Bangladesh Permanent Residency 2026: Requirements and Application Process

Bangladesh permanent residency: the 2026 legal position

Bangladesh permanent residency is one of the most misunderstood immigration topics in South Asia. Online guides quote neat investment prices, a fixed processing timeline and a residence card that arrives in the post. The law is different. Bangladesh has a statutory power to grant a right of permanent residence, a long-standing industrial policy promise linking residence and citizenship to investment, a No Visa Required (NVR) endorsement that does most of the practical work, and a citizenship regime that is discretionary at every stage. None of these is a visa category with a published price list.

This guide sets out how the system works in October 2026: the legal basis for permanent residence, who can apply, the investment figures that circulate (US$75,000, US$500,000 and their later replacements), who certifies an investment under the Invest Bangladesh Act 2026, NVR under the Visa Policy 2026, citizenship by investment, naturalisation, dual citizenship and a practical application process. Investor visa detail and the wider immigration framework sit in companion TRW guides, which we link rather than repeat.

Summary: Bangladesh permanent residency rests on Article 4A of the Bangladesh Citizenship (Temporary Provisions) Order 1972, which lets the Government grant a right of permanent residence on application, on conditions to be prescribed. Industrial policy links residence and citizenship to investment, but the figures have changed several times and are not repeated in the Visa Policy 2026. In practice most long-term investors and Bangladeshi-origin families rely on NVR, which lasts for the life of the passport, while citizenship is a separate, discretionary application.

Key point: The Visa Policy 2026 has no permanent residence visa. It does give foreign investors NVR for an investment of USD 100,000 in heavy industry or long-term business, certified by the investment authority. Since 23 August 2026 that authority, for former BIDA and BEZA matters, is Invest Bangladesh, created by the Invest Bangladesh Act 2026 (Act No. 104 of 2026). The Ministry of Home Affairs still makes the decision.

At a glance

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Table of Contents

The legal basis for Bangladesh permanent residency

Bangladesh does not have a stand-alone immigration code. Entry and stay are governed by the foreigners legislation and the visa policy issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, while citizenship and residence status sit in three older instruments: the Citizenship Act 1951, the Naturalisation Act 1926 and the Bangladesh Citizenship (Temporary Provisions) Order 1972, President's Order No. 149 of 1972.[5] [7] [8] For a full map of the statutes, see our guide to Bangladesh immigration law.

Article 4A of the 1972 Order

The express power to grant permanent residence is Article 4A of the 1972 Order. It allows the Government, on an application made in the prescribed manner, to grant a right of permanent residence to any person on such conditions as may be prescribed. Article 4A was inserted by Act No. LVIII of 1990.[5] The power is discretionary, and it is framed around conditions to be prescribed by rules, and the 1978 rules made under the Order, in the form publicly available with amendments to 1985, deal with citizenship applications and do not set out a permanent residence procedure.[6]

The result is that Bangladesh permanent residency is a status the Government confers case by case, not a scheme with published criteria, forms and fees. That is why the policy thresholds discussed below carry so much weight: they are the clearest public statement of what the Government will accept.

What the Visa Policy 2026 does and does not say

The Cabinet approved the draft Visa Policy 2026 on 10 August 2026, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, with 34 visa categories in place of the 33 in the 2006 policy and the cancellation of earlier visa circulars.[2] The published text, issued by the Immigration Wing of the Ministry of Home Affairs in August 2026, replaces the 2006 policy and its 2016 amendment.[1]

None of the 34 categories is a permanent residence visa. The policy instead provides the PI visa for private investors, the FPI visa for their dependants, the FBN visa for foreign spouses, children and Bangladeshi-origin foreigners, and the NVR facility for Bangladeshi-origin foreigners, their families, foreign spouses and children of citizens, and foreign investors.[1] Anyone advising on long-term status in 2026 therefore has to work across two systems: the residence and citizenship powers in the 1972 Order, and the visa and NVR rules in the policy.

Who decides in 2026

The Ministry of Home Affairs formulates visa and immigration policy. The Department of Immigration and Passports is the issuing authority inside Bangladesh for visas, NVR, visa on arrival and changes of visa category, and Bangladesh missions issue visas abroad.[1] Applications for citizenship and dual citizenship are made to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which sends them to the Special Branch of Bangladesh Police for a police report.[12] The investment authority's role is evidential: it certifies that the investment exists and continues.

