From Gulf to Southeast Asia, why Bangladeshis are facing visa denials

Infograph: TBS

Highlights:

• Many countries halt or tighten visas for Bangladeshi passport holders
• Gulf, Malaysia stop visas for low-skilled Bangladeshi workers
• Visa fraud, forgery, trafficking drive global restrictions and suspicion
• Outbound tourism, corporate travel from Bangladesh drops sharply
• Political issues worsen Bangladesh's global migration and travel reputation
• Travellers shift to Sri Lanka, Nepal; airfares surge steeply

Bangladeshi passport holders are grappling with the most stringent travel and visa restrictions in recent memory, spanning from Southeast Asia to the Gulf, Eastern Europe, and even neighbouring India. 

What began as whispers of concern over visa overstays and forged documents has spiralled into a full-blown crisis, severely impacting outbound tourism, crippling corporate travel, and threatening the country's vital labour migration sector.

According to tour operators, Foreign Ministry officials, and frustrated travellers, at least a dozen countries have either completely ceased issuing visas or are rejecting applications at alarming rates. Another dozen have significantly slowed processing or tightened criteria to such an extent that visas have become, in practice, inaccessible.

Among the nations that have completely halted visa issuance for Bangladeshis are Vietnam, Laos, Egypt, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. India, historically a key destination for medical, educational, and leisure travel, is now issuing only a fraction of visas, primarily for medical and student categories.

Gulf and Malaysia tighten grip on labour migration

The most worrying development, however, is unfolding in the Gulf region and Malaysia. The UAE, Oman, and Malaysia – three of Bangladesh's largest labour markets – are no longer issuing visas for low-skilled workers. 

Authorities in these countries have adopted a stricter stance following allegations of recruitment scams, forged documents, and labour unrest among migrant workers.

The barriers continue to grow. Popular tourist destinations like Thailand and Indonesia have become increasingly difficult for leisure travellers, with visa processing times stretching into weeks, if not months, and rejection rates on the rise. 

Even Eastern European countries such as Romania and Croatia, once seen as new frontiers for Bangladeshi workers, have almost ceased processing visas amidst complaints that migrants often move on to Western EU nations shortly after arrival.

This has triggered a domino effect. One industry estimate suggests that over 30,000 Bangladeshi visa applications were rejected by EU member states in 2024 alone, with the number expected to be even higher this year.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs under pressure

Behind the scenes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs insists it is actively addressing the crisis.

"We are in communication with the concerned countries, including Vietnam, Laos, and Indonesia. This is a top priority issue for us," a senior official from the Foreign Ministry's Southeast Asia wing told TBS on condition of anonymity. "However, easing visa policies depends on multiple factors. These countries follow a systematic, security-led approach."

The official cited human trafficking as a central concern. "You'll see this worry globally – in Europe, the Americas, even in Asia. When visa fraud and trafficking emerge from a particular country, restrictions follow."

The official also clarified that Indonesia's visa-on-arrival facility has remained suspended since 2021 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and is not a new development. He acknowledged, however, that efforts are ongoing to convince Vietnam and other nations to reopen their visa services.

Despite these assurances, the Ministry's silence on broader diplomatic negotiations has not gone unnoticed. 

When contacted, Shah Asif Rahman, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, declined to comment on the status of talks with countries that have tightened visa rules.

Root causes: Forgery and illegal migration

Others are more direct in their assessment. 

Lutfey Siddiqi, special envoy for international affairs to the Chief Adviser, offered an unvarnished explanation at an event on 2 July: "Forged bank statements and fake certificates have played a major role in why so many visa doors are now closed to us."

Siddiqi later revealed a troubling statistic after a high-level meeting in the UAE. 

"I was told that over 25% of all visa or residency violators in the UAE are Bangladeshis," he wrote on his verified Facebook account on 17 June, following a meeting with Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, director-general of the UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP).

"The root causes of that probably lie at the recruitment stage, in the home country," Siddiqi stated, highlighting how corruption and informal networks within Bangladesh are feeding a vicious cycle abroad. 

Japan, too, has distanced itself after a document forgery case led its embassy to shift all visa processing to VFS Global, causing significant delays for genuine applicants.

Industry and travellers feel the pinch

The Bangladesh Outbound Tour Operators' Forum (Botof) reports that outbound tourism from Bangladesh has plummeted by 50–60% over the past year, while corporate tours have declined by nearly 70%. 

Industry insiders attribute the downturn to widespread visa restrictions and political uncertainty following the events of 5 August last year.

Tour operators are urging stronger diplomatic efforts to ease the ongoing visa crisis with key destinations. They also demand tougher action against agents sending workers abroad on visit visas. 

Despite months of outreach, India and the UAE have not lifted restrictions, while Oman, Malaysia, and Bahrain remain closed to Bangladeshi workers over recruitment irregularities and migrant misconduct.

