"No Visa Required" (NVR) is an endorsement that Bangladesh places in the foreign passport of a person of Bangladeshi origin, and in some cases their spouse and children, so they can enter Bangladesh without a visa. It is issued under Bangladesh's rules by a Bangladesh embassy, high commission or consulate abroad, usually the one covering the country where you live. According to the Bangladesh Consulate General in New York, it allows multiple entries with no restriction on length of stay while that passport is valid. It is not citizenship and not a visa; each mission sets its own fee and document list.
This is general information for people of Bangladeshi origin who now travel on another country's passport. It is not legal or immigration advice. The mission that will handle your application is the final word on what it accepts.
What No Visa Required Bangladesh actually means
An NVR is an endorsement, usually a seal or sticker, placed in your foreign passport. When you arrive in Bangladesh, immigration sees it and does not ask for a visa.
On the page of the Bangladesh Consulate General in New York, which we read on 25 September 2026, the NVR is described as permitting "multiple entries into Bangladesh with no restriction on duration of stay within the validity of the passport." The Bangladesh Consulate General in Dubai describes the same thing on its own page: multiple entries with "unlimited duration of stay within the validity of the passport."
Three things follow from that wording:
- It is tied to one passport. When your foreign passport expires or is replaced, the endorsement does not move by itself. You apply again for the new passport.
- It is not a residence right in your country of citizenship or anywhere else. It only concerns entry into Bangladesh.
- It is not Bangladeshi citizenship. It does not replace a Bangladeshi passport, NID or dual nationality certificate, and it does not create any of them.
Who qualifies for NVR
The New York consulate's instructions page lists who it accepts applications from:
- Bangladeshi-origin foreign citizens, except citizens of SAARC countries
- spouses and children of Bangladeshi-origin foreign citizens, except SAARC countries
- a Bangladeshi citizen's spouse and children who are citizens of foreign countries, except SAARC countries
- foreign citizens with investment in Bangladesh worth USD 5 million
The SAARC exclusion matters. If your foreign citizenship is from a SAARC country, the NVR route as described on these pages does not apply to you, and the mission is the place to ask what does.
Eligibility wording differs slightly between missions. The Dubai consulate, for example, lists applicants holding Bangladeshi citizenship documents along with proof of their foreign citizenship, and separately lists spouses and children of Bangladeshi nationals. Read the page of the mission where you will apply, not a summary of someone else's.
Which mission you apply to
Jurisdiction is where many people get stuck. In general you apply at the Bangladesh mission that serves the place where you live, which is not always the country of your passport.
The New York consulate states that applicants who are citizens of countries other than the USA must submit proof of residence in the USA, such as a resident permit, work permit or valid visa. The Dubai consulate asks for proof of UAE residence. So a British citizen living in Dubai would usually be dealing with the Dubai mission, not a mission in the UK, and would need to show UAE residence.
If you are unsure which mission covers you, the Bangladesh embassy or consulate nearest your home address can tell you.
Documents you usually need
Every mission publishes its own list, but the core is similar. You are proving three things: who you are now, that you (or your spouse or parent) are of Bangladeshi origin, and that you live where you are applying.
Proof of your current identity
- your valid foreign passport, and photocopies of it
- the completed application form
The New York consulate asks for a printed copy of the online NVR form completed on the Bangladesh government's visa portal, www.visa.gov.bd, and also offers a downloadable form. The Dubai consulate also asks for the online application through visa.gov.bd.
Proof of Bangladeshi origin
The New York consulate accepts copies of documents such as:
- a Bangladesh machine readable passport (first page)
- an old handwritten Bangladesh passport (pages 1 to 5)
- a Bangladesh birth registration certificate
- a dual nationality certificate
- a national ID card
For applicants born in the US, it asks for a copy of the US birth certificate and a copy of the Bangladesh passport of the father or mother.
If you already had an NVR in an earlier passport, the New York consulate accepts a copy of the photo page and the NVR seal page of that previous passport instead of Bangladeshi documents.
Proof of the family link, for spouses and children
A spouse applies on the strength of their Bangladeshi-origin partner, and a child on the strength of a parent. Expect to show a marriage certificate or a birth certificate naming the parent. The Dubai consulate also lists an affidavit from family members on the relationship, and police verification for spouses.