Bangladesh permanent residency requirements: who can apply

Because Article 4A leaves the conditions to be prescribed, the practical requirements come from policy and from related applications. Applicants fall into three groups.

Foreign investors

Investors are the group the policy addresses most directly. Industrial policy has, since at least 2010, linked residence and citizenship to an investment of a stated size, and the Visa Policy 2026 gives NVR to investors at USD 100,000 in heavy industry or long-term business.[1] [9] The core requirement in every version is the same: real money, brought in through banking channels, invested in a registered business and certified by the competent investment authority. Investors normally hold a PI visa and, if they work in the company, a work permit before any long-term status is sought. Our guide to the Bangladesh investor visa covers that first stage in detail.

Bangladeshi-origin foreigners and their families

The second group is the diaspora. The Visa Policy 2026 allows NVR in the foreign passports of people of Bangladeshi origin who have acquired another citizenship (other than of a SAARC country), foreign citizens of Bangladeshi origin of the second and third generation, and their spouses and children.[1] Many in this group can also hold dual nationality, a stronger status than residence. For them, a residence grant is rarely the right target; NVR or citizenship usually is.

Foreign spouses, children and long-term residents

The third group is foreign spouses and children of Bangladeshi citizens, and foreigners who have lived in Bangladesh for many years for work or family reasons. The FBN visa gives foreign spouses and children two years with multiple entries, extendable up to three years, but prohibits employment.[1] NVR is available to the same family members on proof of the citizen's nationality, an affidavit of relationship, a marriage or birth certificate and, for spouses and children above fifteen, police verification.[1] Long-resident professionals without a family or investment link should plan for renewed work-based status or naturalisation.

Requirements common to every route

Whatever the route, the authorities look for the same core facts: a valid foreign passport, a lawful immigration history in Bangladesh, a clean police and security record, and a credible source of funds. The Visa Policy 2026 makes the last point explicit for one group: where a Bangladeshi-origin foreigner or family member obtained foreign citizenship or permanent residency through investment, NVR requires a favourable report from the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit together with the investigating agency.[1] Expect similar scrutiny of any investment-based application.

Residency and citizenship by investment: the US$75,000 and US$500,000 figures

The investment thresholds most often quoted for Bangladesh permanent residency come from industrial policy, not from a statute. They have changed over time, and much of the confusion online comes from sources that mix figures from different policies.

The original figures

Bangladesh Bank's investment facilities page still lists, under other incentives for foreign investors, permanent residentship by investing a minimum of US$75,000, and citizenship by investing a minimum of US$500,000 or by transferring US$1,000,000 to any recognised financial institution, each on a non-repatriable basis.[9] These are the figures associated with the National Industrial Policy 2010, which the press confirmed when the policy was revised.[10]

The 2016 revision

When the Cabinet approved the draft National Industrial Policy 2016 in March 2016, The Daily Star reported that foreigners would need to invest US$1 million, or transfer US$2 million to a recognised financial institution, to obtain citizenship, up from US$0.5 million and US$1 million under the 2010 policy. The investment for residence while doing business was reported as rising from US$75,000 to US$200,000.[10]

The National Industrial Policy 2022

The current industrial policy was approved on 11 August 2022 and gazetted on 29 September 2022. Published summaries of it state that permanent residency may be granted for a minimum investment of USD 200,000, and that a foreigner investing USD 1 million or transferring USD 2 million to a recognised financial institution may be considered for citizenship.[11] These are the figures we would treat as the current policy benchmark.

How to read the thresholds

Three cautions apply. First, the figures make an applicant eligible for consideration; they are not entitlements, and the decision remains discretionary. Second, the older US$75,000 and US$500,000 figures are still published on official pages, but an applicant should expect to be measured against the later policy. Third, an investment made on a non-repatriable basis cannot be taken out under the ordinary repatriation rules, and the structure should reflect that from the start. Our guide to capital repatriation in Bangladesh explains the general rules this condition sits against.

