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LEGALZONE
Foreign Investment

Visa Recommendation (E / E1 / PI) & Visa on Arrival

ভিসা সুপারিশ (বিডা)

BIDA issues recommendation letters for employment (E), machinery supplier/service (E1) and investor (PI) visas, and supports visa-on-arrival requests for investors.

Authority

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA)

Processing time

Often 3–7 working days on OSS (confirm current timeline).

Validity

Used once to obtain the visa from the Bangladesh mission or on arrival.

Legal basis

BIDA Act 2016

Who needs it?

Companies inviting foreign employees, technicians or investors to Bangladesh.

Government fees

Government fees only — paid to the authority. Our professional fee is quoted separately, in writing. Each line shows how it was verified and when.

ItemAmountStatus
Visa recommendationPaid online through OSS — confirm current amountSource: bidaquickserv.orgConfirm with our office

Required documents

Standard

  • Passport (all used pages)
  • Board resolution naming the foreigner
  • Appointment letter or service contract
  • Advertisement for local recruitment (E visa)
  • Academic and experience certificates
  • Company registration / permission letter
  • Encashment certificate (foreign-invested companies)

Step-by-step process

  1. 1

    Collect passport and company documents.

  2. 2

    Apply on OSS for the correct visa type.

  3. 3

    BIDA review.

  4. 4

    Download the recommendation letter.

  5. 5

    Apply for the visa at the Bangladesh mission or on arrival.

Frequently asked questions

Which visa does a foreign employee need?

Usually an E (employment) visa; short technical installation work uses E1; investors use PI.

Legal basis & official sources

Last reviewed 22 Oct 2026 by Legal Zone Business Licence Desk. Fees and rules change — we reconfirm every figure before you pay.

Related

Foreign Investment

Work Permit for Foreign Nationals (BIDA)

বিদেশি নাগরিকের ওয়ার্ক পারমিট

Foreign employees of BIDA-registered companies, branches and liaison offices need a BIDA work permit — new, extension, amendment and cancellation are all handled on the One Stop Service portal.

⏱ Usually 2–4 weeks for a new permit including Inter-Ministerial review

Foreign Investment

BIDA Project Registration (Local / Foreign / JV)

বিডা প্রকল্প নিবন্ধন

Register your industrial or commercial project with BIDA through the One Stop Service portal — needed for work permits, visa recommendations, import of machinery, incentives and many bank and utility services.

⏱ Typically 7–15 working days after a complete online application

Ready to get your Visa Recommendation (E / E1 / PI) & Visa on Arrival?

Send us your documents — we check them free and tell you exactly what's missing.