People's Republic of Bangladesh vs Islamic Republic of Pakistan
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
People's Republic of Bangladesh
Bangladesh uses the online MRV portal for new visas, visa extensions, No Visa Required endorsements and on-arrival visa applications. Core route categories include tourist, business, investor, work/employment, student, visa on arrival and No Visa Required for qualifying Bangladesh-origin foreign nationals and close family members. Visa duration, fee and supporting evidence depend on purpose, nationality and the Bangladesh mission handling the file.
- Languages
- Bengali
- Currency
- Bangladeshi taka
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Pakistan uses the Pakistan Online Visa System for major entry routes, including tourist/visit, business, work, investor, student and family-visit visas. Work cases are employer-led and the official work route points applicants to the Board of Investment for further requirements, while business and investor categories depend heavily on invitation, recommendation or investment evidence.
- Official portal
- Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan
- Languages
- Urdu, English
- Currency
- Pakistani rupee
How People's Republic of Bangladesh and Islamic Republic of Pakistan differ
| Dimension | People's Republic of Bangladesh | Islamic Republic of Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 7 | 6 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 4 | 3 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 0 | 0 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Work permit/Employment Visa | Work - General Visa |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | Bengali | Urdu, English |
| Currency | Bangladeshi taka | Pakistani rupee |
| Primary regulator | BBC | PBC |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Visa routes side by side
People's Republic of Bangladesh (7)
Tourist Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · A tourist visa may be issued for up to 3 months with single entry; extension up to 1 month can be sought from the Department of Immigration & Passports in Dhaka.
Business Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · A business visa may be issued for up to 1 year with single, double or multiple entries; each visit should be no more than 60 days. Extension may be available from DIP up to 3 years, generally with up to 6 months stay per visit.
Investor Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · An investor visa may be issued for up to 1 year with single, double or multiple entries. Extension up to 5 years can be obtained from DIP in Bangladesh.
Work permit/Employment Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · A work permit/employment visa may be issued for up to 3 months with single, double or multiple entries, with a maximum 90-day stay per visit. Extension up to 3 years can be obtained from DIP in Bangladesh.
Student Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · A student visa may be issued for up to 1 year with multiple entries. Extension up to the course tenure can be obtained from DIP in Bangladesh.
Visa on Arrival
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Visa on arrival is for a maximum of 30 days.
No Visa Required (NVR)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · The London page lists delivery time of 5-7 working days for in-person applications and 21 days for postal applications; NVR is not treated as an urgent service.
Islamic Republic of Pakistan (6)
Tourist/Visit Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Entry visas can be single-entry for up to 3 months; extensions can be multiple-entry up to 6 months or greater than 6 months where eligible.
Business Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · A business visa may be granted for up to 5 years and is valid for multiple entries.
Business Investor Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Short-term entry can be 1 year or 3 years multiple-entry; long-term entry can be 5 years multiple-entry; investor extension can be 2 years multiple-entry.
Work - General Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Entry and extension can be granted for 2 years with multiple entries.
Student Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · The official page says a study visa is granted for 2 years.
Family Visit Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · First-time visa valid up to 5 years with up to 1 year stay on each entry; Pakistan-origin extensions can be up to 2 years, while other extensions are yearly or as relevant rules/policy allow.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, People's Republic of Bangladesh or Islamic Republic of Pakistan?+
People's Republic of Bangladesh’s Work permit/Employment Visa is the dominant skilled route; Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s Work - General Visa is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does People's Republic of Bangladesh or Islamic Republic of Pakistan have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
People's Republic of Bangladesh has more: 4 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 3 for Islamic Republic of Pakistan. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.