Country guide
Bangladesh
Visa
Visa required
Vaccinations
Conditional
Currency
Bangladesh Taka (BDT)
Time zones
UTC / GMT +6 (4 hours ahead of South Africa)
Dialing code
+ 880
Best time to go
October – February. March – Mid May is the hot season and May – October is the wet season.
Drinking water
All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Milk is generally unpasteurised.
Travel tips
Check the local political situation before finalising travel plans. Protests should be avoided as they tend to turn violent. ATM’s are common in the main cities, but cash should be carried if visiting smaller towns. Credit cards may be accepted in Dhaka, but have limited acceptance elsewhere. Pickpocketing is frequent and aimed at tourists. Public transport can be unsafe. Permission should be asked before photographing people, especially women.
Visa guide
Entry requirements
1 completed application form
2 Passport size photos
Police verification report
Latest 3 months bank statements
Invitation Letter from Bangladeshi Citizen residing in Bangladesh with their National Identity (NID) Card Copy or Bangladeshi Passport Copy, and reachable Bangladeshi mobile number OR Purpose of Visit Statement duly signed, if not
invited from Bangladesh
Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity) plus copy.
Additional requirements for Business Travel and other purposes may apply.
Visa requirements
South African passport holders are required to obtain a visa to enter Bangladesh.
Visa applications must be handed in at the Embassy.
NOTE: all visa decisions are made by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Bangladesh, and not with the embassy staff.
Issuing authorities
Bangladesh High Commission
410 Farenden Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria 0002
Tel: 012 343 2105 / 6 / 7
E-mail: mission.pretoria@mofa.gov.bd
Web: pretoria.mofa.gov.bd
Mon-Fri: 08:00 - 16:00 | Closed for lunch 12:30-13:30
Closed for prayer Fri 12:30-14:00
Visa processing time
10 working days.
Visa cost
Free to South African passport holders
SA representative
Representation accredited from New Delhi, India
Health / vaccinations
Compulsory: Yellow Fever (Dependant on Country of Origin/Stopover)
Recommended Travel Vaccines: Hepatitis A & B, Japanese Encephalitis (Not available in SA), Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio
Malaria Risk
Public holidays
2026: Feb 21; Mar 20-22, 26; Apr 14; May 1, 27-29; Jun 17-26; Aug 5, 26; Sep 4; Dec 16, 25