TRW Insight / Bangladesh
The PI visa is how a foreign investor lawfully owns and runs a business in Bangladesh. Under the Visa Policy 2026 it turns on a recommendation from Invest Bangladesh, banked evidence of investment and a work permit, with NVR for larger investors.
Bangladesh investor visa: the 2026 framework
The Bangladesh investor visa is the PI, or private investor, category in the Visa Policy 2026 that the Ministry of Home Affairs published in August 2026. It is the visa a foreign national needs to invest in, own and run an industrial or commercial business in Bangladesh, whether the company is wholly foreign-owned or a joint venture with local partners. It is not a residence-by-investment programme with a price tag: it is a purpose-based visa that depends on a recommendation from the investment authority, real evidence that money has arrived, and, for an investor who works in the company, a work permit and a security clearance.
This guide covers the whole route in its 2026 form. It explains who qualifies, the investment figures that actually appear in the rules, the recommendation now issued by Invest Bangladesh as the successor to BIDA, the documents for a first visa and an extension, conversion from a visa on arrival, the work permit and security clearance, duration and renewal, the no visa required (NVR) endorsement for larger investors, visas for family members and the longer-term residence options. It closes with the compliance risks we see most often and how TRW structures an investor's immigration file alongside the investment itself.
Summary: A foreign investor in a privately owned industrial or commercial business in Bangladesh applies for a PI visa on a recommendation from Invest Bangladesh, BEPZA, the Hi-Tech Park authority or the concerned ministry. The visa is issued for up to one year with multiple entries and may be extended up to five years or the validity of the work permit. An investor certified for an investment of at least USD 100,000 can obtain an NVR endorsement, and spouses and children follow on the dependent FPI visa.
Key point: The Visa Policy 2026 came into effect immediately on publication and repealed the earlier visa circulars, although visas already issued remain valid until expiry. It does not change category after entry except from a visa on arrival, so an investor who arrives on a business or tourist visa cannot simply switch to PI status inside Bangladesh.
At a glance
PI category
Category 24 of the Visa Policy 2026 covers foreign investors in industrial or commercial businesses under foreign ownership or in a private-sector joint venture.
Recommendation
The applicant needs a letter from the investment authority, now Invest Bangladesh for former BIDA, BEZA and PPP matters, confirming a bona fide investor.
Duration
Up to one year with multiple entries, extendable up to five years or the validity of the work permit.
NVR
Investors certified for USD 100,000 in heavy industry or long-term business can obtain a no visa required endorsement for the life of the passport.
Family
Spouse, children and dependent family members receive FPI visas coterminous with the investor, with employment prohibited.
Table of Contents
Bangladesh investor visa: the 2026 framework
Bangladesh regulates the entry and stay of foreigners through the Foreigners Act 1946 and a visa policy issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Cabinet approved the draft Visa Policy 2026 on 10 August 2026 at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, describing it as an effort to make the visa system modern, secure, dynamic and simplified and to attract foreign direct investment and skilled people.[2] The policy replaced the 2006 policy and its 2016 amendment, raised the number of visa categories to 34, and repealed the earlier visa circulars.[1] [2]
The published text, hosted on the Special Branch immigration website, states that it takes effect immediately and that visas issued under the repealed circulars remain valid until they expire.[1] [3] For investors, one document now sets the category, duration, documents and general conditions.
Who administers the system
The Ministry of Home Affairs formulates visa and immigration policy. The Department of Immigration and Passports is the authority for issuing visas in Bangladesh, including NVR, visa on arrival and change of visa category, while Bangladesh missions issue visas abroad. Every application is decided case by case after the documents are examined and the authority is satisfied about the purpose of the visit, and the visa officer may refer an issue to the Ministry.[1] Special Branch of Bangladesh Police supplies police reports, and security clearance means a clearance issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.[1]
Where the investment authority fits
The visa is a Home Ministry permission, but it is unlocked by the investment authority. The Invest Bangladesh Act 2026, Act No. 104 of 2026 dated 16 July 2026, created a single investment agency.[4] Invest Bangladesh began operating on 23 August 2026 as the merged successor to the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and the Public-Private Partnership Authority, under the Prime Minister's Office, and stated that existing investor services would continue.[5] The Visa Policy 2026 still names BIDA, BEZA and PPA, because it was drafted before the merger took effect; in practice those references now point to Invest Bangladesh.
