Regulatory Alerts2026-06-22
Remittance of Consular Fees
Bangladesh Bank's Foreign Exchange Policy Department-1 (FEPD-1) issued Circular Letter No. 09, substituting paragraph 31(1) of FE Circular No. 37 to allow foreign embassies to remit collected consular fees and visa processing fees abroad without prior central bank approval. Consular fees collected in Taka and deposited in a dedicated Authorized Dealer (AD) account, as well as visa processing fees collected via resident agents, can now be remitted to designated bank accounts. Authorized Dealers must ensure visa fees align with embassy rates, obtain invoices with applicant-wise statements, and deduct applicable taxes for these remittances.
Foreign Exchange Policy Department-1 Bangladesh Bank Head Office Dhaka. www.bb.org.bd FEPD-1 Circular Letter No. 09 Date: June 22, 2026 Head offices/principal offices of all Authorized Dealers in Bangladesh Remittance of Consular fees Dear Sirs, Please refer to paragraph 31(1) of FE Circular No. 37 dated September 30, 2025. The sub-paragraph (1) is hereby substituted by the following: ‘(1) Consular fees collected by foreign embassies in Bangladesh Taka and deposited in a Taka Account maintained with an AD solely for depositing the consular fee collections may be remitted abroad without prior Bangladesh Bank approval. Besides, collection of visa processing fees through nominated resident agents of foreign embassies may be remitted abroad to bank account designated by embassies or their home offices/competent authorities. In this context ADs shall observe the following instructions: (a) Collection of visa fee shall be as per the rate determined by the concerned embassies; (b) ADs shall obtain invoice from embassies/home offices/competent authorities supported by visa applicant-wise statement of collection; (c) ADs shall ensure deduction of applicable taxes.’ All other instructions in this regard shall be remain unchanged. Please bring the content of this circular letter to the notice of all relevant constituents. Yours faithfully, (Md. Harun-Ar-Rashid) Director (FEPD-1) Phone: 9530123