India has officially resumed the issuance of tourist visas for Bangladeshi citizens after the service remained suspended for nearly two years.
The application process for the tourist visas commenced on Sunday. Applications are now being accepted at Indian Visa Application Centres (IVAC) located in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna.
However, the resumption comes with strict new regulations, including mandatory OTP (one-time password) and automated document verification to ensure transparency.
Authorities have advised applicants to apply directly through the Indian Visa Application Centres (IVAC) rather than using unauthorised agents. Crucially, any PDF application files that are more than 30 days old or have been edited, altered, or distorted will be rejected.
Security concerns and suspension
The visa services were initially limited on 18 July 2024, following violence surrounding the anti-discrimination students’ movement and the subsequent fall of the Awami League regime on 5 August 2024.
During this period, the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhanmondi was looted and set on fire, while at least five IVACs across the country faced attacks. Indian officials working on various development projects also faced threats.
While emergency and medical visas were issued in a limited capacity from mid-August 2024, the public and business community faced significant hardships in obtaining appointments.
This stalemate continued throughout the 18-month tenure of Muhammad Yunus’s interim government, but ties began to improve following the BNP’s victory in the February elections earlier this year.
A diplomatic milestone
In April, the Indian government appointed Dinesh Trivedi as the new High Commissioner to Bangladesh, succeeding Pranay Verma. Notably, Trivedi is the first politician to be appointed to this role in the 55-year history of the two nations’ diplomatic relations.
After arriving via the Benapole-Petrapole land port on 12 June, Trivedi presented his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Thursday. Immediately after taking charge, he visited the IVAC at Jamuna Future Park, where he announced the “historic” decision to resume tourist visas.
Reflecting on his arrival, the High Commissioner noted that journalists at the border had immediately questioned him about visas. “That stayed in my mind; I realised that visas are the most important thing.
I am very happy to make this announcement on my first day of duty,” he said. He confirmed that services would initially be available in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna, while medical visas would continue to be prioritised for emergencies.
New appointment and application procedures
To eliminate middlemen, the appointment system has been overhauled. Applicants must first fill out the form at the official website and then follow a strict timeline:
Previous day booking: Appointment slots must be booked on the working day immediately preceding the date of document submission.
Registration window: Between 2pm and 4:30pm, applicants must sign up and upload their web files to the appointment site (appointment.ivacbd.com).
Dual OTP verification: At 5pm, those who successfully uploaded their files must click “Sign-up” and enter the email address used in their web file. This requires a two-way verification via OTPs sent to both the applicant’s email and mobile number.
Slot selection: At 6pm, the system will automatically show a selected slot for the following day, which can be changed only once.
Required documentation and fees
Applicants must provide a passport with at least six months’ validity and two blank pages, along with all old passports and a photocopy of the first four pages of the current one. Other requirements include:
- A recent (less than 3 months old) 2×2 colour photograph scanned and uploaded to the application.
- Proof of residence via a utility bill (not older than 6 months) and an NID or birth certificate.
- Proof of profession, such as an NOC from an employer, a student ID, or a trade licence.
- Financial solvency proof, such as an international credit card, a $150 currency endorsement, or a recent bank statement.
- The online visa application form clearly showing the registration number.
While the Government of India does not charge a visa fee, IVAC collects a processing fee of Tk1,500, which must be paid online during the booking process. Once processed, applicants will be notified via SMS to collect their passports in person from the designated centre.
