Entry Rules & NVR for Probashi
কোন পাসপোর্টে কী লাগে
Who needs a visa to enter Bangladesh, how the NVR seal works for Bangladeshis travelling on foreign passports, what documents children born abroad need, and how overstays are settled.
Three ways probashi enter Bangladesh
Every probashi arrival falls into one of three routes. The paperwork, queues and costs are different for each — pick yours below.
1. Bangladeshi passport — no visa, ever
Entry is the simplest of the three: you, your ticket and your Dhaka address.
- Valid passport — carry it with six months or more of validity left
- No visa, no NVR, no fee; use the Bangladeshi passport lanes
- E-passport holders can use the HSIA e-gates on arrival
- Resident customs rules apply — estimate duty before you fly
2. Foreign passport with NVR seal
The No Visa Required seal stamped into your foreign passport means lifetime entry with no visa — you come and go like any Bangladeshi.
- Stay as long as you wish; the seal waives visas for the life of the passport
- Issued by a Bangladesh mission abroad: ৳10,000 treasury challan via Sonali Bank plus proof of Bangladeshi origin (old passport, NID or birth certificate)
- It is not a new Bangladeshi passport — it only waives the visa; citizenship paperwork stays separate
3. Foreign passport without NVR
Travelling on a foreign passport with no seal yet gives you two ways in — and a third job to do while you are in Dhaka.
- Regular visa: apply at any Bangladesh mission — visit visas are typically single or multiple entry for a stay of up to a few months
- Visa on arrival: HSIA offers it to selected nationalities and traveller categories; eligibility and rules change often — confirm with Bangladesh Immigration or your mission before flying
- Get NVR from Dhaka: already in Bangladesh on a visa? Apply for the dual-nationally NVR through the Home Affairs process in Dhaka with the same origin documents and challan — though most probashi find the mission abroad faster, so many do it before the next trip instead
Children born abroad and foreign spouses
A child born to a Bangladeshi citizen abroad acquires Bangladeshi citizenship by descent. Register the birth with the mission and apply for the child’s Bangladeshi passport before the first trip home; carrying the baby on a foreign passport instead triggers visa questions at check-in.
A foreign-national spouse without Bangladeshi origin needs a visa — missions issue visit visas for family travel. Visa-on-arrival policies exist for some nationalities but change often; verify the current rule with the mission or airline before flying rather than relying on forum posts.
Overstays and exit
Overstaying a visa is settled with a fine at departure — pay it at the immigration counter at HSIA before boarding. It is routine but slow, and repeat or long overstays can complicate future visas. Bangladeshi passport and NVR holders have no stay limit to overstay.
Frequently asked questions
Does the NVR expire with my passport?
The NVR is valid as long as the passport it is stamped in. When you renew the foreign passport, the new passport needs a fresh NVR stamp from a Bangladesh mission — plan the renewal before booking tickets on the new passport.
Can I work in Bangladesh with an NVR?
Entry and stay are unlimited, but employment, business registration and property purchases follow separate rules that often require citizenship or permits. Check the dual nationality guide before planning work in Bangladesh.
My old Bangladeshi passport expired — can I still use NVR?
Yes, if a mission has stamped the NVR in your valid foreign passport. The expired Bangladeshi passport is not needed at immigration — carry it anyway; it simplifies questions about origin.