PRESS
RELEASE

The process of delivering security clearances for work permits of foreign investors and expatriates will be fully digitized through BIDA’s Online One Stop Service (OSS) portal by mid-September.

The decision was announced at a high-level inter-agency meeting chaired by BIDA Executive Chairman Mr. Ashik Chowdhury and joined by Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Mr. Nasimul Gani on Tuesday. Key decisions reached in the meeting include:

• The service delivery processes for security clearance will be fully digitalized through BIDA OSS.
• Documentation requirements for security clearance have been rationalized to ensure that the process is in line with the Security Clearance circular issued by the Home Ministry. In cases where an application with all mandatory documents is submitted and security inspection process is not completed within 21 working days, it will be deemed that there is no security objection and visa will be extended.
• Visa extension and fee payment for work permit holders will be done online, so they will no longer be required to submit hard copies to the Department of Immigration and Passports.
• New visa policy will soon be announced to enhance investment-friendly services and monitoring.
• Visa on Arrival (VOA) fee will be digitalized.
• An inter-agency interoperable database will be developed to facilitate information exchange, monitor the arrival and stay of foreigners, and strengthen coordination among relevant agencies
• The aforementioned requirements shall be applicable to all applicants seeking work permit and visa-related services, irrespective of the Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) under which their application is submitted.

The meeting was attended by senior representatives from the Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) and relevant security agencies along with representatives from investment promotion agencies.

BIDA Executive Chairman said: “The digitalization of security clearance is a landmark reform that will bring greater transparency and predictability to this critical investor service. I thank all the relevant agencies for moving swiftly to operationalize these important changes. We are now on track to roll out further reforms on work permit and visa services by December. Just as BIDA holds regular monthly coordination meetings with the National Board of Revenue and Bangladesh Bank, we will now begin similar engagements with agencies involved in work permit and security clearance—so that this essential service becomes seamless.”

Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr. Nasimul Gani, emphasized the importance of regular coordination and collaboration with BIDA to advance the digitalization process and further streamline procedures.