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The Bangladeshi passport is losing global acceptance amid increased visa restrictions in many countries.

Bangladesh ranked 100th out of 106 countries in the Global Passport Ranking 2025, published last week by UK-based Henley & Partners.

Despite steady economic growth, developed and even developing nations are becoming more reluctant to issue visas to Bangladeshi citizens.

Several countries that once offered visa-on-arrival access are now denying entry and deporting travelers directly from airports, migration experts said.

Experts and diplomats attributed the decline in global confidence in Bangladeshi passports to visa misuse and illegal migration.

Many Bangladeshis reportedly use tourist visas to enter different countries but overstay there to work illegally, and are later detained and deported.

Some countries have also alleged that Bangladeshi travelers use transit routes to enter third countries illegally.

Former diplomat Munshi Faiz Ahmad, who served as Bangladesh’s ambassador to China and high commissioner to Singapore, told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that misconduct,  illegal activities, and criminal offenses by some Bangladeshis abroad had damaged the country’s image.

‘Such behavior tarnishes Bangladesh’s reputation and irritates officials in host countries. As a result, many countries have made verification procedures more stringent to prevent the entry of individuals linked with unlawful activities,’ he said.

Bangladeshi passport holders once used to enjoy visa-free access to several destinations, but most of those countries now require visas, he said.

Even after obtaining visas, Bangladeshi travelers often face extra questioning and extensive checking at immigration counters simply because of their passports, he added.

Data show that Bangladesh’s position fell from 68th in 2006 to 100th in 2025, making it the world’s 7th weakest passport.

The latest Henley Passport Index reported that Bangladeshi passport holders, like those of North Korea, now get visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 38 destinations, down from 43 destinations in 2018.

In South Asia, the Maldives ranks the highest at 56th, followed by India (85th), Bhutan (92nd), Sri Lanka (98th), Bangladesh (100th), Nepal (101st), and Pakistan (103rd).

Globally, Singapore remains at the top with visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea with 190. Afghanistan ranks lowest at 106th, offering access to only 24 destinations.

Munshi Faiz also said that passport credibility depends on a country’s political stability and economic governance.

‘Even India, once the most popular destination for Bangladeshis, suspended visas last year, such actions from neighboring countries send negative signals to others,’ he added.

Travelers and agencies report that visa processing has become more difficult for Bangladeshis in popular destinations such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Processing times have lengthened, rejection rates have increased, and more travelers are being offloaded, denied entry, and sent back after immigration interrogation.

Even tourism-dependent countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives have begun turning away Bangladeshi visitors in some cases, despite previously offering on-arrival visas.

Countries including Indonesia and Vietnam have also tightened policies. Indonesia now requires pre-approved visas with extensive documentation and higher fees, while Vietnam has largely suspended new visas.

India suspended visa operations for Bangladeshis in August 2024 following political tensions, and is currently issuing only medical visas under strict verification. Minor discrepancies can lead to cancellations or offloading at airports.

In July 2025 alone, Malaysia deported hundreds of Bangladeshis — 96 on July 11, 123 on July 13, and 80 on July 26— followed by 98 deportations in a single day in August.

Malaysian immigration officials said that many travelers had fake hotel bookings and insufficient funds.

Agents have reportedly sent workers abroad using tourist visas and coached them to evade immigration checks.

In Thailand, visa processing now takes 45 to 50 days, though the official timeline is seven to 10 working days.

‘Many travelers entered Thailand and then crossed into Laos or Cambodia. That is why those countries are now tightening their visa rules,’ said a Dhaka-based travel agency official.

Rafiuzzaman Rafi, president of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh, said, ‘Almost every neighboring tourism-friendly country has restricted or suspended visas for Bangladeshis.’

‘India, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Vietnam have suspended visa issuance, while Turkey and the Philippines are making the process longer and more complicated. The government should engage diplomatically to resolve this crisis,’ he added.

According to officials at travel agencies, Sri Lanka now heavily scrutinises Bangladeshi visitors even under on-arrival schemes, while Nepal and the Maldives have tightened entry checks.

In the Maldives, travelers must show fully paid hotel bookings, and any fake documentation leads to deportation, they said.

Uzbekistan recently halted visa issuance after discovering that many Bangladeshis entered and stayed illegally in neighboring states. Similarly, Dubai, Qatar, and Kuwait have suspended visas, Saudi Arabia has tightened Umrah visa rules, and Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey have imposed strict conditions.

Md Borhan Uddin, chief executive officer of Green Holidays Tours, said that unauthorised travel agencies are exploiting tourism as a cover for human trafficking.

‘Many Bangladeshi travelers are sent back from Malaysian airports for lack of valid documents. When documents are proper, authorities rarely create problems,’ he said.

He said that illegal migration and fraudulent practices were damaging Bangladesh’s global image, increasing suspicion toward its passport.

‘The government should shut down fake online tour operators and unskilled agents misusing tourist visas,’ he suggested.

Due to stricter visa procedures and high financial requirements, the number of Bangladeshis traveling to the United States or Europe for tourism or medical treatment has fallen.

India remains the most preferred destination, followed by Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian countries.

As Indian tourist visas remain suspended, more travelers are seeking alternatives in East and Southeast Asia, where new difficulties are also emerging.

Private jobholder Humayun Kabir in Dhaka said that he applied for an Indian visa for his father’s medical treatment but received no response after a month.

He later opted for Thailand, where the process took another month, compared to a week previously.

Bangladesh’s major labour markets, Malaysia and the Middle East, have also been affected.

Former joint secretary general of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies, Mohammad Fakhrul Islam, said, ‘All our traditional labour markets, except for Saudi Arabia, are now shut down.’

Experts said that the government needs to strengthen the oversight of migration agencies and engage diplomatically to rebuild trust, increase credibility, and expand access around the world.