Indian Tourist Visa for Bangladeshi Nationals: Your Complete Guide For 2026

Last updated: Jun 26, 2026

India is resuming standard tourist visa applications for Bangladeshi nationals from 28 June 2026, ending a near two-year suspension.

Here’s what’s available now, what you need, and how to apply through IVAC in Bangladesh.

Table of Contents

Can Bangladeshis Currently Get an Indian Tourist Visa?

Yes — from 28 June 2026. India reopened standard tourist visa applications for Bangladeshi nationals on that date, ending a near two-year suspension that began after unrest in August 2024.

Applications are initially accepted at five IVAC centres — Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet, and Khulna, with more centres to be added later.

Expect heavy demand in the early weeks of the reopening and around the summer holiday season. Apply early and check IVAC notices for live appointment availability.

Types of Tourist Visa

Indian tourist visas issued to Bangladeshi nationals come in several formats, with validity and entry rules depending on age, travel pattern, and group composition.

The e-Tourist Visa is not available to Bangladeshi passport holders — every applicant must apply for a sticker visa through IVAC.

Tourist visa categories currently issued through IVAC Bangladesh:

Single-entry tourist visa — typically valid for 30 to 90 days from the date of issue, allowing one entry into India. The default option for first-time applicants.
Multiple-entry tourist visa (1 year) — for frequent travellers with prior travel history. Each continuous stay is capped at 90 days.
Multiple-entry tourist visa (5 years) — available only to Bangladeshi nationals aged 65 and above under the bilateral travel arrangement, with the same 90-day per-stay limit.
Group tourist visa — issued to organised tour groups of 4 or more travelling together under a registered Indian tour operator. Members must enter and exit India together.

Most first-time applicants receive the single-entry 30-day visa. Repeat travellers and those with documented multi-city itineraries can request the multiple-entry option directly on the application form.

Your tourist visa covers leisure travel, sightseeing, visiting friends and family, and casual business meetings. However, sensitive border regions (parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, the Andamans, and Ladakh) need a separate Protected Area Permit on top of your tourist visa.

Required Documents

Submitting a complete and correctly formatted document set is the single biggest factor in avoiding rejection. The IVAC document checklist for tourist visas includes:

Online application printout from indianvisa-bangladesh.nic.in, signed at all designated spaces
Original passport with at least 6 months validity and 2 blank pages
Photocopy of passport — pages 2 and 3 (bio page and signature page)
One recent colour photograph — 2×2 inches (350×350 pixels), white background, full face, no smile, no glasses, taken within the last 3 months
National ID Card (NID) copy for proof of identity
Utility bill copy — electricity, gas, water, or telephone — not older than 6 months, as proof of residence
Bank statement covering the last 6 months, OR a dollar endorsement dated within 1 month of submission
Active international credit card or travel card as alternative or supplementary financial proof
Confirmed return flight ticket or itinerary
Hotel booking confirmation or invitation letter from your host in India
Employment proof — employer NOC, business trade licence, or student ID card
Cover letter outlining travel purpose, dates, and itinerary

Document scans uploaded with the online application must be in JPEG format, between 10 KB and 1 MB per file. The signature image must be JPEG, between 1 KB and 300 KB. The pasted physical photo on the printed form must match the uploaded digital photo exactly.

How to Apply

The Indian tourist visa application from Bangladesh runs entirely through the IVAC system. Walk-ins are not accepted — every applicant needs an online appointment first.

The process at a glance:

Fill out the online form at indianvisa-bangladesh.nic.in, selecting the IVAC centre nearest to your registered address.
Print and sign the form, then book an IVAC appointment slot via ivacbd.com. Slots fill quickly during peak season (April–June, Eid, Puja).
Visit the IVAC centre on your appointment date with your passport, printed form, photograph, and the full document set. Pay the BDT 1,500 service fee in cash and submit your biometrics.
Track your application using the reference number on the delivery slip you receive at submission.
Collect your passport in person from the same IVAC centre on the date listed on the slip. An authorised representative can collect on your behalf with a notarised letter.

If your application is refused, the passport is returned without a stamp. The IVAC fee is non-refundable and there is no formal appeal — you can reapply with corrected documents.

IVAC Centres in Bangladesh

There are 16 IVAC centres across Bangladesh, each covering a specific district jurisdiction. Tourist applications currently run through five — Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet, and Khulna — while the rest process medical and other categories for now. You must apply at the centre that covers your district of residence as listed in your NID; applying at the wrong centre means rejection at the verification counter.

IVAC Centre	Location	Jurisdiction
Dhaka (Jamuna Future Park)	Progoti Sharani, Baridhara, Dhaka 1229	Dhaka Division (selected districts)
Chittagong	Zakir Hossain Road, Habib Lane, Chittagong	Chittagong Division
Sylhet	Rahim Tower, Subhanighat, Sylhet 3100	Sylhet Division
Rajshahi	Boalia, Rajshahi	Rajshahi Division
Khulna	Sonadanga, Khulna	Khulna Division (selected districts)
Mymensingh	Mymensingh city centre	Mymensingh Division
Barisal	Barisal city	Barisal Division
Rangpur	Rangpur city	Rangpur Division (northern districts)
Jessore	Jessore city	Khulna Division (southern)
Comilla	Comilla city	Comilla and surrounding districts
Noakhali	Noakhali city	Noakhali district
Brahmanbaria	Brahmanbaria city	Brahmanbaria district
Satkhira	Satkhira city	Satkhira district
Bogura	Bogura city	Bogura and surrounding districts
Kushtia	Kushtia Zilla Samity Building, Kushtia	Kushtia and surrounding districts
Thakurgaon	Thakurgaon city	Northern districts

Confirm your assigned centre on the IVAC website before booking — jurisdictions are revised periodically and the wrong centre means rejection.