Egypt, once a preferred destination for business travel, has halted visa issuance altogether. Only Cambodia has resumed e-visas in the past five months, although fees have nearly doubled. 

In Southeast Asia, Vietnam and Laos remain closed to Bangladeshi applicants, while securing visas for Indonesia and Thailand has become more difficult. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have also tightened controls, fearing overstays. 

Meanwhile, visa cancellations for China and Hong Kong are rising, though Chinese officials insist their policy is unchanged.

"If this continues until the next election, many small travel agencies will be forced to shut down," Botof President Chowdhury Hasanuzzaman told TBS. "Many are worse off now than during Covid."

Political climate and reputation concerns

Mohammad Jalal Uddin Sikder, a migration expert and faculty member at NSU, believes visa issues are unlikely to be resolved without a democratic transition, as diplomatic efforts have had little impact. 

He noted that restrictions began during Sheikh Hasina's tenure due to concerns over shrinking democracy, corruption, and human rights violations – issues that still persist and, in some cases, have worsened.

Many students are now being denied visas, he added, citing Western concerns over rising extremism and recent allegations linking Bangladeshi nationals to militancy in Malaysia, which has further damaged the country's international image.

Travellers face deportation and denials

It's not just holidaymakers – business travellers are also finding it increasingly difficult to secure visas for key destinations. 

One applicant recently denied a business visa by the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka shared his experience with TBS, while several members of the popular Facebook travel group 'Ghuddy' reported being turned away from China despite holding valid visas.

One traveller, Fazlul Hridoy Haque, posted, "My visa was cancelled at the China airport and I was deported, but they didn't clarify the reason." Another member claimed, "Hong Kong is now rejecting 99% of Bangladeshi passports. Just last week, one of my applications was denied, even though the applicant had travelled to the US, Canada, Japan, Schengen states, and several Asian and Central Asian countries."

He added, "The problem is that thousands of Bangladeshis have entered Hong Kong and claimed asylum, many of them staying illegally. As a result, even genuine travellers are being denied visas across the board."

Some tour operators, however, argue that Chinese visas are still being processed smoothly. "If someone doesn't get a visa, there might be other issues involved," one said. 

Li, First Secretary and Head of Consular Affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka, confirmed there has been no change in visa policy. "Visas are issued to all applicants who meet the documentation requirements," he said, noting the embassy processed 30,498 visa applications between January and early July this year, up from 21,095 during the same period in 2024.

Political changes hit corporate outbound tours

Corporate outbound travel from Bangladesh has dropped to just 30% of its usual level over the past 11 months, with tour operators blaming both political uncertainty and tightening visa regimes.

"Many of our corporate programmes are no longer happening," said Taslim Amin Shovon, a leading tour operator. "Due to political changes, large companies have put their overseas tours on hold."

Shovon noted that his company typically facilitated travel for 2,000–3,000 corporate clients annually. "This year, only about 300 have gone. That's a 70–80% drop," he said, attributing 20% of the decline to visa complications. 

He added that affluent corporate travellers, who used to take friends and staff abroad, have largely withdrawn—some even leaving the country after the regime change. Even during this year's extended Eid holidays, outbound corporate travel remained subdued.

Botof President Hasanuzzaman said many corporate groups are delaying their incentive tours. 

"They no longer want to visit the same destinations repeatedly – like Malaysia, Thailand, or the Maldives," he said. "Tours may resume if visa barriers ease." 

He added that corporate sales performance has also remained flat, contributing further to the decline in overseas travel.

Tourist shift drives up fares

Facing visa hurdles in destinations like India and Thailand, Bangladeshi leisure travellers are increasingly opting for easier alternatives such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, Singapore, and Bhutan, tour operators say. 

India, which once made up 40–45% of outbound travel, halted visa processing in August 2024, driving demand and airfares sharply up.

"Demand for Sri Lanka and Nepal has surged, but ticket prices have gone through the roof," said one operator. 

Trip Maker recently arranged a Nepal tour where round-trip fares hit Tk72,000 – nearly triple the usual rate. Fares to Sri Lanka have climbed to Tk65,000–72,000, though occasional deals lower them to Tk40,000–45,000. 

Despite open visas, Malaysia remains unpopular due to immigration hassles, while Singapore is seen as too expensive for most travellers.

Thailand visa delays frustrate travellers

Thailand's shift to an e-visa system on 2 January has caused major delays and a spike in rejections, frustrating Bangladeshi applicants. 

"Visas are being issued, but very slowly," said a tour operator, noting around 4,500 rejections in early June alone. Processing now takes 30–45 days, compared to just three days previously for frequent travellers. 

Operators say the new system is worse than the old sticker visa due to document upload issues and frequent errors. Rejections are often tied to poor-quality scans and fake financials, including inflated bank balances that later get flagged.