Immigration Law

Immigration And Visa Law Services

Professional Immigration & Expatriate Legal Representation

In today’s globally interconnected economy, the movement of investors, skilled workers, and families across international borders is closely regulated by law. Both foreign nationals entering Bangladesh to make a commercial investment, take up employment, or settle there, and Bangladeshi citizens seeking global mobility must navigate complex administrative processes with security agencies, immigration departments, and diplomatic missions.

Our immigration and visa services at Advocacy Legal, located near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Uttara, Dhaka, provide full legal representation to foreign investors, corporate expatriates, and individual clients. Whether you need specialized investor visas and work permits, appeals against wrongful entry refusals, or cross-border documentation, our legal team ensures your entry into Bangladesh, stay, and residency are properly protected and fully compliant with the country’s national security regulations.

Our Scope of Immigration & Visa Legal Services

Advocacy Legal provides end-to-end legal assistance in all the major immigration categories administered by the Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP), BIDA, and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA):

Investor & Commercial Visas (PI & E Categories)

Foreign investors and corporate managers entering Bangladesh require specialized visa classifications to conduct commercial operations:

Private Investor (PI) Visa Recommendations: We help foreign entrepreneurs and major equity holders obtain PI visas through BIDA recommendations, with the visas granting long-term access and residency rights linked to their capital investment.
Employment (E) Visas & Work Permits: We help foreign executives, technical experts, and consultants employed by local or multinational companies obtain the required BIDA or BEPZA work permits and then convert them into E-visas.
Business (B) Visas: For business (B) visas, we process multi-entry business visas for international executives in Bangladesh to carry out feasibility studies, enter into contract negotiations, and conduct corporate audits.

Visa Conversions, Extensions, and Status Adjustments

You cannot engage in commercial employment or investment activities if you enter Bangladesh on a standard tourist visa, and Advocacy Legal can help you make the necessary statutory status adjustments:

In-Country Visa Category Conversion: preparing the applications with the Ministry of Home Affairs (Security Services Division) and DIP to change a Tourist (T) or Business (B) visa into an Employment (E), Investor (PI), or Dependent (FE) visa.
Visa Extension Filings: When applying for a visa extension, submit your application in time, before your current visas expire, to avoid penalties, fines, or placement on a blocklist.
Family Dependent (FE) Visas: Obtaining visas for spouses, children, and immediate family members of foreign investors and holders of expatriate work permits.

Overstay Clearance, Security Approvals, & Appeals Against Rejection

Administrative delays or security clearances can disrupt immigration status. We provide direct legal intervention:

Appeals Against Visa Rejections & Blacklisting: We submit formal legal arguments and administrative appeals to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the appropriate diplomatic missions when visa applications are unfairly rejected, entry is refused, or an adverse security flag occurs.
Overstay Regularization & Exit Permits: For foreign nationals who have accidentally stayed in the country longer than permitted, we handle requests for fee waivers or reductions in statutory penalties and arrange official Exit Permits.
NVR (No Visa Required) Endorsements: helping children and foreign spouses of Bangladeshi citizens obtain the permanent “No Visa Required for Travel to Bangladesh” endorsement stamps in their foreign passports.

Comparative Overview: Foreign Visa & Work Permit Categories

Foreign nationals entering Bangladesh must secure the correct visa classification based on their underlying commercial or personal purpose:

Visa Category	Target Applicant Group	Primary Sponsoring Authority	Operational Scope & Privileges
PI (Private Investor)	Foreign investors establishing industrial or commercial entities.	BIDA / BEPZA	Long-term residency, multiple entries, eligibility for work permit exemption upon equity threshold verification.
E (Employment)	Foreign technical experts, C-suite executives, and consultants.	BIDA / BEPZA / NGO Affairs Bureau	Authorizes formal employment and local salary draw after securing a mandatory Work Permit.
FE (Family Dependent)	Spouses and minor children of PI and E visa holders.	DIP / Ministry of Home Affairs	Grants residency duration tied to the principal work permit/investor visa holder’s status.
B (Business)	Foreign commercial representatives, buyers, and consultants.	Liaison / Registered Entity	Temporary entry for meetings, inspections, and negotiations. Strictly prohibits local employment.
NVR Seal	Foreign spouses and foreign-born children of Bangladeshi citizens.	DIP / Bangladesh Missions	Permanent entry and exit privileges without requiring periodic visa renewals.

Work Permit & Expatriate Legal Workflow in Bangladesh

To legally employ a foreign national, an employer in Bangladesh must follow a four-stage statutory approval procedure administered by Advocacy Legal.

