To work legally in Bangladesh, a foreign national needs a Bangladesh work permit issued by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) or, depending on where the employer operates, by one of a few sector-specific agencies. The employer files the application through BIDA’s One Stop Service portal, submits corporate and personal documents, pays a fee in U.S. dollars, and clears a Ministry of Home Affairs security check that is now deemed granted after 21 working days if no agency raises an objection. Working without a permit violates the Foreigners Act of 1946 and carries penalties of up to five years in prison plus fines.1Laws of Bangladesh. The Foreigners Act, 1946
Which Agency Issues Your Permit
BIDA handles most private-sector work permit applications.2Bangladesh Investment Development Authority. BIDA FAQ If the employer sits inside an export processing zone, an economic zone, a hi-tech park, or is an NGO, a different authority issues the permit: BEPZA for EPZ operations,3Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority. BEPZA Brochure and the respective zone or park authority, or the NGO Affairs Bureau, for the others.4Bangladesh Investment Development Authority. Expatriate Work Permit, FAQ The documentation and compliance steps look broadly the same across agencies, but confirm the correct one with your employer before you start.
Who Qualifies
Eligibility depends more on the sponsoring company than on the individual worker. Employers must maintain a minimum ratio of Bangladeshi to foreign employees. For industrial projects registered with BIDA, the ratio is 10:1 at the setup stage and 20:1 once operational. Commercial branch, representative, and liaison offices must hold a 5:1 ratio.5Bangladesh Investment Development Authority. Expatriate Work Permit, FAQ If the local headcount drops below the threshold, the application stalls until the employer hires more Bangladeshi staff.
On the worker side, the general expectation is a bachelor’s degree or substantial professional experience in a technical or managerial field, and the employer must show the specific skills are not readily available locally. You should also already hold an employment-category visa (commonly an “E” visa) or an investor visa before the permit application goes in. Entering on a tourist visa and trying to convert later invites delays and legal complications.
Documents to Prepare
The paperwork splits into company records and personal records. From the company:
- A board resolution authorizing the hire.
- A signed appointment letter with job title, responsibilities, salary, and duration.
- Trade license and registration certificate.
- Current workforce data showing the required local-to-foreign ratio.
From the individual:
- Passport bio-data page, valid through the intended employment period.
- Copy of the current visa in the correct category.
- Academic certificates, transcripts, and any professional licenses.
- A detailed job description with contract duration.
Documents not in English need certified translations. Scans must be clean and legible; blurry uploads are a common reason BIDA sends applications back for correction, which resets part of the processing clock.
How to Apply and What It Costs
The sponsoring entity submits everything through the BIDA One Stop Service (OSS) portal, which routes the file to the correct processing agency automatically.6Bangladesh Investment Development Authority. One Stop Service Portal Salary details, including allowances and benefits, must be disclosed in the online form for labor and tax compliance. You can track the status in the same portal in real time.
Fees are charged in U.S. dollars and are non-refundable. For commercial office permits, the schedule runs about $150 for one year, $250 for two years, and $350 for three years, with lower amounts for renewals and amendments.7Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA). Work Permit Commercial Industrial project fees may differ.
Security Clearance
Once BIDA finishes its administrative review, the file goes to the Ministry of Home Affairs for a background check by law enforcement and intelligence agencies, which also verify the sponsoring business.8Ministry of Home Affairs. Online Security Clearance System The workflow is now fully digital. If no objection is raised within 21 working days of a complete submission, clearance is deemed granted.9Bangladesh Investment Development Authority. Govt Moves to Fully Digitize Security Clearance Through BIDA OSS Visa extensions and permit fee payments also run through the portal, replacing the old hard-copy submissions to the Department of Immigration and Passports. If an agency flags a concern, the application is denied outright and there is no automatic appeal.
How Long the Permit Lasts
A first-time permit is typically issued for one year, though it can match a shorter employment contract. Extensions are available up to a cumulative maximum of five years.10BIDA (Bangladesh Investment Development Authority). Expatriate Work Permit, FAQ
The permit is tied to one employer. There is no transfer. If you change jobs, the old permit becomes invalid and the new employer files a fresh application. File renewals well ahead of expiry; a lapse can trigger fines and put your underlying visa at risk.
What to Do After You Arrive
You have seven days from arrival to register in person with the appropriate registration officer. Registration is mandatory for any foreigner on a visa longer than 90 days.11Immigration, Bangladesh Police. Foreigner Registration Rules Miss the window and the late fee is 2,000 Taka after seven days and 5,000 Taka after fifteen.12Immigration, Bangladesh Police. Immigration, Bangladesh Police – FAQ The registration report is in English and includes a photograph and your intended address.
You also need a 12-digit electronic Tax Identification Number (e-TIN) from the tax authority. e-TIN registration is one of the services offered through the BIDA OSS portal.2Bangladesh Investment Development Authority. BIDA FAQ Without one, you cannot file income tax returns, and filing is mandatory for every work permit holder.
Tax and Money Obligations
If you qualify as a non-resident for tax purposes, Bangladesh-sourced income is taxed at a flat 30%. Residency is determined by days present in the country during the income year (July 1 to June 30), not by visa type. Resident foreigners pay the same graduated schedule as Bangladeshi citizens, starting at 10% above the basic exemption and topping out at 30%.
Keep your Income Tax Clearance Certificate current. Airports maintain tax booths that can check clearance at departure. If you are leaving permanently, file a return covering July 1 through your departure date and obtain a clearance certificate before your flight. For a temporary mid-year exit with intent to return, apply to the Deputy Commissioner of Taxes for an exemption certificate.
Sending savings home requires prior approval from Bangladesh Bank, arranged through your local bank. Keep records of salary deposits, tax payments, and remittance approvals; the central bank may ask for documentation before authorizing an outbound transfer.
When You Leave
Departing foreign nationals pay a travel tax that depends on destination: about 2,500 Taka for the Americas, Europe, Africa, Australia, or the Far East; 1,800 Taka for the Middle East; 800 Taka for SAARC countries; and 500 Taka for road crossings.13Australian High Commission Dhaka. Departure Travel Tax for Foreign Nationals Airlines often include the tax in the ticket, but it may be collected at the airport.
Overstays escalate quickly. Sorting out a lost visa or expired status can take several business days and carry financial penalties, and an expired permit with no renewal or departure filed can pile on fines and immigration holds. Start the exit paperwork (tax clearance, employer notification, visa status check) at least a month before you plan to fly.