How To Get A Visa To Bangladesh
Intro
Upon arriving from Istanbul in Turkish Airlines business class, I made my way to the visa-on-arrival counter inside Dhaka Airport, thinking that getting a visa to the country would be as easy as paying the 51 fee. Well, it wasn't that simple...
Visa On Arrival
Getting a visa on arrival is available for select countries, and according to their website is "for US travelers" only** (I am not entirely sure about this). Below are the following outlines for the visa-on-arrival mechanism:
1) fees has to be submitted in cash in US $/Euro/ Pound sterling
2) travelers other than those on govt. duty must have a minimum of US $ 500 in cash or in credit card with them
3) must possess a return ticket if they come for a short time. Also, US citizens of the above categories are eligible for visa on arrival if they travel to Bangladesh from a country where there is no resident Bangladesh Embassy/Consulate.
Well, the outlined criteria above are not entirely accurate...
Once you land, head down the escalators inside of the airport towards immigration, and immediately to your right will be a visa-on-arrival booth.
Waiting at the counter will be someone to verify your documents. The only thing you need to show them is a hotel reservation, no matter your length of stay.
It was at this moment that I realized: great... The Wi-Fi is abysmally slow in the airport, I don't have a hotel booked (I am flying 7 hours later), and I cannot load the page to book a hotel. Eventually, the friend which someone put me in contact with, came over and helped me by providing his hotpost. What a pain.
Once they take your picture and process your visa (very quick, 5 minutes), you head over to the payment booth 10 meters away and pay. YOU CAN PAY THROUGH CREDIT CARD.
Visa At A Consulate
For most people and most countries, a visa prior to arrival is needed from a consulate. While I am guessing this is somewhat of a tedious process, the guidelines for obtaining a visa are as follows:
1 (one) copy of completed online Visa Application Form. Please click here https://www.visa.gov.bd/
1 (one) 37mm X 37mm photograph taken within the last six months.
Passport, valid for at least six months.
Copy of passport with photo page.
For US nationals Visa Fee is US$160.00 (One hundred and sixty US Dollar). For nationals of other countries, please click here
Just simply head over to the nearest consulate, or get in touch with them an mail all of the required documents out to them.
My question is: if a visa on arrival for US citizens is 51$, and a visa prior to arrival is 160$, who would choose the visa prior to arrival?
Final Thoughts
If you happen to be planning a trip to Bangladesh in the near future and are worried about getting a visa on arrival as a US passport holder, don't be. Apart from the fact that you need a confirmable hotel reservation, it is all a very straightforward process. Other than American Passport holders, I am not sure whether or not it is possible to get a visa on arrival for other countries, as the website does not state.
This country is beautiful, but my gosh, the immigration process is quite tedious.
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