Step-by-Step Work Permit & Expatriate Authorization Workflow

Stage 1: Pre-Arrival E-Visa Recommendation by BIDA or BEPZA

Before going to Bangladesh, the employing company must obtain an official E-Visa Recommendation Letter. Advocacy Legal prepares and submits the employer’s statutory application to either the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) or the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA). This step involves verifying the need to employ a foreign national, checking the applicant’s educational qualifications, and ensuring compliance with the required local-to-foreign employment ratios.

Stage 2: Entry into Bangladesh under an Employment (E) Visa

Once a foreign national receives the official recommendation letter from BIDA or BEPZA, they apply for an Employment (E) Visa at the appropriate Bangladesh diplomatic mission or embassy overseas. The foreign national then enters Bangladesh legally under the authorized E-Visa category.

Stage 3: Work Permit Application Submission

Submit a formal Work Permit application to BIDA or BEPZA within 15 days of arrival in Bangladesh. Our legal team prepares the entire submission dossier, including board resolutions, original employment contracts, police clearance certificates, educational attestations, and statutory fees.

Stage 4: Security Clearance & Final Work Permit Issuance

After the work permit application is filed, it is forwarded to the Special Branch (SB) of the Police and the National Security Intelligence (NSI) for compulsory background checks. Once security clearance is granted, BIDA or BEPZA issues the expatriate an official, multi-year work permit. Advocacy Legal then registers the expatriate with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) so that a local e-TIN can be issued and tax compliance can be achieved.

Step-by-Step Expatriate Work Permit & Tax Compliance Workflow

Pre-Arrival E-Visa Recommendation: We prepare and file the employer’s application with BIDA or BEPZA, explaining the need to employ a foreign national and demonstrating the local-to-foreign employee ratio (usually 5:1 for commercial organisations and 20:1 for industrial ones).
Work Permit Application Submission: When applying for a work permit, we will submit the formal application, along with the educational certificates, board resolutions, and police clearances, within 15 days of the expatriate arriving in Bangladesh on an E-Visa.
Security Clearance Coordination: For the security clearance process, we work with the Special Branch (SB) of the Police and the NSI to carry out mandatory background checks and security verification.
Final Work Permit & Income Tax Registration: Once security clearance is obtained, BIDA issues the official Work Permit (typically valid for 1 to 2 years), and we then register the expatriate with the NBR to comply with local income tax requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Can a foreign national carry out work in Bangladesh while holding a Tourist or Business Visa?

A: No, it is strictly illegal under the Passport Act of 1920 and immigration regulations to be employed, receive a salary, or carry out commercial employment under a Tourist (T) or Business (B) visa. These actions may lead to immediate deportation, substantial financial fines, and your company being placed on a blocklist. Foreign employees must obtain an E-Visa and a valid BIDA/BEPZA Work Permit.

Q2: What is the required ratio of locally employed employees to foreign employees for businesses in Bangladesh?

A: For commercial branch offices and corporate bodies, BIDA guidelines usually require a minimum ratio of five Bangladeshi employees for every one foreign employee; for industrial manufacturing plants, the requirement is generally twenty Bangladeshi workers for every one foreign technical expert.

Q3: How long does it take to process a BIDA Work Permit?

You will receive the letter approving your initial Work Permit about 2 to 4 weeks after submitting the documents, and the final security clearance from the Special Branch (SB) of the police may take an extra 30 to 45 days.

Q4: What occurs if a foreigner remains in Bangladesh longer than their visa allows?

A: If a visa is overstayed, the person will be subject to daily fines which the Department of Immigration and Passports imposes; in cases of a substantial overstay, formal legal action will be needed, security clearances from the Ministry of Home Affairs will be required, and an official Exit Permit will have to be obtained before the foreign national can leave the country.

Q5: What is the procedure by which foreign spouses of citizens of Bangladesh can obtain rights to enter the country permanently?

A: Foreign spouses can apply for a No Visa Required (NVR) seal endorsement, which requires a verified marriage certificate, copies of your passport, evidence of your Bangladeshi spouse’s NID or passport, and attendance at a verification session at the embassy or DIP.

Why Choose Advocacy Legal for Immigration Support

Airport Proximity Advantage: Our location in Uttara, Dhaka, lets us help international clients who arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with urgent immigration or transit issues.
Comprehensive Expatriate Tax Integration: We provide comprehensive tax integration for expatriates by ensuring they obtain individual e-TINs, file their local tax returns, and secure the official Tax Clearance Certificates required to repatriate their salaries.
Direct Administrative Representation: For direct administrative representation, our lawyers carry out all communication on your behalf with BIDA, NSI, the Special Branch, DIP, and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Do you need professional legal assistance with visas, work permits, or foreign residency in Bangladesh?

You can arrange a consultation by calling our immigration law team at +880 1977-125595 or emailing info@advocacylegalbd.com.