Invest Bangladesh replaces BIDA: who certifies the investment now

For a decade the investor's certificate came from the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) or, inside economic zones, from the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA). That changed in 2026. The Invest Bangladesh Act 2026, Act No. 104 of 2026, is dated 16 July 2026.[3] Invest Bangladesh began operating on 23 August 2026, the first working day after the gazette notification, as the merged successor to BIDA, BEZA and the Public-Private Partnership Authority, under the Prime Minister's Office.[4]

What the Act says about visas and residence

Section 6 of the Act lists the authority's functions. They include setting the terms for hiring foreign officers, experts and employees, recommending visas and granting work permits, and, for industrial zones, providing services through a single digital platform that expressly include resident and non-resident visas and work permits.[3] The Act does not mention permanent residence or citizenship. Those powers remain with the Government under the 1972 Order and the Citizenship Act 1951.[5] [7]

Which agency recommends residence by investment in 2026

The practical answer is that Invest Bangladesh now issues the investment certificate and recommendation for companies formerly registered with BIDA and units in zones formerly under BEZA. The Visa Policy 2026 still refers to BIDA, BEZA and the PPP Authority because it was drafted before the merger took effect; those references now point to Invest Bangladesh.[1] [4] Investors in export processing zones continue to deal with the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), and those in hi-tech parks with the Hi-Tech Park authority, both of which the policy lists separately.[1] The application itself still goes to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Invest Bangladesh stated that existing investor services and the BanglaBiz platform would continue.[4] Files opened with BIDA before August 2026 should be updated so that certificates issue in the current authority's name. Our analysis of investment approvals from BIDA and BEPZA covers the registration that must sit behind the certificate.

NVR: the working substitute for Bangladesh permanent residency

For most people asking about long-term residence, the No Visa Required endorsement is the status that actually solves the problem. It removes the need to apply for a visa for each stay, and the Visa Policy 2026 states that it is issued to facilitate entry and stay in Bangladesh.[1]

Who can obtain NVR

Paragraph 28 of the mandatory visa conditions lists four groups: people of Bangladeshi origin who have acquired the citizenship of another country; foreign citizens of Bangladeshi origin of the second and third generation and their spouses and children; foreign spouses and children of Bangladeshi citizens; and foreign investors.[1] The exclusion of SAARC citizenship applies to the Bangladeshi-origin category.

NVR for investors

Foreign investors get the NVR facility for an investment of USD 100,000 in heavy industry or long-term business in Bangladesh, on a certificate issued by the investment authority, BEPZA or BEZA.[1] The PI entry repeats the point, allowing NVR for an investment of at least USD 100,000 on certification from Bangladesh Bank, the investment authorities, BEPZA, the Hi-Tech Park authority, the PPP Authority or another appropriate authority.[1] Where secondary summaries quote a different figure, the published text controls.

Validity, fee and documents

NVR remains valid as long as the passport is valid, the application fee is 80 US dollars or the equivalent, and the endorsement must be machine-readable and placed in the foreign passport. It is issued only after the supporting certificates are verified, and it can be reissued in a new passport on payment of the fee.[1] Bangladeshi-origin applicants prove their link with a dual citizenship certificate or a Bangladeshi passport, national identity card, online birth registration or citizenship certificate of the relevant parent or spouse, plus the naturalisation document, an affidavit and, where relevant, marriage and birth certificates.[1]

What NVR does not do

NVR is a stay facility, not a work authorisation. An investor who works in the company still needs a work permit and security clearance, and if the company stops operating the basis for the certificate may fall away. A visa on arrival can be converted inside Bangladesh into NVR, among other categories, which is useful for applicants who arrive before their documents are complete.[1]

Citizenship by investment and naturalisation

Citizenship is the next step beyond residence, and it follows different rules. There is no separate citizenship by investment statute. An investor who meets the industrial policy threshold applies under the general powers, and the investment is the reason the Government is asked to exercise its discretion.

Citizenship on application under Article 4

Article 4 of the 1972 Order allows the Government to grant citizenship to any person who applies in the prescribed manner.[5] Under the 1978 rules, as published, an Article 4 application is made on Form B in duplicate, directly or through a Bangladesh mission abroad. It will not be entertained unless the applicant has renounced citizenship of another country by affidavit and abandoned their domicile of origin, and has resided in Bangladesh for five years, or two years for a foreign woman married to a Bangladeshi citizen. The Government may ask about language, qualifications and income, and the application fee in the rules is Taka 100.[6]

The rules also give a right of appeal to the Government within 30 days of an order, with a hearing, and allow citizenship obtained on false information to be cancelled after inquiry.[6] The renunciation requirement is the critical point for investors. Unless the applicant's existing nationality is one with which Bangladesh permits dual citizenship, citizenship by investment will normally mean giving up the original passport.

