appointment slots will be released through the Integrated Visa Application Centre (IVAC) portal, and an initial surge in applications is expected once tourist visas reopen.
