Indian Tourist Visa for Bangladeshis Opens from 28th June 2026

India has announced the resumption of tourist visa services for Bangladeshi citizens, ending a nearly two-year suspension that followed the political transition in Bangladesh in 2024.

The announcement was made on Thursday by Dinesh Trivedi, India's newly appointed High Commissioner to Bangladesh, during a visit to the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka.

Speaking to reporters, Trivedi said applications for tourist visas will be accepted from June 28, while urgent medical visas will continue to be processed on humanitarian grounds.

"We are pleased to restart regular tourist visa services for Bangladeshi nationals," he said, expressing hope that the move would contribute to stronger people-to-people connections between the two neighbouring countries.

Initially, visa services will be available through five centres located in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Khulna. Indian authorities indicated that operations may be expanded further in the future.

According to the Indian High Commission, visa activities were significantly reduced following security concerns that emerged after the events of August 5, 2024. The mission cited attacks on several visa application centres, damage to cultural facilities, and threats against Indian personnel working in Bangladesh as reasons for scaling back operations.

Despite those challenges, India continued providing essential visa services, particularly for medical travellers. The High Commission noted that more than 1,500 visas have been issued daily across various categories, excluding tourist visas.

Earlier in the day, Trivedi formally presented his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban after arriving in Dhaka on June 12.

The decision to restore tourist visas is being viewed as another sign of improving ties between Dhaka and New Delhi. Bilateral relations had faced strains after the change in government in Bangladesh, leading both countries to impose restrictions on trade and visa services.

In recent months, however, diplomatic engagement has increased. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Dhaka late last year, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi later congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman following the formation of Bangladesh's new government. Bangladesh's diplomatic missions in India have also resumed issuing all categories of visas to Indian citizens, reflecting a broader effort to normalize bilateral relations.