Region: South Asia

Pandemic Travel Alert

PARTIALLY OPEN: only accepting leisure travel from or to designated areas

Most recent update: 2021-04-27 - International flights from selected countries resumed under a categorization scheme

Entry

General Policy

Starting 1 May 2021, international flights from selected countries resumed under a categorization scheme. In particular, entry denied to travellers originating from countries categorized as Group A: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Georgia, India, Iran, Mongolia, Oman, South Africa, and Tunisia. Bangladeshi expatriate/citizens with special authorization are excepted and permitted entry. Transit via Group A countries is permitted, traveller remains confined within the airport.
The visa on arrival facility has been suspended.

Sources:

COVID-19 Related Entry Requirements

Visa

The visa on arrival facility has been suspended. Valid visa required.

(Source: Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington, DC )

Testing

All travellers must possess and show a PCR negative certificate obtained within 72 hours of flight departure time. A health check for COVID-19 symptoms will also be performed on arrival.

(Source: Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh: Operation of Schedule International Flights To/From Bangladesh during COVID-19 Pandemic (06-12-2020) [PDF download] )

Movement Restrictions

Starting 1 May 2021, international flights from selected countries resumed under a categorization scheme:

Group A and Group B

Travellers originating from these countries must complete a mandatory 14-day institutional quarantine at government nominated hotels at travellers’ own expense. Proof of hotel booking must be produced during check-in before the boarding pass is issued.

Countries categorized as Group A: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Georgia, India, Iran, Mongolia, Oman, South Africa, and Tunisia.

Countries categorized as Group B: Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Chile, Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iraq, Kuwait, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and Uruguay

Group B exceptions: Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar

Travellers originating from these countries must complete a mandatory 3-day institutional quarantine at government nominated facilities or at hotels at travellers’ own expense. Proof of hotel booking must be produced during check-in before the boarding pass is issued. If seats are not available at the government institutional quarantine facilities, the traveller shall be boarded in the flight only after ensuring the confirmation of hotel reservation.

Upon completion of the 3 days institutional quarantine, the traveller will be tested. If the test result is satisfactory, the traveller will be released to complete a total of 11 days home quarantine. Otherwise, the traveller must go for isolation at government nominated facilities at own expense, or continue with the institutional quarantine.

Group C: all other countries

Travellers originating from these countries must complete 14 days strict home quarantine.

(Source: Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh: International passenger flight operation to/from Bangladesh [PDF download] )

Exit

Starting 1 May 2021, no outgoing travel to countries categorized as Group A is permitted: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Georgia, India, Iran, Mongolia, Oman, South Africa, and Tunisia.
Effective 7 January 2021, all travellers intending to travel abroad from Bangladsh must possess certificate of PCR test result from a government authorized test facility/hospital. The test shall be done either within 72 hours of the departure time, or within the time prescribed by the destination country.

Sources:

Other

No info

Pre-pandemic visa rules

Requirements

Passport Validity: 6 months
Other Documents: Visitors must have return ticket, and minimum USD 500 or its equivalent amount of foreign currency in cash or credit card
Transit: - Holders of confirmed onward tickets for same calendar day are permitted transit without visa in international transit area.; - Transit Visa permits stay of maximum 72 hours or till the time of the next available flight
Dual Nationality: The Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State, cautions: "U.S.-Bangladeshi dual nationals and their immediate family members are eligible for a “No Visa Required for Travel to Bangladesh” seal, which can be issued in their U.S. passports by the nearest Bangladeshi Embassy or Consulate. Accepting the “No Visa Required” seal means a U.S. dual national acknowledges Bangladeshi nationality and accepts its associated responsibilities."
U.S. policy on dual nationality can be found here.

Additional Notes

The source states that visa on arrival is provided to "...tourism citizens arriving from..." the specified countries. One interpretation of this statement is that the visitor must be a citizen of a listed country AND arriving from the country of citizenship.
The source also states: "If any foreign national arrives in Bangladesh from a country other than his/her own country, where there is no mission of Bangladesh may be issued visa on arrival".
The list of countries provided visa on arrival also includes "the countries of Europe", although it is not clear if this means the 27 countries of the European Union, or the 50 countries of the geographic continent of Europe.
The Consulate General of Bangladesh in New York cautions: "As some airlines flying from US airports may not allow passengers to get on board without visa, visitors are hereby advised to check with their specific airlines to find out the case."
The Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State, advises: "U.S. citizens are eligible for visas on arrival. We strongly recommend obtaining a visa before traveling."