Who qualifies for a Bangladesh investor visa
The PI category is defined by purpose. Its stated purpose and eligibility are the same: a foreign investor investing in an industrial or commercial establishment under foreign ownership or on a joint venture in the private sector.[1] BIDA's investor guidance describes it in the same terms, as the visa for foreign investors who set up industrial or commercial businesses either wholly foreign-owned or as joint ventures.[8]
Industrial or commercial establishment
The policy does not limit the PI visa to manufacturing. A trading, services or technology company can qualify if it is a commercial establishment with foreign ownership. What matters is that the applicant is the investor, usually a shareholder of a company incorporated in Bangladesh, rather than an employee of it. A manager or engineer who holds no equity belongs in the E2 or E3 employment categories, which have their own recommendation and documents.[7] [8]
Private sector only
The category is tied to the private sector. Officials of development partners working on government projects use the E1 category instead, and contractors on government projects are steered into the employment categories.[1] [8] An investor in a public-private partnership project will usually still hold equity in a private project company, which is the vehicle that supports the PI application.
PI, business and employment visas compared
Three categories are often confused.
The B visa is for analysing investment potential, attending board and general meetings, recruiting, trade fairs, quality verification and negotiation; it runs up to one year with 90 days per entry, may be extended up to two years, and prohibits employment.[1] The PI visa is for the investor once the investment is made. The E2 visa is for expatriate employees of local and international companies and offices.[8] A typical Bangladesh investor visa journey therefore starts with a B visa for scouting, moves to PI status once the company exists and capital has arrived, and adds a work permit if the investor will manage the business. Our guide to the Bangladesh business visa covers the scouting stage.
Investment thresholds and the evidence that matters
Many websites quote a single "minimum investment" for the Bangladesh investor visa. The rules are more nuanced. The Visa Policy 2026 does not set a minimum investment for the PI visa itself; it requires a recommendation that the applicant is a bona fide investor.[1] The figures that matter appear in three other places, and each serves a different purpose.
USD 50,000 initial establishment remittance
BIDA's published requirements for a PI visa recommendation include an encashment certificate for inward remittance of at least USD 50,000 as initial establishment cost for locally incorporated joint ventures and 100 per cent foreign-owned companies.[6] The same requirement appears in the work permit checklist, where it applies to branch, liaison and representative offices as well as joint venture and wholly foreign-owned companies, where applicable.[9] In practice this is the working threshold for most investor files: without evidence that at least USD 50,000 has arrived through the banking channel, the recommendation is unlikely to issue.
USD 100,000 for the NVR facility
The PI entry in the policy adds a no visa required facility for an investment of at least USD 100,000, on certification from Bangladesh Bank, the investment authorities, BEPZA, the Hi-Tech Park authority, PPA or another appropriate authority.[1] The mandatory conditions repeat the point: foreign investors get the NVR facility for an investment of USD 100,000 in heavy industry or long-term business, supported by a certificate from the investment authority.[1] One newspaper summary of the policy reported a USD 5 million figure; the official text published by the Ministry says USD 100,000, and that is the figure an application must meet.[1] [3]
Industrial policy figures for residence and citizenship
Separate thresholds have appeared in industrial policy. When the Cabinet approved the draft National Industrial Policy 2016 in March 2016, it raised the investment linked to temporary residence for foreign businesspeople from USD 75,000 to USD 200,000, and the investment linked to citizenship from USD 500,000 to USD 1 million, or a transfer of USD 2 million to a recognised financial institution.[13] These are policy statements rather than visa rules, they are not repeated in the Visa Policy 2026, and any application on that basis needs case-specific advice.
