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Bangladesh currently maintains bilateral visa waiver agreements with 34 countries, with the majority of the exemptions applicable exclusively to diplomatic and official passport holders under specific conditions, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The official registry, compiled by the Emigration Branch-2 of the ministry and updated up to July 1, reflects that out of the 34 bilateral agreements, 31 countries grant visa-free entry specifically to diplomatic and official passport holders. Two nations restrict the facility strictly to diplomatic passports, while only one country extends visa-free entry across all passport categories.
According to the Home Ministry’s gazetted list, diplomatic and official passport holders enjoy visa waivers with Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, Chile, Laos, Belarus, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Kuwait, Russia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, India, China, Brunei, Oman, Indonesia, Brazil, Qatar, Botswana, Kosovo, South Korea, Serbia, Argentina, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Gambia, Pakistan, and Mongolia. However, duration limits and activation statuses vary across jurisdictions:
All Passport Categories: The Maldives provides visa exemption for all Bangladeshi passport holders for stays up to 90 days, provided the travel is not for employment purposes.
90-Day Stay: South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, Chile, Turkey, Laos, and Belarus allow visa-free entry for up to 90 days for eligible diplomatic and official travelers.
45-Day Stay: Indian diplomatic and official passport holders are eligible for a 45-day visa-free stay.
30-Day Stay: Agreements with Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Brunei, Oman, Serbia, Brazil, Qatar, Kosovo, Botswana, Argentina, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan permit stays up to 30 days.
Diplomatic Passports Only: Agreements with Japan and Uzbekistan are restricted solely to diplomatic passports.
The ministry noted that several signed agreements remain categorized as 'proposed' pending full operationalisation. While bilateral treaties were signed with Timor-Leste on December 15, 2024, Uzbekistan on September 26, 2025, and Mongolia on December 11, 2025, their implementation remains pending. Meanwhile, reciprocal visa exemptions signed with Gambia on March 13, 2025, and with Pakistan on August 24, 2025, have been formalized through subsequent government notifications.
The ministry clarified that bilateral visa waiver agreements do not grant blanket visa-free travel to ordinary Bangladeshi citizens, who must continue adhering to the specific visa regulations and application protocols of destination countries.
