Bangladesh is one of the important countries of the SAARC in South Asia. It was part of Pakistan before 1971 and now it’s a separate country with its own immigration policy. Pakistani passport holders need a visa to Bangladesh and these days, the visa is not easy to obtain because the Bangladesh government has a strict visa policy for Pakistani citizens.
Types of Bangladeshi Visas in Pakistan
Bangladesh’s presence in Pakistan is very strong and they have an embassy in Islamabad as well as a consulate in Karachi that can process and issue the following categories of visas as of writing this article (in August 2023).
- Tourist visa for Bangladesh in Pakistan
- Business visa for Bangladesh in Pakistan
- Work visa for Bangladesh in Pakistan
- Investor visa for Bangladesh in Pakistan
- Tabligh visa for Bangladesh in Pakistan
- Student visa for Bangladesh in Pakistan
How to Apply for Bangladesh Visa in Pakistan?
The Bangladeshi visa is to be applied in Pakistan either through the high commission of Bangladesh in Islamabad or the deputy high commission in Karachi. They don’t have any appointment system and you can directly go to the embassy or consulate in order to submit your visa application by hand. You can fill out the visa application form online or can get a hard copy of the visa application and fill it out on the spot.
The address of the Bangladesh embassy in Pakistan
House No. 1, Street No. 5, Sector No. F-6/3, F 6/3 F-6, Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan Phone number: +92 51 2279267
The Address of the Bangladesh consulate in Karachi
84 30th St, D.H.A Phase 6 Phase 6 Defence Housing Authority, Karachi, Karachi City, Sindh 75500, Pakistan Phone: +92 21 35340031
What Documents are Required for Bangladesh Visa in Pakistan?
The Bangladeshi high commission in Islamabad has mentioned the required documents for a visa to Bangladesh and these are general requirements. They may ask you for additional documents when you go to the high commission for the visa.
- Three duly filled visa application forms (printed or typed)
- Three copies of a recent passport-size photograph
- Passport (to be returned to the applicant and resubmitted on the day of delivery of visa, if approved) and three photocopies of passport (minimum validity of 6 months) and, in case of a non-Pakistan passport, also a photocopy of a page of residence visa
- Polio vaccine certificate
- Copy of any utility bill of the residence (for confirmation of address)
- Three photocopies of national ID (NIC/CNIC)
- Three copies of the invitation letter from Bangladesh
- Visa fee: (i) single-entry & double-entry visa: local currency equivalent of USD 2/-; and (ii) multiple-entry: local currency equivalent of USD 4/-. (to be paid not along with visa application but on the day of delivery of visa, if approved) [different fee structure for employment visa]
- Additional supporting documents depending on the category of visa (shown below)
The visa fee is just Rs.600 for a single entry visa but they will take your interview while you submit your application. These documents are generally for tourist visas to Bangladesh. If you are applying for a business visa or student visa then you will need more documents such as official invitation from Bangladesh or an acceptance letter from a University in Bangladesh.
For a Tablighi visa, you need to provide an official document from the Tablighi Markaz in Bangladesh in order to obtain a preaching visa for the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Pakistan. The people in the Bangladesh embassy in Islamabad and Karachi are very helpful and they will help you out with the application and required documents.
How much does it cost to get Bangladesh visa in Pakistan?
The official visa fee for a Bangladesh visa in Pakistan is Rs.600 for a single entry visa and Rs.1200 for a multiple entry visa to Bangladesh. However, this price is for a tourism visa to Bangladesh. The price is the same in Karachi and Islamabad.
How long does it take to get a Bangladesh visa in Pakistan?
The normal processing time for a Bangladesh visa in Pakistan is just 3 working days but nowadays they take a lot of time to process the visa application because of the verification from Bangladesh. If you have a strong connection in Bangladesh then visa will be processed faster and you will get a reply quickly. They don’t keep your passport during the process.
Best Tips for Bangladesh Visa in Pakistan
The Bangladeshi embassy has recently started issuing visas to Pakistani again. If you have an invitation letter from Bangladesh then you will likely get a visa and you will get it fast. However, if you don’t have an invitation letter then you can attach a hotel booking and flight reservation to maximize your chances for a Bangladesh visa in Pakistan.
Don’t be afraid of rejection because this is very common on Pakistani passports. However, the Bangladeshi government now wants to improve the tourism sector in Bangladesh and they would want Pakistanis to visit Bangladesh for tourism and investment purposes. Therefore, I would recommend you apply for a business or tourist visa to Bangladesh.
