Work Permit VISA is mandatory for every foreign national seeking employment in Bangladesh. Three government authorities issue a work permit in Bangladesh.

  1. For private sector industrial enterprise, branch office and liaison office, outside of Export Processing Zone (EPZ) – Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).
  2. For employment of foreign national in the EPZ– Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA).
  3. For employment of foreign national in any NGO – NGO Affairs Bureau.

Companies in the private sector who want to hire foreign workers must apply to BIDA using the proper form. This includes branch offices, liaison/representative offices, and private sector industrial businesses. When granting a work visa, BIDA often adheres to the following regulations:

  • For employment, only citizens of nations that Bangladesh has recognized are taken into consideration.
  • Only industrial or commercial establishments approved or registered by the relevant authority are permitted to employ foreign workers.
  • Foreign nationals are typically sought for employment when local specialists or technicians are unavailable for the position.
  • People under the age of eighteen are not allowed to work.
  • In every instance, a decision regarding new employment or an extension of employment must be provided by the board of directors of the relevant company.
  • Out of all employees, including senior management, the proportion of foreign workers should not exceed 5% in the industrial sector and 20% in the commercial sector.
  • Any foreign national hired initially has a one-year job term considered, which can be extended.
  • A security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs will be necessary.

PROCESS OF ISSUING WORK PERMIT BY BIDA:

First Step: ADVERTISE IN THE NEWSPAPER PUBLICATION. It is mandatory for the employer to post a job advertisement online or in a newspaper. This prerequisite isn’t usually necessary.

SECOND STEP: APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF E VISA RECOMMENDATION. Local sponsor (Liaison/Branch Office or local company) will apply to BIDA online for issuance of E visa recommendation in favor of the desired foreign national.

The process of issuing a work permit by BIDA in Bangladesh involves the following steps:

Company Registration:
  • Ensure the company is registered with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC).
BIDA Registration:
  • Register the company with BIDA, if not already done, by submitting necessary documents including the business proposal and financial statements.
Application Submission:
  • Submit a work permit application to BIDA, including the following documents:
  • Copy of the employee’s passport
  • Employee’s resume
  • Appointment letter and employment contract
  • Company’s registration documents
  • Detailed job description and justification for hiring a foreign national
  • Recent passport-sized photographs of the employee
Payment of Fees:
  • Pay the required work permit processing fees as specified by BIDA.
Approval Process:
  • BIDA reviews the application and may request additional information or documents if necessary.
Issuance of Work Permit:
  • Once the application is approved, BIDA issues the work permit.
Visa Application:
  • Apply for an employment visa at the Bangladesh embassy or consulate in the employee’s home country, using the work permit as part of the supporting documents.
Arrival and Reporting:
  • Upon arrival in Bangladesh, the foreign employee must report to BIDA for any further processing or documentation.

The following papers/documents are required for a new work permit

  • Copy of permission letter for branch/liaison/representative office or Memorandum of articles of association and certificate of incorporation in case of a locally incorporated company.
  • Board Resolution for the employment of foreign nation(s) mentioning Expatriate Name, Nationality & Passport Number.
  • Photograph of the Expatriate.
  • Copy of passport of the Expatriate/Investor/Employee (Whole of the used part).
  • Appointment Letter/transfer order/service contract or agreement for expatriate/investors.
  • Certificate of all academic qualification & professional experience for the employees.
  • Paperclipping showing advertisement made for recruitment of local personal prior to the appointment of the expatriate(s).
  • Specific activities of the company.
  • Statement of manpower showing a list of local and expatriate personal employed with the designation, salary break-up, nationality, and date of the first appointment. (Latest Copy).
  • 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.
  • Up-to-date Income tax clearance certificate (Organization).
  • Attachment of company’s comments as per remarks (if any)
  • Attested photocopy of passport with arrival stamp ‘E’ type visa for the employee.

A copy of the work permit will then be sent by letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs for BIDA’s security clearance once the work permit was issued. The security clearance will be given after some examination.