Visa Fees and Processing Time

The Government of India does not charge a visa fee for Bangladeshi passport holders — tourist visas are issued free of charge under the bilateral travel arrangement. The only payment collected is the IVAC service processing fee.

Service Type	IVAC Fee (BDT)	Processing Time
Standard tourist visa	BDT 1,500	4–7 working days
Express (48-hour) tourist visa	BDT 1,500 + premium (verify at counter)	2 working days (subject to availability)
Tatkal / urgent medical	Premium fee applies	Same day to 24 hours, subject to availability

Payment is made in cash at the IVAC counter at the time of biometric submission. The service fee is non-refundable, regardless of visa outcome. Confirm current premium rates at ivacbd.com/visa-fees before applying.

Common Reasons for Rejection and How to Avoid Them

Most refusals tie back to documentation rather than the applicant’s profile. Watching for these specific pitfalls saves time and the non-refundable IVAC fee:

Name mismatch — spelling on the form differs from the passport (common when transliterating from Bengali). Copy directly from the passport’s machine-readable zone.
Date of birth or address mismatch — the form, NID, and utility bill must show identical details. Update outdated NID/utility records before applying if needed.
Photo not to spec — anything other than 2×2 inches, white background, full face, no glasses, taken within the last 3 months will be flagged at the counter.
Insufficient bank balance — your statement should reasonably cover the trip cost. A 14-day multi-city itinerary with a BDT 20,000 balance raises immediate questions.
Outdated dollar endorsement — endorsements older than one month at the time of submission are rejected. Get a fresh endorsement close to your appointment date.
Missing employer NOC or trade licence — working applicants need an NOC; business owners need a current trade licence. Students need a current institution ID.
Unsigned or partially completed form — every signature box on the printed form must be filled.
Vague or inconsistent itinerary — open-jaw tickets without a clear return plan or hotel bookings that don’t cover the full stay raise intent concerns.
Weak applicant profile with no travel history — applicants in their 20s with no prior international travel, no employment proof, and no documented family ties face higher scrutiny.
Fabricated documents from agents — IVAC verifies documents against issuing authorities. Forged paperwork triggers permanent blacklisting from Indian visa services.

Tips for First-Time Bangladeshi Applicants

Apply at least 4–6 weeks before your travel date — this gives buffer for slot availability, processing, and any document issues
Avoid peak periods — April to June, Eid weeks, and Puja season see the heaviest demand and slowest processing
Use the express service only when needed — standard processing is reliable; pay the express premium only for genuine urgency
Skip agents for straightforward cases — direct applications are faster, cheaper, and have the same approval rate; use agents only if your case is genuinely complex
Keep digital copies of everything — scan all documents before submission for your records and any future reapplication
Check your India arrival formalities — international arrivals into India may need the online Air Suvidha health declaration; confirm whether it applies to your route before you fly
Be honest about your itinerary — fabricating hotel bookings or return flights to satisfy the form is a fast route to rejection
Cross-check your printed form against every supporting document before leaving home — most rejections happen at the verification counter, not during processing
Book your flights to India only after your visa is granted — but keep a confirmed itinerary or refundable booking ready for the application file

Frequently Asked Questions

When can Bangladeshis apply for an Indian tourist visa again?

Standard tourist visa applications reopened on 28 June 2026 after a near two-year suspension. Applications are initially accepted at five IVAC centres — Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet, and Khulna — with more centres to be added later.

Can Bangladeshi nationals apply for an Indian e-Visa?

No. Bangladeshi passport holders are not eligible for the Indian e-Tourist Visa. You must apply for a sticker visa through IVAC in Bangladesh.

Is there a visa-on-arrival option for Bangladeshis travelling to India?

No. India does not offer visa-on-arrival for Bangladeshi nationals. You must hold a valid sticker visa before boarding your flight or arriving at a land border.

How long is the Indian tourist visa valid?

Single-entry tourist visas are typically valid for 30 to 90 days from the date of issue. Multiple-entry tourist visas are valid for one year (or five years for applicants aged 65 and above), with each continuous stay capped at 90 days.

What happens if my application is rejected?

Your passport is returned without a visa stamp. The IVAC service fee is non-refundable and there is no formal appeal process. You can reapply with corrected documentation, but reapplying immediately with the same documents will likely produce the same result.

Can children apply on the same form as parents?

No. Each applicant — including infants and children — needs a separate online application, separate appointment, and separate visa. Parents must submit consent letters and copies of their own passports for minor applicants.

Can I travel to India by land with a tourist visa?

Yes, but only through endorsed land border crossings. The Benapole–Petrapole crossing is the busiest. Other land routes (Akhaura–Agartala, Hili, Banglabandha, Tamabil) require advance route endorsement on your visa application.

Can I extend my Indian tourist visa from inside India?

Tourist visa extensions are not normally granted except in genuine emergencies (medical, natural disaster). Plan your trip within the visa validity and exit before it expires to avoid overstay penalties.

Do I need to book my flight before applying?

You need a confirmed return ticket or itinerary for your application file. Many applicants use refundable tickets or travel agent itineraries at this stage. Book final tickets — including flights to Mumbai or other Indian cities — only after the visa is granted.

How early should I apply before my travel date?

Apply at least 4–6 weeks ahead during normal periods, and 8 weeks ahead during peak season (April–June, Eid, Puja). This buffers you against slot scarcity, document issues, or processing delays.

Sources

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.