Business visa document checklist
For travelling to India on business. This category asks for more paperwork than any other — letters from both the Bangladeshi firm and the inviting Indian organisation.
Who applies for this visa
Business owners, importers and exporters, company representatives, trade-fair participants and travel-agency staff. Which extra documents apply depends on the kind of business you are in — check the conditional items below.
Document checklist
What you tick stays on your own phone — nothing is sent anywhere, and no login is needed.
What everyone needs
The original passport, with at least six months of validity as on the date of submission, and at least two blank pages.
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
The six months are counted from the day you submit, not the day you travel — working from the travel date is where people most often come up short. The two blank pages must be genuinely blank; pages carrying stamps do not count.
- Passport validity
- At least 6 months validity from the date of submission
- Blank pages
- The passport must have at least 2 blank pages
Old passports must be submitted with the application form.
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
It is easy to leave an expired passport at home once the new one arrives, but the official list makes it mandatory — dig it out and bring it. The document does not say what to do if an old passport is lost or unavailable, so you will need to ask at the centre.
One recent passport-size colour photograph (2×2 inch), on a white background, showing the full face.
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
2×2 inch means 51×51 mm — square. Many blogs quote 45×35 mm, but that is the specification for the reverse case: Indians applying for Bangladeshi visas. On the number of copies, both the High Commission document and IVAC’s documents page say one. The photo is uploaded with the online application, and IVAC’s page gives its size as 2×2 (350×350 pixels). IVAC’s page also says the photo must be “not less than 3 months old” — read literally that means at least 3 months old, which is probably not the intent. We do not settle it by guessing; a recently taken photo is the safe choice.
- Photo size
- 2×2 inch (51×51 mm), square, white background, full face visible
- Photo pixel size
- IVAC’s page describes the photo uploaded with the online application as 2×2 (350×350 pixels).
- Number of photos
- One colour photograph — both the High Commission’s official document and IVAC’s “Kind of Visas & Documents” page say one. Two copies are sometimes mentioned, but we found that in no official source.
- Photo file
- jpg or png, maximum 2 MB
A copy of the National ID Card OR the Birth Certificate, whichever applies.
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
The spelling of your name must match the passport exactly. A mismatch between the ID and the passport is one of the biggest reasons applications come back — put the two side by side and compare before you apply.
A copy of the electricity bill OR gas bill OR landline telephone bill. The document adds, in brackets, “not less than 6 months old”.
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
Mobile phone bills are not on the list — only landline. And the bracketed condition is ambiguous: “not less than 6 months old” literally means the bill must be at least six months old, whereas conditions like this usually ask for something recent. The official document says nothing further, so we are not going to guess at which reading is intended — if you can, carry both a recent bill and one from six months ago.
The document reads: (i) a bank statement for the last six months showing sufficient funds, (ii) an endorsement of foreign currency equivalent to US$150 per applicant (the endorsement must not be older than three months at the time of submission) OR a copy of an international credit card or travel card.
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
Read this requirement carefully. The 2024 document numbers the bank statement separately as (i), which can be read as requiring both the statement and the endorsement. The High Commission's earlier version (2021) listed all three as alternatives joined by “OR”. The document does not settle which reading now applies — the safe course is to bring the bank statement, since it satisfies either reading.
One of the following, depending on your profession.
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
You need the one document that matches your profession — the list offers no option for homemakers, the unemployed or freelancers, so ask at the centre in those cases. The student visa list additionally accepts a salary slip in place of the employer's certificate for private-sector employees.
Extra documents for this visa
A letter from the company or firm in Bangladesh giving the applicant's details, designation and purpose of visit, along with the name, address and contact numbers of the business establishment.
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
The letter must cover four things — who you are, your designation, why you are going, and the firm's contact details. Leaving out any one of them makes the letter incomplete.
A letter from the sponsoring or inviting organisation or company in India.
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
Both letters are required — one from the firm sending you, one from the organisation receiving you. Neither substitutes for the other.
A copy or letter of recommendation, or updated membership, from a recognised Chamber of Commerce or business association in Bangladesh.
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
The membership must be current — expired membership papers will not do. Renewals take time, so check well before you apply.
A copy of a valid trade licence with the Tax Identification Number (TIN).
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
The licence must be valid — that is, unexpired — and must carry the TIN. A licence without the TIN does not meet this requirement.
A copy of the statement of the applicant's company bank account for the last six months.
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
This is separate from your personal bank statement — the common requirement asks for yours, this one asks for the company's. A business visa needs both.
The Import Registration Certificate (IRC) and Export Registration Certificate (ERC), plus a copy of the Letter of Credit or Telegraphic Transfer covering either the last three business transactions or the impending transaction with an Indian company.
Applies only if: You are an importer or exporter
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
There is a choice on the transaction papers: either your last three transactions or the impending one you are travelling for. For a new business, papers for the impending transaction suffice.
A copy of the employment contract showing the period of the contract, the designation and the monthly salary.
Applies only if: You are employed in a company or private firm
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
All three details must be visible in the contract — period, designation, salary. An appointment letter that omits the salary does not meet this requirement.
Details of the nature of participation and a copy of the invitation letter from the exhibition or fair authorities, or from the federation or chamber concerned.
Applies only if: You are participating in or visiting a trade or business exhibition or fair in India
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
The invitation alone is not enough — you must also state in writing what form your participation takes: exhibitor, visitor or speaker.
A Memorandum of Articles of Association and the Certificate of Incorporation.
Applies only if: You represent a limited company
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
These are two distinct documents — one is the company's constitution, the other proof of its registration. Both must be submitted.
A relevant copy of the approval from the Board of Investment under the Prime Minister's Office.
Applies only if: You represent a branch or liaison office of a company in Bangladesh
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
This is mandatory for representatives of a foreign company's Bangladesh branch or liaison office — an ordinary trade licence is not a substitute.
The permit issued by the Ministry of Tourism, Bangladesh, and updated membership of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB).
Applies only if: The application is from a tourism agency
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
An application from a travel agency will not proceed without both, and the membership must be current.
Family members of a business visa holder applying for an entry visa separately must enclose a copy of the principal visa holder's visa.
Applies only if: You are a family member of a business visa holder applying separately
Why it is asked for, and where people slip
It does not apply when you apply together — only when applying separately, which means the principal applicant's visa must already be in hand.
Where this list comes from
The whole list is taken from the “VISA DOCUMENTS: CATEGORY-WISE” document published by the High Commission of India, Dhaka. The document is dated 7 March 2024, and we last checked it against this page on 3 August 2026. You can open it below and verify it yourself.
Open the official document (PDF)3. BUSINESS VISA
Questions about this visa
- Will a trade licence without a TIN do for a business visa?
- Is Chamber of Commerce membership mandatory for a business visa?
- For a conference, do I need a conference visa or a business visa?