Proof of residence
As above, if you are not a citizen of the country where you apply, missions ask for proof that you live there.
If your name or date of birth differs between your old Bangladeshi documents and your foreign passport, expect questions. Missions generally ask for the legal document that explains the change. Our guide to name and date of birth mismatches on a Bangladeshi passport explains how these differences usually arise.
Fees and processing time vary by mission
There is no single worldwide fee. Each mission publishes its own fee, payment method and processing time, and some route applications through an outsourced service center.
As one example, the Bangladesh Consulate General in Dubai's NVR page, which we read on 25 September 2026, lists a fee of AED 350, cash only and non-refundable, a processing time of "at least seven (07) working days", and submission through its appointed service center. That is Dubai's current listing only. Other missions charge different amounts in their own currencies, and any mission can change its fee.
Before you apply, check your mission's own fee page on the day.
NVR, a regular visa, a Bangladeshi passport and dual nationality
People mix these up constantly. They are different things.
| Document | What it is | Who issues it |
|---|---|---|
| NVR endorsement | Permission to enter Bangladesh without a visa, placed in a foreign passport | A Bangladesh mission abroad |
| Regular visa | Time-limited permission to enter for a stated purpose | A Bangladesh mission, or other routes for eligible visitors |
| Bangladeshi passport | Travel document of a Bangladeshi citizen | Department of Immigration and Passports and missions |
| Dual nationality certificate | Recognition that a Bangladeshi citizen also holds another nationality | Handled by the Bangladesh government through a separate application |
If you are still a Bangladeshi citizen and hold a valid Bangladeshi passport, entering on that passport is a separate route from NVR. If your Bangladeshi passport has expired and you want to renew it, our guide to e-passport renewal in Bangladesh covers the process and timing. Whether you still hold Bangladeshi citizenship after taking another nationality is a legal question, and the mission is the right place to ask.
At the airport in Dhaka
With an NVR in your foreign passport, you go through immigration as a foreign passport holder. Officers may ask the usual questions about your trip. Carrying a copy of the proof of origin you used for the application is a sensible backup, because an NVR is issued abroad and the officer in front of you did not see your file. Our guide to Dhaka airport immigration questions explains what the process usually involves.
Customs is separate from immigration. Gifts, electronics, gold and foreign currency follow Bangladesh's customs rules whatever passport you hold. Our guide to coming home through Dhaka customs explains the allowances and what gets declared.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the old NVR carries over. A new passport needs a new endorsement.
- Applying at the wrong mission. Apply where you live, with proof of residence if you are not a citizen of that country.
- Booking before the NVR is back. Processing times differ. Leaving time before travel reduces the risk of a trip clashing with a pending application.
- Relying on a relative's experience at another mission. Documents, fees and submission routes differ between missions.
- Treating NVR as citizenship. It is an entry endorsement only.
Rules, fees and document lists change. Before you apply or travel, confirm the current requirements on the website of the Bangladesh mission that will handle your application.
FAQ
What does No Visa Required Bangladesh mean?
It is an endorsement placed in the foreign passport of an eligible person, usually of Bangladeshi origin or their spouse or child, that lets them enter Bangladesh without a visa. The New York consulate describes it as allowing multiple entries with no restriction on stay while that passport is valid.
Who is eligible for an NVR?
As listed by the Bangladesh Consulate General in New York: Bangladeshi-origin foreign citizens, their spouses and children, the foreign-citizen spouses and children of Bangladeshi citizens, all excluding SAARC countries, and foreign citizens with investment in Bangladesh worth USD 5 million. Check your own mission's wording.
Do I need a new NVR when I renew my foreign passport?
Yes. The endorsement is tied to the passport it is placed in. When you get a new passport you apply again, and some missions accept your previous NVR page as proof of origin.
Where do I apply for an NVR?
At the Bangladesh embassy, high commission or consulate that serves the place where you live. If you are not a citizen of that country, missions ask for proof of residence there.
Does an NVR make me a Bangladeshi citizen?
No. It only concerns entry into Bangladesh. Citizenship, dual nationality and Bangladeshi passports are separate matters handled through their own applications.