GOVERNMENT FEE NOTE
All government fees stated in this guide are subject to 15% VAT, unless otherwise specified.
A foreign national employed in Bangladesh generally requires an appropriate visa and work permit before commencing employment. For BIDA-regulated entities, the applicable process depends on the nature of the Bangladesh operation.
Bangladesh Operation | BIDA Category |
100% foreign-owned project | Foreign & Joint Venture Projects |
Joint venture project | Foreign & Joint Venture Projects |
Branch Office | Commercial Offices |
Liaison Office | Commercial Offices |
Representative Office | Commercial Offices |
Entities operating under BEPZA, BEZA, BHTPA or other specialized authorities may follow separate procedures. Applications under BIDA are generally submitted through the BIDA One Stop Service (OSS) Portal.
Bangladeshi nationals should generally be given preference. Before recruiting a foreign national, the employer should normally demonstrate reasonable efforts to identify a suitable Bangladeshi candidate.
Before applying for a work permit, the employer normally obtains the appropriate visa recommendation from BIDA. Depending on the entity and assignment, relevant categories include E, E1 and P1/PI visas. Typical documents include:
Government Fee: No fee | Published processing time: generally, 24 hours / 1 day
After receiving the visa recommendation, the foreign national applies for the relevant visa at the Bangladesh Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The employee should enter Bangladesh using the appropriate visa. The visa and work permit are separate approvals.
The employer should submit the work permit application through BIDA OSS. For a newly arriving foreign employee, the application should generally be submitted within 15 days of arrival in Bangladesh.
Typical documents generally include:
Particulars | Foreign & JV Projects | Commercial Offices |
Government Fee | BDT 10,000/person/year | BDT 10,000/person/year |
Approximate processing time | 14 working days | 14 working days |
Commercial Office applications are subject to approval of the Inter-Ministerial Working Committee.
A work permit is generally issued initially for one year. If employment continues beyond the validity period, the employer must apply for an extension. An extension is not automatic.
An extension application should be submitted at least two months before expiry. The employer should demonstrate the continuing need for the foreign employee, justification for continued employment, efforts to develop a Bangladeshi replacement, training/upskilling arrangements and progress toward localization.
Foreign & Joint Venture Projects: Government Fee BDT 10,000/person/year; processing time 7 working days. An extension may generally be granted for one year or up to two years at a time, subject to applicable approval and security-clearance requirements.
Commercial Offices: Government Fee BDT 10,000/person/year, processing time 7 working days.
Security clearance forms part of the work-permit process. BIDA has introduced a digital security-clearance process through OSS. The employer/foreign employee should ensure submission within the applicable period and monitor the status until clearance is obtained or deemed granted under the applicable procedure. Where an objection is raised, additional documents or a separate review/withdrawal process may be required.
An amendment should be obtained where information or conditions stated in an existing work permit need to be changed, such as designation, salary/benefits, employment terms, passport details or other approved conditions. Approval should be obtained before implementing the change.
Particulars | Foreign & JV Projects | Commercial Offices |
Typical documents | Re-appointment/revised appointment letter; latest work permit; Board Resolution; relevant other supporting documents | Office permission; first/latest work permits; Board Resolution; passport copies where applicable; revised employment documents; expatriate’s (foreign employee’s) tax clearance |
Government Fee | BDT 3,000/person | BDT 3,000/person |
Published processing time | 3 days | 3 days |
A work permit should be cancelled when the foreign employee resigns, is transferred, ceases employment or otherwise no longer requires the permit. Cancellation should form part of the employer's formal offboarding process. The employer should also ensure applicable income-tax obligations are settled and relevant departure requirements are met.
BIDA's current Commercial Office service provides a specific cancellation process.
Government Fee: No fee | Published processing time: 3 days
The current BIDA Foreign & Joint Venture Projects webpage does not provide a clearly differentiated cancellation fee/checklist; the information currently displayed under the cancellation heading appears to overlap with the new work-permit service. Accordingly, the applicable government fee and document checklist should be verified through BIDA OSS at the time of submission.
The employer should nevertheless be prepared to provide relevant documents such as first/latest work permits, resignation/transfer documentation, Board Resolution, tax clearance, passport/departure evidence and other documents requested by BIDA.
Stage | Checklist |
Before employment | ☐ Confirm BIDA category ☐ Check manpower requirements ☐ Conduct local recruitment, where required ☐ Retain evidence ☐ Obtain Board approval ☐ Obtain visa recommendation ☐ Obtain visa |
New work permit | ☐ Confirm visa/arrival stamp ☐ Prepare passport & qualification documents ☐ Prepare manpower statement ☐ Prepare corporate/tax documents ☐ Submit within 15 days, where applicable ☐ Pay government fee & VAT ☐ Submit through OSS ☐ Complete security-clearance requirements |
Extension | ☐ Check expiry ☐ Apply at least 2 months before expiry ☐ Prepare justification ☐ Prepare localization/replacement plan ☐ Maintain training records ☐ Update documents ☐ Pay government fee & VAT ☐ Complete security-clearance requirements |
Amendment | ☐ Identify change ☐ Obtain Board approval ☐ Prepare revised documents ☐ Submit through OSS ☐ Obtain approval before implementing change ☐ Pay government fee & VAT |
Cancellation | ☐ Obtain resignation/transfer/release documents ☐ Board approval ☐ Settle tax liabilities ☐ Obtain tax clearance ☐ Submit cancellation ☐ Verify OSS fee ☐ Ensure departure ☐ Retain evidence |
Service | Foreign & JV Projects | Commercial Offices |
New Work Permit | BDT 10,000/person/year | 14 working days | BDT 10,000/person/year | 14 working days |
Extension | BDT 10,000/person/year | 7 days | BDT 10,000/person/year | 7 days |
Amendment | BDT 3,000/person | 3 days | BDT 3,000/person | 3 days |
Cancellation | No fee | 3 days | No fee | 3 days |
GOVERNMENT FEE NOTE
All government fees stated in this guide are subject to 15% VAT, unless otherwise specified.
IMPORTANT
BIDA may revise fees, processing times, forms, documentary requirements and OSS procedures from time to time. Employers should verify the applicable requirements in the BIDA OSS Portal before submitting an application.
Source: BIDA Guidelines and current BIDA OSS service information for Foreign & Joint Venture Projects and Commercial Offices.
Disclaimer
This document is prepared by ACE Advisory for general reference only. It provides a simplified overview of the legal framework and should not be relied upon as formal legal or tax advice. Readers are encouraged to consult ACE Advisory or qualified professionals before taking any specific course of action.
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