How the money must arrive
Investment evidence starts with the banking trail. Before incorporation, an investor may open a temporary non-resident taka account with an authorised dealer bank in the name of the proposed company to hold foreign equity and preliminary expenses, without prior Bangladesh Bank approval. Foreign equity must arrive through formal banking channels or as imported capital machinery, the remittance must be received before shares are issued, and the authorised dealer reports the share issue to Bangladesh Bank's Foreign Exchange Investment Department within 14 days.[12] Cash carried in a suitcase or paid to a local partner's personal account does not create usable evidence. Our guide to receiving foreign currency in Bangladesh explains the banking side.
The recommendation from Invest Bangladesh and other authorities
The recommendation is the centre of every Bangladesh investor visa application. The policy requires a recommendation from BIDA, BEZA, BEPZA, the High-Tech Park authority, the concerned ministry or PPA that the investor is a bona fide investor.[1] Which body issues it depends on where the business sits.
Choosing the right authority
- Invest Bangladesh: companies registered with the former BIDA, units in economic zones formerly under BEZA, and PPP projects, following the 2026 merger.[5]
- BEPZA: enterprises in export processing zones, which was not part of the merger.[5]
- Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority: enterprises in hi-tech parks.[1]
- Concerned ministry: regulated sectors where a ministry or regulator is the licensing authority.[1]
How the online recommendation works
Under BIDA's procedure, visa recommendations are requested and processed online through the one stop service portal, on documents attested by the company's managing director, partner or proprietor.[7] BIDA lists no fee for the PI recommendation under its one stop service and a service time of 24 hours once the file is complete.[6] Invest Bangladesh links the one stop service portal at bidaquickserv.org and continues to run its BanglaBiz platform.[5] Most delay comes from incomplete corporate documents or a missing encashment certificate.
Documents for the recommendation
BIDA's published checklist for a PI visa recommendation lists the following.[6] [7]
- Memorandum and articles of association and certificate of incorporation, signed by the shareholders, with the project registration certificate and trade licence where applicable.
- A board resolution engaging the foreign national, stating nationality, passport number and the sector of investment, and covering any salary or benefits.
- The investor's photograph and a copy of the passport, including arrival and departure stamps.
- A description of the company's activity and a statement of local and foreign staff with designations, pay and first appointment dates.
- The encashment certificate for inward remittance of at least USD 50,000 as initial establishment cost.
- An up-to-date income tax clearance certificate and an authorisation letter signed by management.
Because the Visa Policy 2026 predates the merger in its wording, address the application to Invest Bangladesh and follow the current portal instructions. Our analysis of investment approvals from BIDA and BEPZA explains the registration that must sit behind the recommendation.
Applying for a Bangladesh investor visa at a mission
Most investors apply before travelling. The first-visa documents for the PI category are short: a completed visa application form, the passport with a copy of the information page, and the recommendation from the investment authority confirming a bona fide investor.[1] The weight of the application lies in the recommendation and in the corporate and banking documents behind it.
Mission procedure
Bangladesh missions are the visa-issuing authority abroad. The original passport must be submitted to the visa office for the visa stamp, and every visa must be a machine-readable visa; the policy anticipates an electronic visa system but does not yet establish one.[1] Visa fees follow reciprocity or bilateral arrangements and are not refunded if the application is refused.[1] Missions publish their own forms and fee tables, and our guide on how to apply for a Bangladesh visa walks through the online form and submission.
Police reports and timing
Where a report is required to issue or extend a visa, Special Branch or the National Security Intelligence must provide it within 21 working days of the request. If it does not, the visa authority may decide on the footing that the agency has no objection, and no report is needed for a child under 15.[1]
Passport validity
Every visitor must hold a passport valid for six months, and a valid visa in an old passport can be transferred to a new passport on application with any applicable fee.[1] An investor whose passport will expire during the planned stay should renew it first, because extensions and NVR endorsements follow the passport.
