There are two separate journeys that you need to take when you move in and out of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA). When you arrive, you'd walk from the aircraft to the immigration hall, show your passport, take off your luggage, and pass customs. For flights departing, you check in, pass through security, go to the immigration counter, present your passport, and proceed to the boarding gate. The e-gate will work for Bangladesh e-passport holders, with immigration taking under 18 seconds. This handbook clearly and concisely explains each step, details common mistakes, and outlines the On-Arrival Visa process. It also shows how the entire process becomes much smoother with the help of professional Meet and Assist services at globalair.com.bd
What Is the Immigration Process at HSIA?
The immigration process at HSIA refers to the formal border control steps you complete before entering or leaving Bangladesh. It involves passport checks, document verification, and biometric confirmation managed by the Special Branch of the Bangladesh Police.
Overview: Why the Process Feels Confusing
The process feels confusing because arrival and departure involve completely different areas of the airport, different officers, different documents, and different rules depending on whether you hold a Bangladeshi passport, a foreign passport, or an NRB status.The airport has no single immigration desk. Arrivals are processed on the ground floor after you descend from your flight.
Departures are handled on the second floor after check-in. Many travelers do not know this, and some even line up in the wrong area. This guide removes all of that confusion.
Arrival vs. Departure: Two Different Journeys
Arrival immigration is about entering Bangladesh. Departure immigration is about confirming you are allowed to leave. Both require your passport and boarding pass, but the documents, counters, and steps differ for each.
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Source: HSIA Official Arrival Guideline
Arrival Immigration: From Landing to the Exit Gate
From the moment your plane touches down at DAC, you have four steps before you exit the terminal. If you know exactly what to do at each one, the entire process typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. During peak hours or busy seasons, it can take longer.
Step 1: Disembark and Head to the Immigration Hall
After landing, you exit through either a boarding bridge or a remote bay. Boarding bridge passengers follow the stairs on the second floor of the bridge hall. Remote bay passengers are bused to the terminal and enter through Gate 21 on the ground floor. Both paths lead to the arrivals immigration hall.
Follow the signs marked 'Arrivals' and 'Immigration'. Do not stop at any desk before you reach the main immigration counters unless you need a Visa on Arrival.
If you need a VOA, the desk is clearly marked to your right at the bottom of the stairs before you reach immigration.
Step 2: Filling the Arrival Card and E-Gate vs. Manual Counter
Bangladeshi passport holders do not need to fill out an arrival card. Foreign passport holders must complete one. You may receive the card on the plane, or you can pick one up at the immigration area. E-passport holders can skip the manual line entirely by using the e-gate.
Bangladesh launched e-gates at HSIA on June 7, 2022. According to the HSIA Executive Director at the time of launch, there are currently 3 e-gates in the arrivals area.
E-passport holders place their passport on the reader, look into the camera for facial recognition, and pass through in as little as 18 seconds.
If you have a machine-readable passport (MRP) or a foreign passport, you must use the standard manual counter. (The Daily Star: E-gates open at Dhaka Airport)
Step 3: Immigration Counter: What to Expect and Say
At the immigration counter, the officer checks your passport, visa, and arrival card. Bangladeshi citizens go to the national counter. Foreign nationals go to the foreign counter. The officer may ask about the purpose of your visit, how long you plan to stay, and where you will be staying.
Keep your answers short and confident. Say exactly what your purpose is, whether tourism, family visit, business, or medical.
Have your return ticket information and accommodation address ready if asked. The officer will stamp your passport with an entry date and permitted duration. Once stamped, proceed to baggage claim.
Step 4: Baggage Claim and the Customs Red and Green Channel
After immigration, check the overhead flight display boards to find your assigned belt number. Collect your bags. Then choose your customs channel. Green Channel means nothing to declare. Red Channel means you have dutiable or declarable goods.
Even in the Green Channel, your bags pass through a scanner. If you carry gold ornaments up to 100 grams, silver up to 200 grams, and items within the duty-free limits set by the NBR Baggage Rules 2025, you may walk through the Green Channel directly.
Carry dutiable items or cash above USD 5,000? Declare them in the Red Channel to avoid penalties.
Pro Tip: How Meet and Assist Speeds Up Every Step
A Meet and Assist agent from Global Airport Assisting Services meets you at the aerobridge or Gate 21, guides you to the correct immigration counter, helps with arrival card completion, and escorts you through baggage claim and customs to your waiting vehicle.It is especially useful during peak congestion. HSIA immigration queues can stretch to 60 to 90 minutes during Eid holidays and December. An experienced agent knows which counters are moving faster and ensures you do not wait in the wrong line.
Documents You Must Have Ready for Arrival
The documents you need at the DAC arrival immigration depend on your passport type and travel purpose. Having everything in hand before you land saves time and prevents unnecessary stops at the counter.