Naturalisation under the 1926 and 1951 Acts

The alternative is naturalisation. Section 9 of the Citizenship Act 1951 allows the Government to register as a citizen a person who holds a certificate of naturalisation under the Naturalisation Act 1926.[7] Under section 3 of the 1926 Act, the applicant must not be a minor, must have resided in Bangladesh for the twelve months before applying and for at least four of the seven years before that, must be of good character, must have adequate knowledge of Bengali and must intend to reside in Bangladesh or serve the Republic.[8]

The grant is in the Government's absolute discretion and there is no appeal against a refusal. The certificate takes effect only when the applicant takes the oath of allegiance, which must be done within 30 days of the grant unless extended.[8] Naturalised citizens also face a longer exposure to deprivation: section 16 of the Citizenship Act allows deprivation for fraud, and for disloyalty or certain criminal sentences abroad within five years of naturalisation.[7]

Foreign wives of Bangladeshi citizens

Section 10(2) of the Citizenship Act lets a woman married to a Bangladeshi citizen apply for registration, and a foreign wife must obtain a certificate of domicile and take the oath of allegiance.[7] The provision is framed for wives only. A foreign husband has no equivalent statutory route and relies on Article 4, naturalisation, or FBN and NVR status for residence.

Dual citizenship for Bangladeshis abroad

Dual citizenship is the route that matters most for the diaspora, and it often makes Bangladesh permanent residency unnecessary. Section 14 of the Citizenship Act 1951 provides that a Bangladeshi citizen who is also a citizen of another country ceases to be a citizen of Bangladesh unless they renounce the other nationality, with an exception for persons under twenty-one.[7]

Article 2B and the approved countries

The 1972 Order softens that rule. The proviso to Article 2B(1) says a Bangladeshi citizen does not lose citizenship merely by being or becoming a citizen of a state specified in or under Article 2B(2), and Article 2B(2) lets the Government grant citizenship to a citizen of any state in Europe or North America, or of any other state it notifies in the official Gazette.[5] On 27 February 2023 the Cabinet approved adding 44 countries, bringing the total to 101, up from 57.[14] Check the current notified list before assuming a particular nationality qualifies.

How to apply

Applications go to the Ministry of Home Affairs on the prescribed form, which forwards them to the Special Branch for a police report. The police report needs the foreign passport, the foreign citizenship certificate, the Bangladeshi passport, a notarial declaration, a bank receipt, a birth certificate if born abroad and a parent's or close relative's national identity card or passport.[12] The published Form A asks about family, property, remittances and knowledge of Bengali, is filed in triplicate directly or through a Bangladesh mission, and lists a Tk 50 stamped affidavit and a treasury challan of Tk 2,000 or the foreign currency equivalent.[13] Confirm the current fee before filing.

Once issued, the certificate is accepted as evidence for NVR in the holder's foreign passport and for the second and third generation.[1] Our overview of Bangladesh immigration law covers citizenship by birth and descent, which a dual citizen's children may also be able to claim.

How to get permanent residency: the PR application process

Because no statutory form or timetable is prescribed for Article 4A, the application has to be built to meet the policy thresholds and the evidential standards the Home Ministry applies to related applications. The sequence below is how we run a Bangladesh permanent residency file for an investor.

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The documents that carry the application

The decisive documents are the ones that prove the investment. The Visa Policy 2026 requires, for PI extensions, certificates from the investment authority on the continuity of investment, business registration particulars including the certificate of incorporation and tax payment certificate, a work permit where the investor works in the company, and a Home Ministry security clearance, which is valid for up to five years.[1] A permanent residence application should carry the same evidence, plus bank evidence of the inward remittance and the investment authority's certificate of the amount invested. Our guide to foreign exchange regulations in Bangladesh explains how inward investment must be routed and documented.

Timing and sequencing

No official processing time is published for permanent residence or citizenship. The timetable is driven by the investment cycle: the company incorporated, the money remitted and certified and the business operating before a credible application is made, with security and police verification on top. Keep the underlying visa and work permit valid throughout.

Comparing the long-term status routes

The table below compares the routes that matter for anyone planning to stay in Bangladesh long term. On a phone, scroll it sideways.

For an investor at or above USD 100,000 in heavy industry or long-term business, NVR is usually the first long-term status to obtain, because it is published, priced and tied to the passport. Bangladesh permanent residency under Article 4A becomes worth pursuing where the investor wants a formal residence status independent of the passport and can meet the policy threshold. Citizenship is a separate decision, and for many investors the renunciation rule makes it unattractive. Our Bangladesh immigration and visa services team advises on choosing and sequencing these routes.

