Official passports free of charge for government trips

The government has allowed permanent government officials of Grade 9 and above to obtain official passports for private foreign travel, in addition to providing official passports free of charge to specified categories of officials and employees travelling abroad on government business.

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the new directive on 21 September, revising and consolidating existing instructions on facilitating foreign travel on government business and issuing official passports.

According to the circular issued by the External Migration-4 Branch of the ministry, revenue-sector government officials and employees working in ministries, divisions and directorates will receive official passports free of charge on the basis of government orders (GOs) when travelling abroad on official business.

For private foreign travel, permanent officials in Grade 9 and above under the National Pay Scale may obtain official passports on the basis of a GO or no-objection certificate (NOC), upon payment of the prescribed fee.

The same facility has been extended to officials working in Parliament, the Supreme Court, the Office of the Attorney General, the Election Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Bangladesh Public Service Commission and Bangladesh Bank.

Officials of Grade 9 and above working in autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions, state-owned corporations, local government institutions and commissions or authorities established under special laws will receive official passports free of charge on the basis of GOs issued by the concerned ministry or division when travelling abroad on government business. 

For private travel, however, they will have to obtain ordinary passports upon payment of the prescribed fee on the basis of a GO or NOC.

Officials and employees appointed temporarily to government development projects and receiving salaries and allowances from the development budget will receive ordinary passports free of charge on the basis of GOs for official travel and upon payment of the prescribed fee on the basis of a GO or NOC for private travel.

The same provisions will apply to elected representatives of local government institutions. They will receive ordinary passports free of charge on the basis of GOs for official travel and upon payment of the prescribed fee on the basis of a GO or NOC for private travel.

The circular also provides instructions for other officials and employees. 

For official foreign travel, they will receive ordinary passports free of charge on the basis of GOs, while for private travel they will receive ordinary passports upon payment of the prescribed fee on the basis of a GO or NOC.

For private foreign travel, emergency service will be available at the regular fee and super-emergency service at the emergency fee on the basis of a GO or NOC.

If a private individual is included in an official foreign tour, an ordinary passport may also be issued to the person on the basis of a GO. In such cases, emergency service will be available at the regular fee and super-emergency service at the emergency fee.

A special provision has also been made for spouses and children aged up to 25 years of non-diplomatic officials working at Bangladesh missions abroad.  Subject to an NOC from the relevant authority, they will be issued five-year official passports free of charge. The passports must be surrendered after the officials complete their tenure at the mission.

Domestic aides of officials posted to diplomatic positions at Bangladesh missions abroad may also be issued five-year official passports upon verification of government approval related to their employment and payment of the prescribed fee. These passports must be surrendered at the end of the officials' tenure.

Under the new directive, the maximum validity of an official passport has been set at 10 years. However, its validity will extend up to whichever date is later between the prescribed validity period and the date of completion of the official's post-retirement leave (PRL).

During PRL, an official may replace an official passport with an ordinary passport if they wish. However, Grade 9 and above officials entitled to official passports will use only official passports while their entitlement remains in force. Prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs will be required to obtain an ordinary passport.

Each ministry, division, department and agency has been instructed to designate a focal point and an alternate focal point for verification of GOs and NOCs. 

Updated information on the designated officials must be sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Immigration and Passports, the Special Branch and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

The relevant authorities have also been instructed to publish the GOs and NOCs they issue on their respective websites.

The circular said the new instructions were issued by consolidating and revising all previous circulars, orders and directives. It came into effect on 21 September, 2026.

Signed by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Nuruzzaman, the circular said the instructions were issued to make the process of foreign travel on government business and issuance of passports easier and more organised.