Work Permit for Foreigners in Bangladesh: BIDA Process, Documents & Timeline

Every foreign national who works for a company in Bangladesh needs a work permit. For most companies it is issued by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) through its online One Stop Service (OSS). The process starts abroad with an employment visa (E visa). Once the employee arrives, the employer must submit the work permit application within 15 days. Permits are usually granted for one year at a time and renewed annually.

This guide walks through who needs a permit, which authority issues it, the documents you need, each step of the application, and how to stay compliant afterwards.

Key takeaways

The employer, not the employee, applies for the work permit through BIDA OSS.
Apply within 15 days of the employee's arrival on an E visa. Missing this window causes delays and visa problems.
Companies with foreign shareholders are generally expected to have brought in at least US$50,000 of investment before sponsoring foreign staff.
Authorities enforce local-to-foreign staff ratios, typically 5:1 for commercial entities.
EPZ and economic zone companies apply to BEPZA or BEZA instead of BIDA, and NGOs apply to the NGO Affairs Bureau.

Who Needs a Work Permit in Bangladesh?

You need a work permit if you are a foreign national employed by, or working for, an organisation in Bangladesh. This includes:

Expatriate managers, engineers and technical specialists at subsidiaries of foreign companies
Staff of branch offices and liaison offices
Foreign directors who take a salaried role in the local company
Foreign employees of local companies, NGOs and educational institutions
Consultants and technicians placed in Bangladesh for longer assignments

Who usually doesn’t need one:

The line between “visiting” and “working” matters. Anyone receiving a salary or doing ongoing work in Bangladesh should be on a work permit.

Which Authority Issues the Work Permit?

The issuing authority depends on where and how your company operates:

Employer type	Issuing authority
Companies, branch and liaison offices outside special zones	Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), via BIDA OSS
Companies in Export Processing Zones (EPZs)	Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA)
Companies in Economic Zones	Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA)
NGOs and foreign-funded development organisations	NGO Affairs Bureau

This guide focuses on BIDA, which handles most foreign-owned companies. If you are still deciding how to enter Bangladesh, see our BIDA registration guide.

Eligibility and Conditions

BIDA looks at both the employee and the sponsoring company.

The employee:

The sponsoring company:

Registered and in good standing: incorporated with RJSC (or approved by BIDA as a branch or liaison office), with a trade license and tax registration.
Investment brought in: companies with foreign shareholders are generally expected to have remitted at least US$50,000 of investment. Branch and liaison offices must have brought in their required inward remittance.
Staff ratios: authorities enforce a minimum ratio of local to foreign employees. The commonly applied ratios are 5:1 for commercial entities (including branch and liaison offices) and 20:1 for industrial units once operational, with a more relaxed ratio during the setup phase.
Local recruitment effort: you may need to show the post was advertised locally first.

If the company does not meet these conditions, sort them out before the employee travels. Otherwise the employee may arrive on an E visa that cannot be converted into a permit.

The Sequence: E Visa First, Then Work Permit

The work permit is not the first step. The process runs in this order:

Visa recommendation: the employer applies to BIDA, through OSS, for a recommendation letter supporting an employment visa.
E visa: the employee applies at a Bangladesh embassy or high commission abroad, using the recommendation letter.
Arrival: the employee enters Bangladesh on the E visa.
Work permit application: the employer submits it through BIDA OSS within 15 days of arrival.
Security clearance: BIDA refers the case to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Work permit issued, followed by a visa extension in line with the permit from the Department of Immigration and Passports.

Typical timing: the visa recommendation can take from one day to two weeks, embassy processing one to three weeks, and the work permit itself about 16 working days through OSS once the file is complete.

Required Documents Checklist

Prepare these before the employee travels, so you can file within the 15-day window:

From the employee:

Passport copy (all used pages) and the E visa page
Recent passport-size photographs
Academic and professional certificates
CV showing relevant experience
Signed appointment letter or service contract stating designation, salary and benefits

From the company:

Board resolution approving the foreign national’s employment
Certificate of incorporation, Memorandum and Articles of Association (or BIDA permission for a branch or liaison office)
Valid trade license and tax registration (TIN)
Evidence of foreign investment or inward remittance (for example, encashment certificates)
Manpower statement showing local and foreign staff, to demonstrate ratio compliance
Copy of the local job advertisement, where required
Latest audited accounts and tax documents, for established companies

Documents issued abroad may need notarisation and attestation by the Bangladesh embassy in that country. Check requirements before the employee leaves home.