Arriving on a visa on arrival and converting to PI
The policy offers investors a faster entry route. A 30-day single-entry visa on arrival is available, at a designated port of entry, to investors and development partners travelling at the invitation of the Government or an investment authority, and to nationals of listed countries including Singapore, Malaysia, China, Japan, South Korea, the Gulf states, the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and other European countries travelling for tourism or business.[1] The officer must be satisfied by the invitation and supporting documents such as a hotel reservation, return ticket and proof of funds.[1]
Conversion rules
A visa category cannot be changed after entering Bangladesh, except for a visa on arrival, which may be converted only into a listed set of categories that includes PI and FPI.[1] For conversion into the PI category, a recommendation letter addressed to the Ministry of Home Affairs must be submitted from BIDA, BEZA, BEPZA, the Hi-Tech Park authority, PPA or another competent authority. A conversion fee of USD 200 applies only to those who undertake employment.[1] BIDA's guidance confirms that a visa on arrival can be converted to PI once all required documents are submitted.[8]
When conversion is the wrong plan
Conversion helps an investor who must be in Dhaka for incorporation and banking, but it is risky if the company cannot produce the encashment certificate and recommendation within 30 days, because an overstay triggers penalties. An investor who entered on a B or tourist visa has no conversion route at all and must leave and apply for a PI visa at a mission.[1]
Work permit and security clearance after arrival
The PI visa authorises the investor's presence, not employment. An investor who works in their own company needs a work permit, and the policy lists that work permit among the extension documents for exactly that case.[1] When a PI visa is issued to a person arriving to take up work, the passport is stamped with the instruction to apply for a work permit to BIDA, BEPZA, BEZA, BHTPA, the NGO Affairs Bureau, PPA or another competent authority within 15 working days of first entry.[1]
Work permit documents and fee
BIDA's new work permit checklist requires the passport copy with arrival stamp and PI visa for investors, the visa recommendation letter, the board resolution, the manpower statement, the company's tax clearance, the encashment certificate for at least USD 50,000 where applicable, and a list of local employees the expatriate will train.[9] The general checklist also asks for the company's audit report.[14] BIDA lists a fee of BDT 5,000 per person per year, paid online, and a service time of 16 working days subject to the inter-ministerial committee.[9]
Security clearance
Since 1 October 2025, all foreign investors and employees apply for security clearance against their work permit exclusively online through the one stop service portal. A clearance is deemed granted if no objection is raised within 21 working days of a complete application, and a work permit becomes invalid if the clearance application is not filed within the time the permit sets.[10] A Home Ministry security clearance is valid for a maximum of five years.[1]
Foreign staff ratios
Investors planning to bring in their own management should check the employment ratios early. BIDA's guidance is that registered industrial projects can generally employ foreigners at a ratio of 10 locals to one foreigner during the initial stage, rising to 20 to one in operation, and commercial offices at five to one.[11] Our guide to Bangladesh work visa requirements covers the employee side in detail.
Duration, extension and renewal of the PI visa
A first PI visa is issued for up to one year with multiple entries, and it may be extended up to five years or up to the validity of the work permit.[1] The policy allows the PI visa to be issued for the maximum duration of the category, so a well-documented investor does not need to accept a shorter grant.[1]
Extension documents
The extension file repeats the first-visa documents and adds the following.[1]
- Passport pages showing the visa and arrival stamp.
- Certificates from the investment authority or concerned ministry confirming the continuity of investment in Bangladesh.
- The company's business registration particulars, namely its certificate of incorporation and tax payment certificate.
- The work permit, if the investor works in the company.
- A security clearance issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Timing and continuity
An extension must be applied for 15 days before the visa expires. A late application attracts the overstay penalty and a visa regularisation fee.[1] The continuity certificate is the item that most often catches investors out: if the company has stopped trading, has not filed tax returns or has had its registration lapse, the investment authority cannot certify continuity and the Bangladesh investor visa will not be extended. Keep the company's statutory filings current as an immigration requirement, not just a corporate one.
Beyond five years
The five-year cap is not absolute. The Ministry of Home Affairs may waive, impose or relax conditions on conversion and extension beyond the maximum period, and reserves the right to decide questions the policy does not clearly answer.[1] Long-term investors should plan either a fresh grant on renewed documents or an NVR endorsement well before the cap is reached.
