The 2025 Henley Passport Index delivers an unsettling reality: Bangladesh’s passport now ranks 93rd globally, a modest climb from last year’s 97th. Yet behind this cosmetic improvement lies a more worrying trend—visa-free or visa-on-arrival access has declined from 42 to just 39 countries. The result: international mobility for Bangladeshi citizens is shrinking, not expanding.

This rank improvement, driven by other nations slipping faster, does little to ease the burden of global travel for ordinary Bangladeshis. In practice, most popular destinations remain locked behind layers of paperwork, long waiting times, and rising rejection rates.

Major Destinations Escalate Entry Barriers

Countries traditionally viewed as aspirational for migration, education, or tourism—Canada, the UK, the US, and Europe—have all raised the bar for Bangladeshi applicants:

• Canada: Stricter scrutiny follows a rise in fraudulent asylum and student visa applications. Biometrics, bank statements, tax returns, and travel histories are now required, with decisions often taking 6–12 weeks. Rejection rates remain high.
• United Kingdom: The UK Home Office flagged a “disproportionate number” of false documents from Bangladeshi applicants. Visitor and student visas now involve tighter financial and academic checks, with extended processing timelines.
• United States: Visa interview slots in Dhaka are now backlogged for over 400 days. Embassy officials cite forged job offers and weak home ties as key concerns behind high rejection rates.
• Schengen Zone: Countries like Germany, France, and Italy require notarized financial documents and often consular interviews. Bangladeshi passports are widely treated as “high risk.”

Thailand Issues Fraud Alert

On July 17, 2025, the Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka issued a public warning against using unauthorized visa agents. The embassy identified widespread submission of:

• Fake bank documents
• Forged office letters
• Counterfeit payment receipts

As a result, even legitimate visa applications now face 30–45 days of processing time. Thai authorities now recommend using the official portal www.thaievisa.go.th directly to avoid scams and possible blacklisting.

Malaysia Slightly Loosens the Grip

In a rare shift toward easing restrictions, Malaysia began issuing multiple-entry visas to verified Bangladeshi migrant workers from July 2025. However, this does not apply to undocumented laborers or tourists, who still face rigorous document checks.

What Countries Actually Offer Visa-Free Access?

While Bangladesh officially has visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 39 countries, these destinations are often remote, geopolitically unstable, or of little practical relevance for most travelers:

• Caribbean: Dominica, Haiti, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
• Africa: The Gambia, Rwanda, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone
• Pacific Islands: Micronesia, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu
• South Asia: Nepal, Bhutan

• Southeast Asia: Indonesia and the Maldives (short-stay only, subject to change)

In contrast, most popular destinations require full visa applications, which are becoming longer and more restrictive by the year.

Current Visa Application Times for Key Destinations

Country	Visa Required?	Avg. Processing Time	Current Trend
Canada	Yes	6–12 weeks	High rejection; detailed scrutiny
UK	Yes	3–6 weeks	Interviews, document checks
USA	Yes	400+ days	Long wait; fraud concerns
Schengen	Yes	15–30+ days	Notarized docs; high-risk flag
Thailand	Yes	30–45 days	Fraud alert; agent scams
Malaysia	Yes	3–6 weeks	Multiple-entry only for workers