Bangladesh (BD)
Bangladesh is a densely populated delta nation in South Asia, bordered by India and Myanmar, with the Bay of Bengal to the south.
Capital: Dhaka
Region: Asia
Language: Bengali
Currency: BDT (৳)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 15)
Emergency: 999
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Citizenship & Permanent Residency
Long-term settlement options in Bangladesh.
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Permanent Residency
Name
Long-Term Residence / Investor Residency
Eligibility
Bangladesh has no general points-based permanent-residency route for ordinary foreign workers. Long-term lawful stay is maintained through successive renewable visas (employment, business, investor or family). A dedicated investor residency route exists for those who commit a minimum of USD 200,000 through BIDA-approved channels.
Duration
Permit-validity linked; renewable while the qualifying basis continues
Requirements
- ✓Valid visa in an eligible category (employment, business, investor or family-linked)
- ✓Investor route: minimum USD 200,000 capital investment with BIDA approval and inward-remittance evidence
- ✓Active e-TIN registration and tax compliance
- ✓Employer or authority sponsorship (for employment category)
- ✓Clean immigration and criminal record
There is no time-served general permanent-residency scheme in Bangladesh. Most expats maintain long-term presence through visa renewals tied to their employer, investment or family situation. BIDA streamlined the investor permit process in 2025-2026.
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Citizenship
Name
Bangladeshi Citizenship by Naturalisation
Eligibility
Foreign nationals who have resided continuously and lawfully in Bangladesh for at least 5 years (reduced to 4 years if married to a Bangladeshi citizen) may apply for naturalisation. Unless they hold nationality from the government-approved list of 101 countries under the February 2023 dual-citizenship policy, applicants must renounce their prior citizenship. SAARC nationals (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, etc.) are excluded from the dual-citizenship list and must renounce.
Duration
Permanent
Requirements
- ✓5 years of continuous lawful residence in Bangladesh (4 years if married to a Bangladeshi citizen)
- ✓Good character — no serious criminal convictions or adverse security record
- ✓Renunciation of prior citizenship, unless the applicant holds nationality from one of the 101 government-approved countries
- ✓Demonstrated integration and genuine intention to reside in Bangladesh
- ✓Government approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs
The process is discretionary and lengthy; most ordinary expats do not pursue naturalisation. SAARC nationals must renounce even under the 2023 policy update. Centralised digital processing via scs.ssd.gov.bd effective May 2025.
Other Routes to Residency & Citizenship
Marriage to a Bangladeshi Citizen (Reduced Residence Route)
Eligibility
Foreign spouses of Bangladeshi citizens may apply for naturalisation after 4 years of continuous lawful residence (one year shorter than the standard 5-year route). The marriage must be legally valid and subsisting at the time of application.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent citizenship if approved
Requirements
- ✓Valid marriage certificate with a Bangladeshi citizen
- ✓4 years of continuous lawful residence in Bangladesh
- ✓Good character and no adverse immigration record
- ✓Ministry of Home Affairs approval
Marriage reduces the residence requirement but does not create an automatic or guaranteed path to citizenship; government discretion applies throughout.
Dual Citizenship for Diaspora and Approved-Country Nationals
Eligibility
Nationals of the 101 government-approved countries (including USA, UK, Australia, Canada and most EU states) who hold or apply for Bangladeshi citizenship may retain their foreign nationality. This route is primarily used by the Bangladeshi diaspora abroad and by qualifying foreign nationals seeking naturalisation. SAARC nationals are explicitly excluded.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent status if granted
Requirements
- ✓Nationality from one of the 101 approved countries (confirmed by Ministry of Home Affairs circular)
- ✓Application to a Bangladesh mission abroad or the Ministry of Home Affairs
- ✓Proof of Bangladeshi origin or eligibility for naturalisation under the standard route
- ✓Background and character check
The February 2023 dual-citizenship policy formalised what was previously partial practice. SAARC nationals (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan) remain ineligible regardless of the duration of their presence in Bangladesh.
🌍 Dual Citizenship
✓
Dual citizenship is allowed — Bangladesh allows dual citizenship under the February 2023 policy for nationals of 101 approved countries (including USA, UK, Australia, Canada and EU member states). SAARC nationals are specifically excluded and must renounce their prior citizenship to naturalise. Check the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed country list before relying on this provision.
Citizenship & Permanent Residency
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