Step-by-Step Application Through BIDA OSS

Register the company on BIDA OSS. Create the employer account and complete the company profile, including registration details and shareholding.
Apply for the visa recommendation. Upload the employee’s passport, appointment letter and company documents. Once approved, BIDA issues a recommendation letter.
Employee obtains the E visa. The employee applies at the Bangladesh mission in their country of residence with the recommendation letter.
Employee arrives in Bangladesh. The 15-day clock for the work permit application starts.
Submit the work permit application. Complete the online form, upload all documents, including the visa page and arrival stamp, and pay the government fee online.
Respond to queries. BIDA may ask for clarifications or missing documents. Reply quickly, because delays push back the decision.
Security clearance. BIDA forwards the case to the Ministry of Home Affairs for clearance. This can continue after the permit is issued.
Receive the work permit. Download the approval from OSS.
Extend the visa. Apply to the Department of Immigration and Passports to extend the employee’s visa in line with the permit’s validity.

Processing Time, Validity, Fees and Renewal

Item	What to expect
Visa recommendation (BIDA)	1 day to 2 weeks
E visa (embassy)	1–3 weeks, depending on the mission
Work permit (BIDA OSS)	About 16 working days once the file is complete
Work permit (BEPZA / BEZA)	Often 30–45 days
Validity	Usually 1 year at a time
Renewal	Annually, as long as the employment continues and conditions are met
Government fee	Paid online through OSS for each application and renewal; check BIDA’s current fee schedule

Renewals. Apply well before expiry, ideally 1–2 months ahead. A renewal application usually needs updated company documents, proof that the employee’s income tax has been paid, and an updated manpower statement.

Changes during the permit. A new employer, a significantly different role or a change of designation may need a new permit or an amendment. If the employee leaves, cancel the permit through OSS.

Security Clearance and Common Rejection Reasons

Every work permit involves a security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs (Security Services Division). It runs in parallel with BIDA’s review and can take longer than the permit itself. An adverse report can lead to the permit being cancelled, even after it was issued.

Common reasons for delays or refusals:

Late filing: the application was submitted after the 15-day window.
Wrong visa: the employee entered on a business or tourist visa instead of an E visa.
No investment shown: the company cannot evidence the required foreign investment or inward remittance.
Ratio breach: too many foreign staff compared with local employees.
Weak justification: the role looks like one a local hire could fill.
Inconsistent documents: mismatched names, designations or salaries across the contract, visa recommendation and application.
Company compliance gaps: expired trade license, missing tax returns or unfiled annual returns.

Most of these can be avoided by preparing the company file before the employee travels.

After Approval: Tax and Compliance for Expat Staff

Getting the permit is only the start. Employers must also manage:

Income tax. Foreign employees’ salaries are taxable in Bangladesh. The employer must withhold tax from salary and deposit it with the National Board of Revenue. The employee needs a TIN and must file annual tax returns.
Banking channels. Pay salaries through a bank. Proper records also make it easier for the employee to remit part of their salary home through approved channels.
Employment contract. Foreign managers usually fall outside the Labour Act’s definition of “worker”, so their contract terms carry more weight. See our Bangladesh Labour Act guide.
Renewals and records. Track permit and visa expiry dates, keep the manpower statement updated, and notify the authorities when an employee leaves.
Dependants. Family members of work permit holders typically need their own dependant visas.

How IncorpLegal Helps

IncorpLegal handles the full expatriate employment process for foreign companies in Bangladesh:

Readiness check: confirming your company meets the investment, ratio and compliance conditions before anyone travels.
Visa recommendation and E visa support: preparing the BIDA OSS application and the embassy file.
Work permit filing: submitting within the 15-day window, answering BIDA queries and following up on security clearance.
Renewals and changes: annual renewals, designation changes, cancellations and dependant visas.
Tax and payroll setup: TIN registration, salary withholding and annual returns for expat staff.

Learn more about our employment and immigration services.

Bringing expat staff to Bangladesh? Let us handle the work permit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreigner work in Bangladesh on a business visa?

No. A business visa allows meetings, negotiations and short visits, not paid employment. Anyone employed or paid in Bangladesh needs an E visa followed by a work permit. Working on a business visa risks penalties for the employer and deportation for the employee.

How long is a Bangladesh work permit valid?

A BIDA work permit is usually issued for one year and can be renewed annually while the employment continues. The employee’s visa is then extended to match the permit’s validity.

How long does work permit processing take?

Once a complete application is filed through BIDA OSS, a work permit typically takes about 16 working days. Add time for the visa recommendation and the E visa before arrival. EPZ and economic zone permits through BEPZA or BEZA can take 30–45 days.

Can a work permit be renewed or extended?

Yes. Apply for renewal through the same authority before the permit expires, ideally one to two months in advance. You will usually need updated company documents, proof of the employee’s tax payments and a current manpower statement.

Does a foreign director need a work permit?

A foreign director who works in the company and draws a salary in Bangladesh needs a work permit. A director or shareholder who only attends board meetings and is not employed locally usually does not, but should travel on the appropriate investor or business visa.

Md. Akber Hossain Khan, FCA

A Fellow Chartered Accountant (Bangladesh) and alumnus of the National University of Singapore (NUS), Khan's practice focuses on inbound foreign investment and supporting businesses in global expansion. He is deeply experienced in FDI, cross-border accounting BPO, audit, taxation, and corporate financial advisory.