United News of Bangladesh

Traveling abroad is often an exciting dream, but for many, navigating visa requirements can make the process feel overwhelming. From embassy visits to lengthy approvals, securing a visa can turn a simple plan into a complicated ordeal. Thankfully, visa-free travel offers a convenient alternative, allowing travelers to bypass these hurdles and enjoy seamless journeys. According to the 2025 Henley Passport Index rankings, Bangladeshi passport holders now have access to a range of destinations where no visa is required. These visa-free opportunities open up new horizons for Bangladeshi travelers, offering simplified access to explore the world. Read on to discover the visa-free countries you can visit with a Bangladeshi passport in 2025, making your travel plans easier than ever. Visa-exempt Countries for Bangladeshi Citizens in 2025 A fully visa-exempt immigration policy eliminates the need for paper and digital permits for entering or leaving a country. This means travelers are exempt from paying visa fees in either local or foreign currencies. In such cases, the passport alone serves as the sole travel document. However, this policy comes with limitations on the duration of stay, which varies depending on the destination country. According to the Henley Passport Index, these countries offer fully visa-exempt travel for Bangladeshi nationals in 2025.  Read more: Langkawi Travel Guide 2025: Top Things to Do in Malaysia’s Jewel of Kedah Visa-exempt Country List (21) 1. Bahamas 2. Barbados 3. Bhutan 4. British Virgin Islands 5. Cook Islands 6. Dominica 7. Fiji 8. Grenada 9. ​​Haiti 10. Jamaica 11. Kiribati 12. Madagaskar 13. Micronesia 14. Montserrat 15. Niue 16. Rwanda 17. Saint Kitts and Nevis 18. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 19. The Gambia 20. Trinidad and Tobago 21. Vanuatu. Read more: Ultimate Koh Samui Travel Guide: Top Things to See and Do on Thailand’s Stunning Island On-arrival Visa Destinations for Bangladeshis in 2025 Visa-on-arrival policies grant travelers entry permits at checkpoints such as airports, seaports, or land borders upon arrival in the destination country. While this type of visa is typically free, some countries may impose a fee. The length of stay permitted under this policy varies across nations. According to the 2025 Henley Passport Index, 16 countries will allow visa-on-arrival access to passport holders from Bangladesh. The list of countries is as follows: On-arrival Destination List (16) 1. Bolivia 2. Burundi 3. Cambodia 4. Cape Verde Islands 5. Comoro Islands 6. Djibouti 7. Guinea-Bissau 8. Maldives 9. Mauritania 10. Mozambique 11. Nepal 12. Samoa 13. Sierra Leone 14. Somalia 15. Timor-Leste 16. Tuvalu Read more: Discover Ha Long Bay: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Vietnam’s Natural Wonder This marks a decline from 18 in 2024, as Seychelles and Togo have been removed from this category. Seychelles has transitioned to an eTA system, while Togo now requires an e-visa. Destinations Requiring an eTA for Bangladeshi Travelers in 2025 An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a digital travel permit linked directly to the traveler’s passport. Unlike traditional visa processes, eTAs can be obtained entirely online through the immigration websites of the issuing countries. This eliminates the need to visit an embassy in person. In 2025, Bangladeshi citizens will require this authorization for travel to three destinations—Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Seychelles. Seychelles, previously listed under the visa-on-arrival category, has transitioned to the eTA system this year. As per the Henley Passport Index, three visa policies—complete visa exemption, visa-on-arrival, and eTA—are collectively categorized as visa-free. For 2025, the total number of visa-free destinations accessible to passport holders from Bangladesh stands at 40, marking a decrease from 42 in the previous year. Read more: Ultimate Pattaya Travel Guide: Top Things to See and Do in Thailand’s Coastal Gem This shift has impacted Bangladesh’s global standing, causing its position in the Henley Passport Index to drop from 97th to 100th. After reaching its lowest ranking in 2021, the country experienced three consecutive years of gradual improvement. However, this year’s changes mark a setback in the global standing of Bangladeshi passports. E-visa Accessible Countries for Bangladeshi Citizens in 2025 While both eTA and e-visa systems rely on online processes, their purposes and procedures differ significantly. E-visas are primarily designed for long-term travel, such as studying, working, or conducting business abroad, and often require extensive documentation. Conversely, eTAs cater to short-term trips, focusing on tourism or transit, and involve minimal paperwork, making the process faster and more convenient. Despite its digital nature, the e-visa application process can be time-consuming due to the requirement for supporting documents. However, eTA applications are streamlined and straightforward. Read more: Thai e-Visa for Bangladeshis: Step-by-Step Guide to Apply Online E-visa Category (34 Countries) 1. Albania 2. Antigua and Barbuda 3. Azerbaijan 4. Bahrain 5. Benin 6. Botswana 7. Cameroon 8. Colombia 9. Equatorial Guinea 10. Guinea 11. Ethiopia 12. Gabon 13. Georgia 14. Kazakhstan 15. Kyrgyzstan 16. Malaysia 17. Moldova 18. Myanmar 19. Oman 20. Pakistan 21. Qatar 22. Sao Tome and Principe 23. Suriname 24. Syria 25. Tajikistan 26. Tanzania 27. Thailand 28. Togo 29. Turkey 30. Uganda 31. Uzbekistan 32. Vietnam 33. Zambia 34. Zimbabwe. Read more: Trip to Bali: A Comprehensive Travel Guide Summing Up Overall, Bangladeshi passport holders will have access to 40 destinations that do not require a visa for entry in 2025. With the exclusion of Lesotho from the 2024 list, the number of fully visa-exempt destinations has declined in 2025. Meanwhile, Seychelles, previously listed under on-arrival visa options, now operates via an eTA system. Similarly, Togo has transitioned from offering on-arrival visas to implementing an e-visa system, reducing the number of countries providing on-arrival visas from 18 to 16. However, the availability of the eTA system has increased, rising from 2 to 3 countries this year. Additionally, the e-visa facility will be available for travel to 34 countries, reflecting the evolving visa protocols tied to Bangladesh. Read more: Shopping in Bangkok: What to Buy, Where to Buy from