Mistakes to avoid

• Relying on a price list: the US$75,000 and US$500,000 figures are older policy benchmarks; later policy raised them, and none of them creates an entitlement.[9] [11]
• Using the wrong authority: since 23 August 2026, investment certificates for former BIDA and BEZA matters come from Invest Bangladesh.[4]
• Confusing residence with work: NVR and permanent residence do not replace a work permit for an investor who works in the company.
• Ignoring the source of funds: investment-based status attracts financial intelligence scrutiny, and the Visa Policy 2026 already requires a BFIU report for one category of applicant.[1]
• Overlooking non-repatriation: an investment pledged as non-repatriable cannot be treated as freely exportable capital.[9]
• Assuming dual nationality: an Article 4 applicant must ordinarily renounce other citizenship, and dual nationality is limited to notified countries.[5] [6]
• Letting status lapse: an expired passport, visa or work permit during the application undermines the file.

A separate trap concerns tax. Immigration status and tax residence are different tests, and a long-term resident will usually become a resident taxpayer on presence alone. Our guide to income tax rates in Bangladesh explains the consequences.

What to watch in 2026 and beyond

Three developments will shape Bangladesh permanent residency over the next year. First, implementation of the Visa Policy 2026 by the Department of Immigration and Passports and missions, including updated forms and fee schedules for NVR.[1] Second, Invest Bangladesh's own procedures under the single digital platform contemplated by section 6 of the 2026 Act, which will determine how investment certificates are issued under the new name.[3] Third, any revision of the National Industrial Policy, which is where the investment thresholds for residence and citizenship have historically been set.[11]

The sensible approach is to build long-term status in layers: the right visa and work permit first, NVR once the investment or family link is documented, and permanent residence or citizenship only when the facts clearly meet the policy. If you want a clear view of which route fits, contact TRW.

Frequently asked questions

Does Bangladesh offer permanent residency?

Yes, as a discretionary status. Article 4A of the Bangladesh Citizenship (Temporary Provisions) Order 1972 allows the Government to grant a right of permanent residence on application, on prescribed conditions. There is no permanent residence category in the Visa Policy 2026.[1] [5]

How much investment is needed for Bangladesh permanent residency?

The older policy figure is US$75,000, non-repatriable, and is still listed by Bangladesh Bank. Later industrial policy raised the benchmark to US$200,000. The figures are eligibility guidance, not an entitlement.[9] [10] [11]

Can a foreigner get Bangladeshi citizenship by investment?

Industrial policy links citizenship to an investment of US$1 million or a transfer of US$2 million to a recognised financial institution, replacing the earlier US$500,000 and US$1 million figures. The grant remains discretionary.[10] [11]

Which agency recommends residence by investment after BIDA was merged?

Invest Bangladesh, created by the Invest Bangladesh Act 2026 (Act No. 104 of 2026), began operating on 23 August 2026 as successor to BIDA, BEZA and the PPP Authority and certifies investment for those projects. BEPZA and the Hi-Tech Park authority certify their own zones, and the Home Ministry decides.[3] [4]

What is NVR and who can get it?

No Visa Required is an endorsement in a foreign passport that facilitates entry and stay. It is available to Bangladeshi-origin foreigners up to the third generation and their families, foreign spouses and children of citizens, and foreign investors.[1]

What investment qualifies a foreign investor for NVR?

USD 100,000 in heavy industry or long-term business, supported by a certificate from the investment authority, BEPZA or BEZA. The fee is US$80 and the endorsement lasts as long as the passport.[1]

Does Bangladesh allow dual citizenship?

Yes, for citizens of Europe, North America and other notified states under Article 2B of the 1972 Order. The list stood at 101 countries after the Cabinet's February 2023 decision.[5] [14]

How long must I live in Bangladesh to naturalise?

Under the Naturalisation Act 1926, twelve months immediately before applying and at least four of the preceding seven years, with good character, adequate Bengali and an intention to reside. The Government's decision is final.[8]

Can a foreign husband of a Bangladeshi citizen become a citizen?

The registration route in section 10(2) of the Citizenship Act 1951 is for wives only. A foreign husband relies on Article 4 or naturalisation for citizenship, and on FBN or NVR for residence.[1] [7]

Does NVR or permanent residence allow me to work in Bangladesh?

Not by itself. An investor or employee who works in a Bangladeshi company still needs a work permit and security clearance from the competent authority, alongside the residence or NVR status.[1]