Foreign investor need work permit for their foreign employee. but before applying for work permit you may need to get a Visa Recommendation from BIDA. and BIDA office Bangladesh willingly provides this service.

Before applying for a work permit, a VISA recommendation from BIDA is required. ‘PI’ visa is for private foreign investors and ‘E’ visa is for the employees of private and public organization for both foreign and local entties. Read more about visa types and processes in Chapter 5.

Documents required for Visa Recommendation in Bangladesh

Bangladesh PI Visa Recommendation Documents

• An application under the company’s letterhead
• Copy of BIDA registration for industrial undertaking
• Copy of Memorandum & Articles of Association of the company
• Copy of Incorporation Certificate of the company
• Copy of Trade Licence
• Copy of income tax certificate
• Passport-sized photo of the expatriate
• Photocopy of the expatriate’s full passport
• Board resolution for engaging the expatriate mentioning honorarium and other financial benefits
• Encashment certificate of inward remittance of minimum US $50,000.00 as initial establishment cost for branch/liaison/representative office and locally incorporated/joint venture and 100% foreign ownership companies (attach if any).

(Documents to be attested by the Managing Director/Partner/Proprietor of the company)

Bangladesh E-category Visa Recommendation:

• Copy of Memorandum & Articles of Association of the company
• Copy of Incorporation Certificate of the company
• Copy of Trade Licence
• Copy of tax clearance of company/branch office
• Passport-sized photo of the expatriate
• Photocopy of the expatriate’s full passport
• Board resolution for employment of the expatriate, mentioning salary and other financial benefits and intended period of employment
• Copy of offer letter/service contract/appointment letter/transfer order of the expatriate
• Copy of all academic/professional/experience certificates of the expatriate

Documents Required for a New work Permit of Bangladesh:

For industrial/commercial entities:

• Permission letter of Branch/Liaison/Representative office or Memorandum & Articles of Association and certificate of incorporation in case of locally incorporated company.
• Board Resolution for employment of foreign nation(s) mentioning Expatriate’s Name, Nationality & Passport Number.
• Visa Recommendation Letter of the Expatriate/Investors issued by BIDA.
• Copies of all academic qualification & professional experience certificate for the employee.
• Service contract/agreement and appointment letter/transfer order in case of employee.
• Passport of the Employee/Expatriate/Investor/(Whole of the used part).
• Statement of the manpower showing list of local & expatriate personnel employed with designation, salary break-up, nationality and date of first appointment.
• Encashment certificate of inward remittance of minimum US$ 50,000.00 as initial establishment cost for branch/ liaison/representative office and locally incorporated/joint venture and 100% foreign ownership companies (attach if any).
• Up-to-date Income tax clearance certificate of the organization.

Security clearance

Once work permit is issued by BIDA, a copy of it will be sent to the Security Services Division (SSD) at the Ministry of Home Affairs. After verification, the Division will issue security clearance.

Renewal, extension and cancellation

The requirements for the renewal, extension and cancellation of work permits are listed in BIDA’s online