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.
Qualification Recognition
Getting your foreign credentials recognised in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has a profession-specific recognition framework. There is no single central authority: each regulated sector (medicine, nursing, engineering, law, accountancy) has its own statutory council that decides whether a foreign qualification meets local standards. Non-regulated professional and academic roles are assessed by employers or the University Grants Commission (UGC). Bangladesh acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention in July 2024 (in force 30 March 2025), so apostilles issued by most countries are now accepted — five EU states (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany) have objected and their documents still require consular legalisation.
Regulated Professions
Process: Submit certified copies of degree certificates, transcripts, professional standing/good-standing letter from the licensing body in your home country, attested translations into English or Bengali, passport copies, and the required application fee to the relevant council. BMDC requires passing a Registration Qualifying Examination for MBBS graduates from non-recognised schools. BNMC has a registration database for nurses. BPERB requires corporate IEB membership, proof of 7 years post-graduate experience, and written examination. ICAB accepts foreign CPA/CA qualifications under its mutual recognition route but requires examination papers on Bangladesh-specific law and taxation.
Authority: Profession-specific statutory councils: BMDC (doctors and dentists), BNMC (nurses and midwives), BPERB / IEB (engineers), ICAB (chartered accountants), Pharmacy Council (pharmacists), Bangladesh Bar Council (lawyers). Academic equivalency for other degrees: University Grants Commission (UGC, ugc.gov.bd).
Timeline: BMDC registration: 4–12 weeks after exam clearance. BNMC registration: 4–8 weeks if documents complete. BPERB: allow 3–6 months for examination and registration cycle. ICAB: 3–9 months depending on mutual recognition route. UGC foreign degree equivalency: minimum 3 months from complete application.
Cost: UGC equivalency: BDT 2,500 per degree. BMDC registration: check current schedule on bmdc.org.bd (exam fees apply). BNMC application: check bnmc.gov.bd. BPERB: annual membership plus examination fee (see bperb.org). ICAB: application and examination fees per current schedule on icab.org.bd. Budget additionally for certified translations (BDT 2,000–10,000 per document) and any attestation or apostille service costs.
Academic Degrees
Authority: University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC, ugc.gov.bd). Note: UGC does NOT assess law, pharmacy, medical, or nursing degrees — those go to their respective councils. Professional designations (ACCA, CA, CMA, CPA, online PhD) are also outside UGC scope.
Process: Apply through the UGC online portal (ugc-equivalence.website-link.info). Submit degree certificates, all transcripts/mark-sheets translated into English and attested by the Bangladesh diplomatic mission or Ministry of Foreign Affairs, passport showing visa validity during the period of study, offer/enrollment letter, and a detailed course syllabus. Pay BDT 2,500 by bank draft in favour of UGC. A dealing officer reviews documents and issues an equivalence certificate. Minimum processing time is 3 months.
Equivalency service: University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (ugc.gov.bd) for most undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. For professional degrees, apply directly to the relevant council (BMDC, BNMC, Bangladesh Bar Council, Pharmacy Council).
Document Rules
Apostille: Bangladesh acceded to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention; it entered into force on 30 March 2025. For documents being brought INTO Bangladesh from apostille-member countries (except Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany which have objected), an apostille is now accepted in place of the full consular legalisation chain. Bangladesh issues its own apostilles through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (apostille.mygov.bd). Always confirm with the receiving Bangladeshi authority — some bodies still request full attestation chains for their own internal procedures.
Legalisation: For documents from countries that have objected to Bangladesh's apostille accession (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany), or for any document where the receiving authority does not yet accept apostilles, use the full legalisation chain: notarisation in the country of origin → authentication by that country's foreign ministry → legalisation by the Bangladesh embassy or high commission in that country. For Bangladeshi documents being used abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues apostilles for countries that accept them, and the relevant embassy or high commission legalises documents for non-member countries.
Sworn translation: Documents not in English should be translated into English or Bengali by a certified translator and attested by the relevant Bangladesh diplomatic office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or a notary public. UGC requires translated documents attested by the diplomatic office or Foreign Ministry. Professional councils may have their own translation and attestation requirements — confirm before submission.
Counselling & Help
- - Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) — official registration body for doctors and dentists: https://www.bmdc.org.bd/
- - Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council (BNMC) — registration for nurses and midwives: https://bnmc.gov.bd/
- - Bangladesh Professional Engineers Registration Board (BPERB) — professional engineer registration: https://bperb.org/
- - Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) — chartered accountant registration and mutual recognition routes: https://www.icab.org.bd/
- - University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) — foreign degree equivalency for non-professional degrees: https://ugc.gov.bd/
- - Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) — employer guidance for foreign staff work permits and regulatory compliance: https://bida.gov.bd/
Typical Timelines
Simple employer credential check: days to 2 weeks. UGC foreign degree equivalency: minimum 3 months. BMDC doctor registration (with exam): 3–6 months or more. BNMC nurse registration: 4–8 weeks for complete files. BPERB engineer registration: 3–6 months. ICAB accountant mutual recognition: 3–9 months. Add translation, apostille / attestation preparation time of 2–6 weeks before submitting to any council.
Bangladesh joined the Apostille Convention in 2025 — this is a recent change that simplifies document authentication for most countries, but the five EU objector states still require the full consular chain. Name mismatches across passport, degree certificate, and marriage certificate are a very common cause of delay: prepare sworn affidavits or corrected documents before you travel. Confirm that your employer's sector authority (BIDA, BEPZA, NGO Affairs Bureau) has approved your work permit before you invest in costly professional council registration, since permit and council registration are separate processes. Foreign medical graduates from non-BMDC-recognised institutions must pass the Registration Qualifying Examination before registration — check the current recognition list at bmdc.org.bd before assuming your institution is listed.
Qualification Recognition
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