Valid Passport and Visa or On-Arrival Visa Eligibility
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of arrival. You must have a valid visa stamped before travel, or be eligible for a Visa on Arrival. If you hold a Bangladeshi foreign passport with a No Visa Required seal, present that seal at the immigration counter.
Arrival Card and Customs Declaration Form
Foreign passport holders must complete the disembarkation card (arrival card) before reaching the immigration counter. Bangladeshi passport holders are exempt. The customs declaration form is only required if you are carrying goods above the duty-free limits.
- Arrival card: Name, passport number, flight number, nationality, address in Bangladesh, purpose of visit.
- Customs declaration: Required only if you carry dutiable goods, cash above USD 5,000, gold above 100 grams, or prohibited items.
- Where to get the forms: You can get them on the aircraft or at the immigration hall near the desks.
NRB-Specific Documents: Wage Earner Card, Foreign Remittance Proof
NRBs returning from work abroad should carry their BMET clearance card, Wage Earner Welfare Membership Card if applicable, and proof of remittance if they wish to access NRB banking benefits or duty concessions upon arrival.
If you hold a foreign passport and are of Bangladeshi origin, your No Visa Required endorsement from the Bangladesh embassy or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is your key document at immigration.
Present it at the foreign counter along with your passport. If you are a migrant worker departing Bangladesh with a work permit visa, your BMET smart card must be verified and sealed at the Prabashi Kalayan Desk in the departure area before you reach immigration. (HSIA Official Departure Guideline)
Departure Immigration: Getting Airside Without Stress
Departure immigration at HSIA is a four-step process. You check in, clear security, present your passport at the immigration counter for an exit stamp, and then proceed to your boarding gate. The entire process from arrival at the terminal to gate entry typically takes 45 to 90 minutes.
Step 1: Check-In and Baggage Drop
Arrive at the terminal at least 3 hours before your international departure. Follow the display monitors at the entrance driveway to find your airline's designated check-in gate. Please show your passport and supporting documents to receive your boarding pass and bag tag.Migrant workers traveling to Saudi Arabia on leave must have their leave certificate verified at the Prabashi Kalayan Desk before check-in.
New workers with a work permit visa must have their BMET card sealed at the Prabashi Kalayan Desk after check-in, located inside the immigration area. Free trolleys are available at every entry gate.
Step 2: Security Screening at HSIA
After check-in, proceed to the security checkpoint. Remove laptops, tablets, power banks, mobile phones, belts, watches, keys, and coins and place them in the tray. Please also remove your shoes in accordance with international aviation security rules.Liquids in containers over 100ml are not permitted in hand luggage. If you carry liquid medicines, keep the prescription with you.
After security, you enter the departure concourse where immigration, lounges, duty-free shops, and cafes are located.
Step 3: Departure Immigration Counter: What Officers Check
At the departure immigration counter, the officer checks your passport, boarding pass, and visa. E-passport holders can use one of the 12 e-gates in the departure area. Manual counter passengers should have all documents ready before approaching.The officer confirms your exit eligibility, checks that your passport matches your boarding pass, and stamps your passport with an exit seal.
The following step is usually fast if your documents are in order. Confirm your passport is stamped before leaving the counter.
Step 4: Boarding Gate and Waiting Area
After immigration, you enter the departure lounge. Check the display boards for your gate number. Proceed to your gate at least 1 to 2 hours before departure time. Currency exchange, duty-free shopping, restaurants, baby care facilities, and prayer rooms are available in the lounge.
Do not rely solely on gate announcements. Set a personal alarm for boarding time. Gate numbers can change, and announcements may not reach all areas of the lounge.
Common Immigration Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Most delays and rejections at HSIA immigration are due to avoidable errors. These are the three most common mistakes travelers make, along with how to prevent each one.
Wrong or Incomplete Arrival Card
Foreign passport holders who submit an incorrectly filled arrival card are asked to step aside and resubmit, which adds significant time to the queue. Fill the card on the plane using your passport details and have your Bangladesh address ready.If you do not have a local address yet, use the name and address of your hotel or the person who will be receiving you. Do not leave any mandatory field blank.
Carrying Undeclared Currency Over the Limit
Passengers carrying more than USD 5,000 in cash without declaring it at customs risk having the excess amount confiscated. Always declare cash above the limit at the Red Channel, even if you intend to use it for legitimate purposes.
Passport Issues: Validity, Damaged Pages, and Mismatch
Passports with less than 6 months of remaining validity, damaged bio-data pages, or a name that does not exactly match the flight ticket are major red flags at immigration. Airlines may also deny boarding before you even reach the airport.Check your passport validity well before your travel date. If your name is spelled differently on your ticket and passport, contact your airline in advance to have it corrected.
