This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Bangladesh’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
\n\nThe authorities in Bangladesh set and enforce entry rules. If you are not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Bangladeshi High Commission in the UK.
\n\nTo enter Bangladesh, your passport must have at least 2 blank pages and no damage.
\n\nSee ‘Applying for a visa’ for passport validity requirements for visas.
\n\nCheck with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet the requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
\n\nYou will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
\n\nMake sure you get your passport stamped.
\nMake sure you get an entry stamp in your passport when you arrive. Immigration officers will check the date on your entry stamp when you leave Bangladesh. You could get a fine for overstaying.
\n\nAt Bangladeshi border control, you may also need to show a return or onward ticket.
\n\nWhen returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual Citizenship.
\n\nBangladesh has introduced online arrival and departure registration for foreign nationals. Travellers may be required to complete an electronic arrival card before entering Bangladesh and an electronic departure card before leaving.
\n\nYou must have a visa to visit Bangladesh for up to 3 months, unless you have a ‘no visa required’ stamp in your UK passport.
\n\nIf you are eligible for a visa on arrival, you may be able to pre-register online before travel. Check the latest requirements with the Bangladeshi authorities and your airline before travelling.
\n\nApply in advance for a visa from the Bangladeshi High Commission in the UK.
\n\nYour passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date your visa starts. The visa starts from the date of issue, not the date of travel. If you plan to use Bangladesh as a hub to visit other countries in the region, make sure you get a multiple-entry visa.
\n\nThe Visa on Arrival service continues to operate, including in the period before the national elections on 12 February. See Checks at the border.
\n\nYou may be able to apply for a visa on arrival at Dhaka airport. You must have a return ticket and proof of funds to apply for a visa on arrival. Visas on arrival are:
\n\nIf you want to stay longer, you can apply for a visa extension from the Department of Immigration and Passports.
\n\nIf you are working in Bangladesh, you must get a work permit, and you’ll need an Income Tax Clearance Certificate or an Income Tax Exemption Certificate before leaving Bangladesh. You get application forms from the National Board of Revenue, Bangladesh.
\n\nBritish nationals of Bangladeshi origin may be eligible to apply for a ‘no visa required’ stamp from the Bangladeshi High Commission in the UK.
\n\nDuring the election period, you may face further checks at the border and be asked for additional documents such as:
\n\nCheck with your travel operator for the latest information before travelling.
\n\nTo enter Bangladesh, you must have certificates to prove you’ve had:
\n\nFor full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Bangladesh guide.
\n\nThere are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Bangladesh. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
\n\nYou may need to declare foreign currency or Bangladeshi taka, depending on the amount you are travelling with.
\n\nYou can cash travellers cheques at banks and airports. ATMs are available in most urban areas and accept UK cards. There are fewer ATMs in rural areas.
\n\n","safety_html":"This guide also has safety advice for regions of Bangladesh.
\n\nThere is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
\n\nUK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
\n\nTerrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Bangladesh.
\nTerrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks. These attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals, and places such as:
\n\nSome groups have targeted people who they consider to have views and lifestyles contrary to Islam, including religious minorities.
\n\nIslamist extremist groups operate in Bangladesh.
\n\nThe Bangladeshi authorities continue to disrupt planned attacks. Increases in security force presence and restrictions on movement may be put in place at short notice.
\n\nRemain aware of your surroundings. Avoid large gatherings and other locations with a police or security presence. Follow the advice of local authorities.
\n\nBangladesh held national elections on 12 February 2026. Political rallies and demonstrations can quickly turn violent leading to clashes. During demonstrations and strikes (‘hartals’), there can be arson, violence and vandalism in towns and cities across the country, which can result in fatalities.
\n\nThere have been occasional attacks against minority religious communities.
\n\nThere have also been attacks targeting the police and security forces. These have included improvised explosive device (IED) attacks in major cities.
\n\nIn July and August 2024, a popular uprising led to widespread violence across Bangladesh, with many deaths and injuries.
\n\nBe alert to quickly changing situations on the streets. Stay away from protests or demonstrations, rallies and large gatherings. If you see a demonstration starting, move to a place of safety. Follow the advice of local authorities. Follow updates in local media and get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nThere are reports of an increase in violent crime since the popular uprising in Bangladesh in July and August 2024.
\n\nCriminal gangs operate in Dhaka and other cities. Thieves often work in pairs on motorcycles or motorised rickshaws known as ‘CNGs’.
\n\nPotential threats include armed robbery, violent crime and rape.
\n\nPassengers using rickshaws, taxis, buses or trains are vulnerable to violent crime, particularly at night. Avoid using public transport if you’re travelling alone. See Transport risks.
\n\nBe alert when using and carrying your phone in public and crowded spaces. To reduce your risk, do not carry large quantities of money or wear expensive-looking jewellery or watches.
\n\nThere is a risk of sexual assault, including attacks on female foreign national visitors.
\n\nFemale travellers often experience verbal and physical harassment by individuals or groups of men. Avoid isolated areas when alone at any time of day. Be vigilant, particularly at night.
