Last updated
Every Bangladeshi passport holder needs a UAE visa issued before the flight. There is no visa on arrival for Bangladesh. A Dubai tourism company can get you a GDRFA tourist visa, AED 210 for 30 days, usually in about 48 hours. A relative who lives in the UAE can sponsor an ICP visit visa instead. Going for a job is a separate process, with BMET clearance at home.
Where things stand for Bangladeshi visitors
Visit visas for Bangladeshis have not run smoothly in recent years, so it helps to know what is confirmed and what is rumour.
- Confirmed: on the UAE Embassy in Dhaka was issuing 30 to 50 visit visas a day, and MOHRE had reopened its system for skilled worker visas (UNB news agency report).
- Rumour: in some outlets wrote about a ban on nine nationalities, Bangladesh among them, based on unnamed circulars. The Bangladesh embassy in the UAE denied it (Gulf News, ) and the ambassador called the reports "malicious propaganda".
We found no ICP or GDRFA notice of a suspension for Bangladeshi passports when we checked on . MOFA still lists Bangladesh as visa required. Even so, ask whoever files your visa whether Bangladeshi files are going through normally that week. It costs nothing to ask and it can save a lost fee.
Which visa a Bangladeshi passport can use
- Tourist visa. Filed by an accredited Dubai tourism establishment, a hotel or an airline. You cannot apply for it yourself, and u.ae states that UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas.
- Family or friend visit visa. A UAE resident sponsors you through ICP or GDRFA. See the Dubai family visit visa guide for the full rules.
- GCC resident visa. For Bangladeshis who live in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain, if the profession on the residence is on the approved list. Details on the GCC residents page.
- Transit visa. For a stopover of 48 or 96 hours, arranged through the airline.
One shortcut does not apply to you. The ICP visa that accepts a US, UK or EU visa or residence was widened on , but only to India and six other nationalities. Bangladesh is not one of them, so a US visa in your passport does not replace the UAE visa.
Fees for Bangladeshi applicants
| Visa | Stay | Government fee |
|---|---|---|
| GDRFA tourist, single entry | 30 days | AED 210 |
| GDRFA tourist, single entry | 60 days | AED 315 |
| GDRFA tourist, multiple entry | 30 days | AED 315 |
| GDRFA tourist, multiple entry | 60 days | AED 525 |
| GDRFA visa for GCC residents | 30 days | AED 52.5 service, AED 100 application, AED 100 issuance |
| GDRFA transit | 48 or 96 hours | AED 50 plus the airline's fee |
Source: GDRFA service pages, checked . Tourist fees include 5% VAT.
What Dubai agencies charge: published prices for a 30-day single entry tourist visa run from about AED 340 to AED 800 (8 Dubai agencies, checked ). The gap is the agency's service fee. Ask to see the GDRFA amount as its own line. The Dubai visa price page breaks the costs down further.
Sponsored by a relative in the UAE
ICP sets a salary floor for the resident who sponsors you:
- AED 4,000 a month to bring a parent, spouse, son or daughter.
- AED 8,000 a month for brothers, sisters, grandparents, uncles, aunts or cousins.
- AED 15,000 a month for a friend.
On top of the fees, ICP holds a refundable guarantee of AED 1,000 for single entry or AED 2,000 for multiple entry. You get it back after you leave on time. The visa has to be used within 60 days of issue.
Documents to have ready
- Colour scan of the passport photo page, valid for at least 6 months on arrival.
- A recent photo on a white background, no hat or sunglasses.
- Return or onward ticket.
- Health insurance valid in the UAE.
- For the family route: the sponsor's passport, residence, Emirates ID and salary proof, and papers showing how you are related.
- For GCC residents: a copy of the residence showing your profession.
Processing time
GDRFA states 48 hours for a tourist visa once the file is complete. ICP states 2 days for visit visas. If GDRFA asks for a missing document, you have 30 days to send it before the request is cancelled. Book flights after the visa is issued, not before.
Going to the UAE for a job
A tourist visa is for tourism. If a UAE employer has hired you, the employer applies for your work permit and residence, and Bangladesh requires emigration clearance from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) before you leave. BMET runs the clearance online through its RAIMS system at raims.oep.gov.bd. Travelling on a visit visa to look for work and skipping BMET clearance can cause trouble at departure from Bangladesh and later in the UAE.
Why Bangladeshi files get refused
- The sponsor's salary is below the ICP level for that relationship.
- The passport has less than 6 months left, or the name differs between passport and ticket.
- An old overstay or absconding record in the UAE.
- A blurred passport scan or a photo with a coloured background.
More causes and fixes are on the visa rejection reasons page. Overstaying costs AED 50 a day, see UAE overstay fine.
How it works with us
Send a clear scan of the Bangladeshi passport and your travel dates on WhatsApp, or use the form on this page. Tell us if a relative in the UAE could sponsor you. A visa adviser checks which visa suits the trip and whether Bangladeshi files are moving normally at that time. You get one total price, confirmed on WhatsApp before you pay. The team then files the application, follows it up with GDRFA or ICP, and sends you the e-visa by email.
DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service, not a government office. GDRFA or ICP approve or refuse every visa. If a visa is refused, the government fee is not returned by the authorities. Before you pay, your adviser tells you in writing which part of the total, if any, you would get back.
Official sources
- MOFA visa exemptions page: Bangladesh shown as visa required.
- GDRFA single entry tourist visa: fees, conditions and 48 hours.
- ICP visit visa service: sponsor salary levels, guarantee, 60-day entry window.
- u.ae tourist visa page: who can apply, embassies do not issue tourist visas.
- BMET: emigration clearance for workers.
- Gulf News on the denied ban reports: checked for the embassy's denial.
