India Tourist Visas for Bangladeshis Reopen From June 28
India tourist visas for Bangladeshis are set to resume from June 28, nearly two years after New Delhi scaled back visa services following political upheaval and security concerns in Bangladesh.
The announcement was made by India’s newly appointed High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, during a visit to the Indian Visa Application Centre at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka. Trivedi said tourist visa applications could again be submitted from Sunday, June 28, while urgent medical visas would continue to be facilitated on humanitarian grounds.
The move marks a significant step in the gradual restoration of travel links between the two neighbours. For many Bangladeshi citizens, India has long been a major destination for tourism, family visits, education, religious travel and medical treatment. The reopening of tourist visa services is therefore expected to ease pressure on travellers who had been waiting for normal visa operations to return.
Five IVAC Bangladesh Centres to Process Applications
The resumed tourist visa applications will initially be processed through five Indian Visa Application Centres in Bangladesh. These centres are located in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Sylhet and Khulna.
Indian officials have indicated that operations may be expanded further in the future, but the first phase will focus on these five centres. The decision suggests a cautious reopening rather than an immediate full return to pre-2024 visa volumes.
The Indian visa for Bangladeshi citizens had been heavily restricted after the political changeover in Bangladesh in 2024. Tourist visas were among the categories most affected, while India continued to prioritise urgent medical and humanitarian cases.
Trivedi said the reopening of tourist visas would help strengthen people-to-people ties between the two sovereign nations. His remarks came shortly after he formally presented his credentials to Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
Why India Suspended Tourist Visas
India reduced visa operations in Bangladesh after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government in August 2024. The political transition led to a period of uncertainty in bilateral ties, while India also cited security concerns affecting its diplomatic and visa operations.
For months, visa services remained limited, with priority given to medical, emergency and select official or business travel. This created difficulties for ordinary travellers, especially those seeking to visit relatives, attend events, travel for leisure or make short non-medical trips to India.
The suspension also affected tourism-dependent businesses, cross-border transport links and communities with family or cultural ties across the border. Bangladesh and India share a long land boundary, and travel between the two countries has historically been shaped by close linguistic, cultural and economic connections.
India-Bangladesh Relations Show Signs of Repair
The reopening of India tourist visas for Bangladeshis comes as India-Bangladesh relations show signs of a cautious reset. Relations had become strained after the 2024 political crisis, but both sides have recently taken steps to restore communication and practical cooperation.
The appointment of Dinesh Trivedi as India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh was itself seen as politically significant. A former Indian minister and politician from West Bengal, Trivedi brings a public political profile to the post at a time when New Delhi is trying to rebuild trust with Dhaka.
The resumption of tourist visas also follows earlier discussions between the two countries on travel, energy and wider bilateral cooperation. While unresolved issues remain, including political sensitivities linked to the post-2024 transition, the reopening of visa services signals that both sides are willing to normalise at least some areas of public-facing cooperation.
Medical Visas Will Continue on Humanitarian Grounds
India has said urgent medical visas will continue to be issued on humanitarian grounds. This is an important part of the broader visa picture because thousands of Bangladeshis travel to India for healthcare every year.
Hospitals in Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Bengaluru and other Indian cities have traditionally received large numbers of Bangladeshi patients. During the period of restricted visa services, medical travellers were among the few categories still being considered, although delays and uncertainty remained a concern for many families.
By reopening tourist visa applications while continuing medical visas, India is moving towards a more normalised visa regime without removing all caution from the process.
Impact on Travellers and Tourism
The restart of tourist visa applications is expected to benefit ordinary Bangladeshi travellers, tour operators, airlines, cross-border transport providers and hospitality businesses in India.
Before the restrictions, Bangladeshi visitors formed one of the largest groups of foreign arrivals in India. Many travelled for shopping, family visits, medical follow-ups, religious tourism and short holidays. Indian cities close to the Bangladesh border, particularly Kolkata, have historically seen strong demand from Bangladeshi visitors.
However, travellers may still need to watch for practical details, including appointment availability, processing times, documentation requirements and whether any category-specific restrictions are introduced during the first phase of reopening. Indian authorities have not announced a complete return to pre-suspension capacity across all centres.
A Measured Step Towards Normalisation
The resumption of India tourist visas for Bangladeshis is best understood as a measured diplomatic and administrative step. It does not mean all tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi have disappeared, but it does show that both countries recognise the importance of restoring travel channels.
People-to-people contact has long been one of the strongest pillars of India-Bangladesh relations. When visa services are restricted, the impact is felt beyond diplomacy. Families are separated, patients face uncertainty, students and professionals are delayed, and tourism-linked businesses lose income.
By allowing tourist visa applications again from June 28, India is reopening one of the most visible routes of civilian engagement with Bangladesh. The scale and smoothness of the rollout will now determine whether the move becomes a symbolic announcement or a meaningful return to normal travel.
For now, the decision gives Bangladeshi citizens a clearer path to apply for Indian tourist visas after nearly two years of disruption, while offering both governments a practical way to rebuild confidence through movement, contact and routine cooperation.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, June 28, 2026
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