\n\nSee advice for women travelling abroad.
\n\nThere have been deaths and cases of serious illness caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol in Bangladesh.
\n\nAlcohol is strictly regulated in Bangladesh. Non-Muslim citizens over 21 and foreign visitors may drink in licensed venues with permits, while it is banned for Muslims except for medical reasons. These restrictions often lead people to seek alcohol from unlicensed sources, creating a black market, which can use methanol, and increasing the risk of methanol poisoning.
\n\nEven small amounts of methanol can kill. It is not possible to identify methanol in alcoholic drinks by taste or smell. See Travel Aware Drink Spiking and Methanol Poisoning for information about how to reduce the risks.
\n\nSeek urgent medical attention if you or someone you are travelling with show the signs of methanol poisoning after drinking.
\n\nDhaka international and Sylhet airports are fully operational. Check with your travel provider for updates.
\n\nRisks at Dhaka and Sylhet airports include:
\n\nTo reduce your risk:
\n\nBangladesh is a majority Muslim country. Respect the customs and laws. Make sure your actions do not cause offence.
\n\nLocal officials may ask you for ID.
\n\nCarry copies of the photo page in your passport and your Bangladeshi visa. Keep the originals somewhere safe and leave copies with friends or relatives in the UK.
\n\nBoth men and women should dress modestly to avoid causing offence. Women should cover their shoulders and legs in public.
\n\nRamadan in 2026 is expected to start on the 17/18 February and last until the third week of March.
\n\nRamadan is a holy month for Muslims. Get advice on respecting Ramadan from your tour guide, hotel or business contacts.
\n\nYou should:
\n\nIf you’re a British national of Bangladeshi origin, the Bangladeshi government will consider you to be a Bangladeshi citizen, even if you:
\n\nThis may limit the help the UK government can offer you. For more information on Bangladeshi nationality, check with the Bangladeshi High Commission in the UK.
\n\nThe Bangladesh Police Expatriate Help Cell offers services to foreign nationals, including dual nationals.
\n\nYou may need a liquor permit to drink alcohol in Bangladesh. A liquor permit allows you to drink alcohol in government-licensed bars. Check the requirements at your local district office and apply for a permit if necessary.
\n\nThere are severe penalties for possessing and trafficking illegal drugs. Some drug-related offences are punishable by the death penalty or life imprisonment.
\n\nIf you break local laws, you may get a prison sentence, served in a local prison. Delays and inefficiency in the judicial system can result in long detentions until court hearings eventually take place. Prison conditions are far below UK standards.
\n\nBritish nationals detained in Bangladesh have the right to request access to British High Commission officials.
\n\nFamily law in Bangladesh is very different from UK law. Always check your legal position when, for example, child custody is an issue.
\n\nThe British High Commission in Dhaka cannot help British nationals of Bangladeshi origin with land or property problems.
\n\nSame-sex sexual activity is illegal in Bangladesh.
\n\nRead more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
\n\nIf you are planning to drive in Bangladesh, see information on driving abroad.
\n\nYou need a 1949 international driving permit (IDP) and a UK driving licence to drive in Bangladesh. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.
\n\nRoad accidents are common in Bangladesh due to:
\n\nDriving at night is especially dangerous as many drivers do not use headlights or use undipped headlights. There is also a risk of robbery if you travel between towns after dark. Avoid driving alone at night.
\n\nCycle rickshaws used on main roads alongside traffic are not safe – they offer little protection if there is an accident.
\n\nPolice are often unable to verify private hire drivers’ details, as driving records are often inaccurate.
\n\nRide-hailing apps like Uber are available in Bangladesh. Uber drivers generally only accept cash payment. To make sure you get in the right car safely:
\n\nThe risks of travelling by bus include:
\n\nAvoid travelling by bus alone and at night.
\n\nDue to the security situation in Bangladesh, there are frequent disruptions to air travel, often at short notice. Stay in touch with your airline. Security checks at the airport can also be slow.
\n\nThe rail network is extensive but old and generally considered slow.
\n\nRail travel risks include:
\n\nOn some trains, you may be able to lock first-class compartment doors. Make sure the door is locked if you’re travelling at night.
\n\nFor information see Bangladesh Railways.
\n\nRiver and sea ferry risks include:
\n\nFind out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
\n\nThe monsoon season runs from June to September and can cause widespread flooding and travel disruption.
\n\nIf travelling, you should check:
\n\nThere is a risk of tropical cyclones in Bangladesh. Check weather reports from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department and the World Meteorological Organization.
\n\nAround half of Bangladesh, including the cities of Moulvibazar and Sylhet, is in a high-risk earthquake zone. Other areas, including Dhaka, are at moderate risk. Tremors and earthquakes, usually minor ones, happen occasionally.
\n\nThe US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
\n\nBangladesh can be affected by tsunamis. In some cases the Bangladeshi government will issue tsunami warnings. Monitor local news and follow any advice given by local authorities.
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