In the most significant easing of cross-border travel restrictions between India and Bangladesh since 2024, New Delhi announced on 25 June that it will restart accepting applications for single-entry tourist visas from Bangladeshi citizens beginning 28 June 2026. The declaration was made in Dhaka by India’s new High Commissioner, Dinesh Trivedi, moments after he presented his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Tourist visa issuance had been largely suspended for almost two years following a series of demonstrations that damaged Indian diplomatic premises in Bangladesh and strained bilateral ties. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Bangladeshi arrivals fell from 1.75 million in 2024 to just 470,000 in 2025, costing border districts hundreds of crores in lost revenue from medical tourism, retail spending and hotel occupancies. Five Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) are already operating in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Khulna and Sylhet; Trivedi said more IVACs will reopen in the coming months to cope with pent-up demand that once saw 6,000 Bangladeshi tourist visas issued daily.
![India to Resume Tourist Visa Processing for Bangladeshi Nationals From 28 June 2026]()
Travellers who would prefer to outsource the paperwork can turn to VisaHQ, a global visa facilitation service that streamlines the online form, double-checks supporting documents and even secures biometric appointments on behalf of applicants. Bangladeshi citizens—or any visitor planning a trip to India—can review up-to-date requirements and begin the process at https://www.visahq.com/india/ saving valuable time and avoiding repeated visits to crowded IVAC counters.
For Indian companies the move restores a vital labour and consumer market next door. Bangladesh is India’s fourth-largest source of foreign patients and a fast-growing segment for organised retail and education travel. Tour operators expect medical-tourism bookings to rebound quickly because hospitals in Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru had developed specialist Bangladesh desks prior to the freeze. Transport operators also anticipate higher traffic on the Maitree Express rail link and cross-border bus routes, providing additional impetus for regional connectivity projects under BIMSTEC. Corporates sending staff across the border should note that only single-entry tourist visas will be accepted initially; business, medical and conference visas continue as normal. Visa seekers must file applications online and schedule biometric appointments—walk-ins are no longer accepted. Indian employers with Bangladeshi staff are advised to check passport validity and allow extra buffer days until appointment backlogs clear. Trivedi hinted that an e-visa facility is under discussion, which could further streamline mobility later this year. Strategically, the resumption signals a thaw in relations with Dhaka’s new government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Officials in South Block believe restoring people-to-people contact will create a positive atmosphere for reviving the long-stalled Consular Dialogue that tackles illegal migration—a politically sensitive issue in India’s northeastern states. For now, however, the immediate win is for families separated by the pause and for businesses on both sides of the Indo-Bangla border that rely on hassle-free travel.
Travellers who would prefer to outsource the paperwork can turn to VisaHQ, a global visa facilitation service that streamlines the online form, double-checks supporting documents and even secures biometric appointments on behalf of applicants. Bangladeshi citizens—or any visitor planning a trip to India—can review up-to-date requirements and begin the process at https://www.visahq.com/india/ saving valuable time and avoiding repeated visits to crowded IVAC counters.
For Indian companies the move restores a vital labour and consumer market next door. Bangladesh is India’s fourth-largest source of foreign patients and a fast-growing segment for organised retail and education travel. Tour operators expect medical-tourism bookings to rebound quickly because hospitals in Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru had developed specialist Bangladesh desks prior to the freeze. Transport operators also anticipate higher traffic on the Maitree Express rail link and cross-border bus routes, providing additional impetus for regional connectivity projects under BIMSTEC. Corporates sending staff across the border should note that only single-entry tourist visas will be accepted initially; business, medical and conference visas continue as normal. Visa seekers must file applications online and schedule biometric appointments—walk-ins are no longer accepted. Indian employers with Bangladeshi staff are advised to check passport validity and allow extra buffer days until appointment backlogs clear. Trivedi hinted that an e-visa facility is under discussion, which could further streamline mobility later this year. Strategically, the resumption signals a thaw in relations with Dhaka’s new government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Officials in South Block believe restoring people-to-people contact will create a positive atmosphere for reviving the long-stalled Consular Dialogue that tackles illegal migration—a politically sensitive issue in India’s northeastern states. For now, however, the immediate win is for families separated by the pause and for businesses on both sides of the Indo-Bangla border that rely on hassle-free travel.