NVR endorsement for foreign investors
The NVR endorsement is the most valuable status available to an investor. It removes the need to apply for a visa for each stay, and the policy expressly lists foreign investors among those to whom NVR may be issued to facilitate entry and stay.[1]
Eligibility and evidence
Foreign investors qualify for NVR for an investment of USD 100,000 in heavy industry or long-term business in Bangladesh, and the application must include a certificate issued by the investment authority, BEPZA or BEZA.[1] The PI entry also allows certification from Bangladesh Bank, the Hi-Tech Park authority or PPA.[1] The certificate should show the amount actually brought in and the sector, so the banking evidence described above should be assembled before the application.
Validity, fee and form
The NVR facility remains valid as long as the passport is valid, the application fee is USD 80 or the equivalent, and the endorsement must be machine-readable and placed in the foreign passport. NVR is issued after the certificates are verified, and it can be reissued in a new passport on payment of the fee.[1] Applicants should expect the authorities to examine the source of funds closely; the policy already requires a favourable Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit report for Bangladeshi-origin applicants whose foreign citizenship or residence was obtained through investment.[1] [3]
NVR does not authorise work
NVR solves entry and stay; it does not replace the work permit. An investor who takes an executive role still needs the work permit and security clearance described above, and the company still needs to keep its investment registration in order.[9]
Family members on a Bangladesh investor visa: the FPI category
Spouses, children, adopted children and dependent family members of a PI visa holder qualify for the FPI visa. Its duration is coterminous with the principal visa holder, extensions follow the principal's visa with multiple entries, and employment in Bangladesh is prohibited, breach of which may lead to cancellation.[1] For the purposes of the policy, dependent family members means the spouse, parents, children and adopted children of the principal visa holder.[1]
Documents
The first FPI visa requires the application form, the passport with a copy of the information page, a copy of the principal's passport if the family travels later, and a recommendation letter from the concerned government organisation. The extension adds a recommendation from the concerned institution, passport pages with visa and arrival stamps and, if necessary, a police report.[1] The policy requires a registered marriage certificate and birth certificates for comparable dependent categories, so have them ready and legalised before travel.[1]
Practical points for families
Because the FPI visa is tied to the investor, any gap in the PI visa puts the family's status at risk too, and a spouse who wants to work needs an employment visa and work permit. A visa on arrival can also be converted to FPI, which helps families who arrive with the investor on a short trip.[1]
Residence options for investors who plan to stay
None of the 34 categories in the Visa Policy 2026 is labelled as a permanent residence visa.[1] [2] Investors who intend to stay long term therefore build residence from the tools that exist.
Renewed PI status
The base option is a PI visa renewed on continuity of investment up to five years or the life of the work permit, with Home Ministry discretion beyond that.[1]
NVR for qualifying investors
For an investor at or above USD 100,000 in heavy industry or long-term business, NVR offers stay tied to the passport rather than to a renewal cycle.[1] It is the closest thing to residence by investment for a Bangladesh investor visa holder.
Family-based routes
An investor married to a Bangladeshi citizen, or of Bangladeshi origin, may qualify for the FBN visa, which runs two years with multiple entries and is extendable up to three years, or for NVR on family grounds.[1] These routes do not depend on the investment remaining in place.
Citizenship by investment
Industrial policy has linked citizenship to investment of USD 1 million or a USD 2 million transfer since the 2016 revision.[13] Citizenship itself is governed by the citizenship legislation and is decided by the Government, and it is not a visa route; treat it as a separate, discretionary application. Our overview of Bangladesh immigration law covers citizenship and naturalisation.
Compliance risks and penalties for investors
Most problems with a Bangladesh investor visa come from timing and paperwork rather than refusals. The Visa Policy 2026 sharpened several consequences.[1]
Sponsor liability
If a foreign national arriving for employment, investment, business or education conceals information or breaches a visa condition, the appointing or sponsoring organisation is fined Tk 1,00,000 per person for the first violation and Tk 2,00,000 for each similar later violation.[1] For an investor, the sponsoring organisation is usually the investor's own company.