Do not travel with a passport that has torn or water-damaged pages containing the photo or machine-readable zone.
On-Arrival Visa at Dhaka Airport: Who Qualifies?
Bangladesh offers an On-Arrival Visa at the HSIA for eligible foreign nationals. The visa is valid for up to 30 days, is a single-entry visa, and covers tourism, business, investment, and official purposes. It is a privilege granted at the discretion of the immigration officer, not a guaranteed right.
Eligible Nationalities for 2026
Citizens of most Western countries, including the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, and EU member states, are eligible for a Visa on Arrival at HSIA. Indian passport holders are not eligible and must obtain a visa in advance from a Bangladeshi embassy or consulate.
Pre-register online at the official Bangladesh VOA portal before travel and print the acknowledgement receipt. It is required at the VOA desk.
Required Documents at the VOA Counter
- Valid passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity
- Printed the VOA acknowledgment receipt from the official online registration
- Return or onward ticket
- Proof of accommodation in Bangladesh, such as a hotel booking or an invitation letter
- For business visitors: an invitation letter from a Bangladesh company, BIDA, or BEPZA
- Approximately USD 500 in cash or a credit card to show sufficient funds
Fees and Payment Methods Accepted
The On-Arrival Visa fee is approximately USD 51, including tax, payable in cash at the Sonali Bank counter inside the immigration area. US Dollars, British Pounds, and Euros are accepted. Credit cards and BDT are not accepted at the VOA counter.
Pay at Sonali Bank first and collect the receipt. Then join the VOA queue with your receipt and documents. After the visa sticker is placed in your passport, proceed to the standard immigration counter for your entry stamp. (LegalSeba: On Arrival Visa in Bangladesh)
How Professional Assistance Makes Immigration Easier
Airport immigration at HSIA is manageable on your own when everything goes smoothly. But for elderly travelers, families with young children, medical patients, NRBs unfamiliar with the new rules, and first-time international travelers, having a trained agent by your side reduces most of the risk.
Who Benefits Most: Seniors, Families, First-Timers
Elderly travelers often struggle with long queues and cannot always read small print on forms quickly. Families with children need help managing multiple passports. First-time travelers may not know which counter to approach or what questions to expect.
- Seniors avoid standing in long queues and receive a step-by-step escort through every checkpoint.
- Families with young children get support managing luggage, strollers, and multiple documents simultaneously.
- Medical patients traveling for treatment receive priority coordination and guidance to their transfer vehicle.
- NRBs carrying specific documents, such as BMET cards, remittance proofs, or Power of Attorney papers, receive experienced guidance through customs procedures.
- First-time travelers receive a calm, knowledgeable companion from the aerobridge to the taxi stand.
Book Meet and Assist at GLAAS
Global Airport Assisting Services (GLAAS) is a CAAB-approved, IATA-affiliated airport assistance company operating at HSIA since 2008. Its agents meet you at the gate, handle every immigration step, and stay until you are in your vehicle.Standard Meet and Assist starts from BDT 500 per person. Premium service is BDT 1,500 per person and includes additional escort and priority handling.
You can book through the form on globalair.com.bd, contact us on WhatsApp at +880 1976 333 444, or call the support center at +880 9647 222 888. Booking at least 24 hours before your flight is recommended.
GLAAS also offers airport pick-up and drop-off services through its AeroBEE fleet and lounge access as part of departure packages. For full service details, including air ticketing, visit globalair.com.bd
Frequently Asked Questions on the Dhaka Airport Immigration Process
How long does immigration take at Dhaka airport?
With an e-gate, under 20 seconds. At manual counters, expect 20 to 60 minutes, depending on queue length.
Do Bangladeshi passport holders need to fill out an arrival card at HSIA?
No. Only foreign passport holders are required to fill out the arrival card at HSIA.
What is the e-gate at HSIA, and who can use it?
E-gates are automated border control booths. Only Bangladeshi e-passport holders can use them. There are 3 arrivals and 12 departures.
Can I use the Green Channel if I carry 100 grams of gold?
Yes. Up to 100 grams of gold jewelry, duty-free, qualifies for the Green Channel without a declaration.
What happens if my passport has less than 6 months of validity at HSIA?
You may be denied boarding by your airline or refused entry by immigration. Renew your passport before travel.
Is an Indian passport eligible for a visa on Arrival at Dhaka airport?
No. Indian passport holders must obtain a Bangladesh visa in advance from an embassy or consulate.
How do I book a Meet and Assist service at HSIA?
Visit globalair.com.bd or WhatsApp +880 1976 333 444. Book at least 24 hours before your flight.
Where is the VOA desk located at HSIA?
At the bottom of the stairs after descending from your flight, on your right before the main immigration counters.
