Expatriate work permit and visa processing in Bangladesh
E-visa recommendation, BIDA work permit, online security clearance, renewals and tax registration for the foreign nationals you place in Bangladesh — managed end to end from Dhaka for USD 1,450 per permit plus government fees at cost.
What is the work permit process for foreign employees in Bangladesh?
A foreign national who will work in Bangladesh needs an E-category visa obtained on the strength of a recommendation letter from the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), followed after arrival by a BIDA work permit and a security clearance, both applied for online through BIDA's One Stop Service portal by the sponsoring employer.
Since 1 October 2025 the security-clearance step is fully online and is deemed granted if no objection is raised within 21 working days of a complete submission. Failure to apply within the period stated on the work permit invalidates the permit, which is why the process needs an owner in Dhaka who tracks every deadline. Nexus Payroll acts as that owner, and as the local sponsor where our Employer of Record employs the expatriate.
Which expatriate HR and payroll services does Nexus Payroll provide?
Three services cover the whole assignment: expatriate advisory before arrival (eligibility, tax residency, cost and salary structure), Expats HR during the assignment (contracts, permit and visa renewals, relocation, dependants, exit), and Expats payroll every month (residency-based withholding, perquisites, split pay and departure clearance) — alongside the work-permit processing described on this page.
What are the steps to obtain a BIDA work permit?
There are five steps: advertise the role locally where required and pass a board resolution; obtain the E-visa recommendation from BIDA and the visa from a Bangladesh mission; apply for the work permit on the OSS portal after arrival; submit the security clearance within the permit's window; and register the expatriate for tax and payroll. Renewals repeat annually.
Pre-approval
Local advertisement evidence, board resolution naming the expatriate, and a manpower statement showing the local-to-foreign ratio.
E-visa recommendation
Application on BIDA OSS with passport, qualifications, contract and company documents; letter issued to the embassy.
Visa and arrival
E-visa stamped at the Bangladesh mission; expatriate enters and the work-permit clock starts.
Work permit and clearance
OSS work-permit application (BIDA target 16 working days); online security clearance deemed granted after 21 working days without objection.
Tax and payroll
e-TIN registration, bank account, payroll set-up, and remittance approvals for any foreign-currency element of pay.
What are the rules on employing foreign nationals in Bangladesh?
BIDA considers foreign employment only in registered establishments, for roles where local expertise is unavailable, and within headcount ratios of roughly one foreigner per twenty local employees in industrial projects and one per five in commercial offices. Applicants must be over 18, from a country Bangladesh recognises, and initial permits are normally issued for up to two years, renewable.
Local-to-foreign ratio
Industrial projects: one foreign employee per 20 local staff at operational stage; commercial, branch and liaison offices: one per 5. Ratios apply across the sponsor's total headcount including management.
BIDA Expatriate Work Permit FAQSecurity clearance
Mandatory online application through the BIDA OSS portal since 1 October 2025; deemed granted if no objection is raised within 21 working days. Missing the window stated on the permit renders the permit invalid.
BIDA press release on digital security clearance, 2025Changing employer
A foreign employee who changes employer must cancel the existing work permit, leave Bangladesh and re-enter on a fresh visa and permit for the new employer; permits are not transferable.
BIDA Expatriate Work Permit FAQTax residency
Residence for tax is 182 days or more in the income year (or 90 days with 365 days in the preceding four years). Non-resident foreigners pay a flat 30% on Bangladesh-source income.
Income Tax Act 2023This page is informational and reflects Bangladesh law as we understand it on the review date. It is not a substitute for licensed legal or tax advice in Bangladesh or in your own jurisdiction. Statutory figures change; confirm current values with your adviser before relying on them.
How much does work-permit processing cost?
Nexus Payroll charges USD 1,450 per new work permit and 60% of that for each renewal, covering document preparation, OSS filings, security-clearance tracking, embassy liaison and tax registration. Government fees, visa fees and any translations or notarisations are billed at cost with receipts. Expatriates employed through our EOR pay the standard USD 299 monthly fee in addition.
Expatriate work permit FAQ
How long does a Bangladesh work permit take?
Plan for six to ten weeks end to end. The E-visa recommendation from BIDA takes about a week, the embassy visa one to three weeks depending on the mission, and BIDA targets around 16 working days for the work permit after arrival, followed by the online security clearance that is deemed granted if no objection is raised within 21 working days. Incomplete documents are the usual cause of delay.
Can an expatriate work in Bangladesh on a business visa?
No. A business or tourist visa does not confer the right to work. Foreign nationals must hold an E-category visa and a work permit from BIDA (or BEPZA/BEZA for zone-based companies) before starting employment. Working without them exposes the individual to deportation and blacklisting and the sponsor to penalties under the immigration and foreign-exchange rules.
How are expatriates taxed in Bangladesh?
Foreign nationals who become tax-resident (182 days or more in an income year) are taxed on the same slab rates as Bangladeshis; non-residents pay a flat 30% on Bangladesh-source income. Salaries can be paid partly in foreign currency only within Bangladesh Bank remittance rules, and a tax clearance certificate is required before the expatriate leaves the country permanently.
Can Nexus Payroll be the sponsor for our expatriate?
Yes, where the role and headcount ratio allow it. BIDA permits commercial establishments one foreign employee per five local staff, so an expatriate employed through our EOR must sit within that ratio across our sponsored headcount. For manufacturing or zone-based roles the client's own registered entity is normally the sponsor and we manage the process on its behalf.
Related pages
- Expatriate Advisory Services — Pre-arrival assessment, tax residency, structuring
- Expats HR Services — Contracts, relocation, permits, renewals
- Expats Payroll Services — Split payroll, 30% non-resident tax, remittance
- Employer of Record — employ the expatriate through Nexus as sponsor
- Managed HR and payroll services — the other half of the HR menu
- Pricing
- FAQ
Bring your expatriate to Bangladesh on time
Send the candidate's passport details, role and intended start date. We return a document checklist and a realistic timeline within one business day.