Overstay
Overstay is regularised on payment of Tk 1,000 per day for the first 15 days, Tk 2,000 per day beyond that up to 90 days, and Tk 3,000 per day after 90 days, when a case may also be filed under the Foreigners Act 1946.[1] Waivers are possible for illness or other credible reasons on a recommendation to the Ministry, and stays caused by natural disasters, accidents or flight cancellations are not treated as illegal.[1]
Registration
A person arriving from India or Pakistan with a visa of 90 days or more must register with the immigration authorities at the port of entry within 14 days; nationals of other countries are exempt.[1]
Working on the wrong visa
Conducting management work on a B visa breaches its condition that employment is prohibited and can lead to cancellation, and it exposes the company to the sponsor fine.[1] Directors who travel frequently should read our note on travel restrictions for foreign directors.
Step-by-step: obtaining a Bangladesh investor visa
The order of steps matters more than any single document. The following sequence reflects how we run a Bangladesh investor visa file for a new company.
Choose the vehicle
Decide on a wholly foreign-owned company or joint venture and confirm the applicant will be an investor of record, not just an employee.
Scout on the right visa
Use a business visa for meetings and site visits, or a visa on arrival on an investment authority invitation, and do not take up work.
Incorporate and register
Incorporate with the RJSC, obtain the trade licence and register the project with Invest Bangladesh, BEPZA or the relevant authority.
Bring in the capital
Remit at least USD 50,000 through an authorised dealer bank and obtain the encashment certificate before issuing shares.
Obtain the recommendation
File the PI visa recommendation online with the board resolution, corporate documents, tax clearance and encashment certificate.
Get the visa or convert
Apply for the PI visa at a Bangladesh mission, or convert a visa on arrival with a recommendation addressed to the Home Ministry.
Work permit and clearance
Apply for the work permit within 15 working days of first entry and file the security clearance online on time.
Extend, upgrade, add family
Extend 15 days before expiry with continuity certificates, apply for NVR at USD 100,000, and obtain FPI visas for dependants.
Choosing the right status: PI, NVR, B and FPI compared
The table below compares the statuses an investor and family are most likely to use. On a phone, scroll it sideways.
| Status | Purpose | Duration | Key requirement | Work allowed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B (business) | Exploring investment, meetings, negotiation | Up to 1 year, 90 days per entry; extendable to 2 years | Invitation from a registered Bangladeshi business | No |
| Visa on arrival | Invited investors and listed nationals | 30 days, single entry | Invitation, return ticket, proof of funds | No; convertible to PI |
| PI (private investor) | Investing in a foreign-owned or JV business | Up to 1 year; extendable to 5 years or work permit validity | Recommendation confirming a bona fide investor | Only with a work permit |
| NVR (investor) | Entry and stay without a visa | Life of the passport | Certified USD 100,000 in heavy industry or long-term business | Only with a work permit |
| FPI (dependants) | Spouse, children and dependants of PI holder | Coterminous with the PI visa | Recommendation and family documents | No |
For most new investors the sensible sequence is B for scouting, PI with a work permit once the company is operating, and NVR once the investment is certified at USD 100,000 or more in a qualifying business.[1] Our guide on how to invest in Bangladesh sets out the investment steps that sit behind each stage, and foreign company registration covers incorporation.
Common mistakes in investor visa applications
- Treating USD 50,000 as optional: the encashment certificate for initial establishment cost is a standard item in both the recommendation and the work permit checklists.[6] [9]
- Remitting outside the banking channel: equity must arrive through an authorised dealer, and shares should be issued only after the remittance is received.[12]
- Arriving on the wrong visa: only a visa on arrival can be converted to PI inside Bangladesh.[1]
- Missing the 15-working-day work permit window: the passport stamp states the deadline from first entry.[1]
- Late security clearance filing: the work permit becomes invalid if the clearance application is not made in time.[10]
- Letting the company lapse: extensions need certified continuity of investment and a tax payment certificate.[1]
- Using legacy addresses: after August 2026, former BIDA and BEZA matters go to Invest Bangladesh.[5]
- Relying on press summaries: the official policy text, not secondary reporting, sets the NVR threshold at USD 100,000.[1]
How TRW supports investment immigration
A Bangladesh investor visa file is only as strong as the corporate and banking record behind it, so we run immigration and investment work as one project. That means structuring the shareholding so the applicant is the investor of record, sequencing incorporation, the non-resident account, the inward remittance and the encashment certificate, preparing the Invest Bangladesh or BEPZA recommendation, and coordinating the visa, work permit, security clearance and family visas so that each deadline is met.
For established investors, we manage extensions and continuity certificates, NVR applications, conversion from visa on arrival, overstay regularisation and correspondence with the Ministry of Home Affairs where a case needs discretion. Our global mobility and business immigration practice and Bangladesh immigration and visa services handle these matters for investors, boards and their families.
What to watch in 2026 and 2027
Three developments will shape the Bangladesh investor visa over the next year. First, implementation of the Visa Policy 2026 by missions and the Department of Immigration and Passports, including updated forms and fee schedules. Second, the move to digital services: security clearance is already online, and BIDA announced plans for digitised visa renewal and fee payment, online visa on arrival payments and an inter-agency database.[10] Third, Invest Bangladesh's own procedures under the single digital platform contemplated by the 2026 Act, which will determine how recommendations and certificates are issued under the new name.[4] [5]
If you are planning an investment and need the immigration file to keep pace, contact TRW to discuss your timetable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the PI visa in Bangladesh?
It is the private investor category in the Visa Policy 2026, for foreign investors in industrial or commercial establishments under foreign ownership or in private-sector joint ventures.[1]
Is there a minimum investment for a Bangladesh investor visa?
Who issues the investor recommendation now that BIDA has merged?
How long is a PI visa valid?
Up to one year with multiple entries, extendable up to five years or the validity of the work permit.[1]
Can I convert a visa on arrival to a PI visa?
Yes. A visa on arrival is the only visa that can be converted inside Bangladesh, and conversion to PI needs a recommendation letter addressed to the Ministry of Home Affairs from the investment authority.[1]
Does a PI visa holder need a work permit?
How can a foreign investor get NVR?
By investing USD 100,000 in heavy industry or long-term business and applying with a certificate from the investment authority. NVR lasts as long as the passport and costs USD 80.[1]
Can my family come with me on an investor visa?
Yes. Spouse, children, adopted children and dependent family members receive the FPI visa, coterminous with the PI visa, but they may not work.[1]
Does Bangladesh offer permanent residence by investment?
When should I apply to extend my PI visa?
At least 15 days before expiry, with certificates confirming continuity of investment, the company's incorporation and tax payment certificates, any work permit and a security clearance.[1]
Source register
Primary legal and regulatory sources
Materials checked on 20 October 2026. Confirm the current official text before relying on any provision.
- Ministry of Home Affairs — Visa Policy 2026 (published August 2026), via Special Branch immigration website
- The Business Standard, 10 August 2026 — Cabinet clears drafts of human rights act, new visa policy
- Daily Observer, 24 August 2026 — Visa policy 2026: stricter rules and new penalties
- Invest Bangladesh Act 2026 (Act No. 104 of 2026) — Laws of Bangladesh
- Invest Bangladesh, August 2026 — Invest Bangladesh begins journey as apex investment promotion agency
- BIDA — PI visa recommendation: documents, fee and service time
- BIDA — What is the procedure for getting a visa recommendation from BIDA?
- BIDA — Visa types available to foreigners working or investing in Bangladesh
- BIDA — Work permit (new): documents, fee and service time
- Invest Bangladesh (BIDA), 30 September 2025 — Security clearance for work permits now fully digital
- BIDA — Restrictions and ratios for employing foreign workers
- Bangladesh Bank, Foreign Exchange Investment Department — Foreign Direct Investment
- The Daily Star, 21 March 2016 — Draft of new industrial policy gets cabinet nod
- BIDA — Documents required for a work permit application
Related TRW assistance
Move from information to a defined next step
TRW advises foreign investors on PI visas, Invest Bangladesh and BEPZA recommendations, work permits, security clearance, NVR and family visas. Explore our global mobility and business immigration practice or contact TRW to discuss your investment.