Bangladesh and India share deep travel, family, and medical ties — Bangladeshi nationals have historically made up a large share of India's total foreign visitors — but tourist travel was disrupted for an extended period, and staying current on the actual situation before you plan anything is essential. This guide covers where things currently stand, plus how to actually get there — including the land border option that's unique to this route.
The Current Visa Situation: What Bangladeshi Travelers Need to Know
India suspended standard tourist visa issuance for Bangladeshi nationals following the political unrest in Bangladesh in mid-2024 and attacks on Indian diplomatic facilities there in August 2024. For nearly two years, only limited categories continued — most notably medical visas on humanitarian and urgent grounds, along with business and some emergency categories — while regular tourist visa applications were paused.
As of 28 June 2026, India officially resumed standard tourist visa services for Bangladeshi citizens, processed through Indian Visa Application Centres in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet, and Khulna, with further expansion planned. This is genuinely recent, and the relationship between the two countries has shifted more than once over a short period, so treat this guide's description as a snapshot rather than a permanent fact:
- Confirm current visa category availability and processing times directly with an Indian Visa Application Centre or India's official visa portal before making any firm plans, especially non-refundable bookings.
- Medical visas remain a distinct, high-priority category — Bangladesh has historically accounted for a large majority of all medical visas India issues, and Bangladeshi patients are entitled to a bilateral provision allowing multiple attendants per patient on Medical Attendant visas, more generous than most other nationalities receive.
- Given how much this has shifted over the past two years, it's worth checking both India's High Commission in Dhaka and Bangladesh's own Ministry of Foreign Affairs guidance shortly before travel, rather than relying on any single article, including this one, as a final word.
How to Reach India from Bangladesh
This is where a guide for Bangladeshi travelers looks genuinely different from one written for almost any other nationality: India is a direct land neighbor, and overland travel is a real, commonly used option alongside flying.
By Air
Direct flights connect Dhaka with Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, and other major Indian cities on multiple carriers, generally the fastest option for onward travel to destinations further from the border.
By Land
Several official land border crossings connect the two countries, though not all are open to foreign nationals or issue on-the-spot entry documentation:
- Petrapole (India) – Benapole (Bangladesh), connecting West Bengal to southwestern Bangladesh, is the busiest and most commonly used crossing, roughly three hours from Kolkata.
- Agartala (India) – Akhaura (Bangladesh), connecting Tripura to eastern Bangladesh.
- Dawki (India) – Tamabil (Bangladesh), connecting Meghalaya to northeastern Bangladesh — the same region covered in our Meghalaya living root bridges guide, if that's part of your route.
By Train
The Maitree Express runs directly between Dhaka and Kolkata, crossing the border via the Darshana–Gede route, offering a more comfortable and straightforward alternative to bus travel for this specific leg. Direct bus services also operate on the Dhaka–Kolkata route via the Petrapole–Benapole crossing.
For any of these overland or rail options, you'll need a valid Indian visa arranged in advance — these routes are for entry with an existing visa, not a place to obtain one on arrival into India.
Money, Connectivity, and Getting Around
India runs on a genuine mix of cash and digital payments. UPI, India's instant payments system, is worth setting up through UPI One World in your first day or two, and currency exchange between Bangladeshi Taka and Indian Rupees is straightforward at banks and authorized counters in border towns and major cities. For a local SIM, our guide on whether you need an Indian SIM card covers the documentation and options in full — the same process applies whether you're buying one at an airport or in a border town like Kolkata. Once you're moving around, our complete transport guide for India covers trains, Uber and Ola, and auto-rickshaws in depth.
Food, Culture, and Best Time to Visit
Bengali culinary traditions span both sides of the border, so West Bengal in particular will feel culturally familiar in many respects — shared language roots, similar staples, and overlapping festival traditions. Moving further from West Bengal, regional food and customs shift considerably, which is part of what makes a longer Indian itinerary worthwhile. Given the climate similarities between Bangladesh and much of eastern and northern India, seasonal patterns will feel broadly familiar too, with October through March remaining the most comfortable window for most first-time itineraries. Our guide on what foreign tourists need to know before visiting India covers dress etiquette, scams to watch for, and a fuller packing list — all of it applies here as much as anywhere else in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Bangladeshi citizens currently get a tourist visa for India?
Yes, as of 28 June 2026, India resumed standard tourist visa processing for Bangladeshi nationals after a nearly two-year suspension — confirm current status and processing times with an Indian Visa Application Centre before finalizing plans.
Why were tourist visas for Bangladeshis suspended?
India paused standard tourist visa issuance following political unrest in Bangladesh and attacks on Indian diplomatic facilities there in 2024; other categories, including medical visas, continued throughout.
Can I cross into India from Bangladesh by land?
Yes, official land crossings including Petrapole–Benapole, Agartala–Akhaura, and Dawki–Tamabil connect the two countries, though you need a valid Indian visa arranged in advance — these crossings don't issue Indian visas on arrival.
Is there a direct train between Bangladesh and India?
Yes, the Maitree Express runs directly between Dhaka and Kolkata via the Darshana–Gede border crossing.
Is medical travel to India still available for Bangladeshis?
Yes — medical visas continued throughout the tourist visa suspension and remain a distinct, high-priority category, with Bangladesh historically accounting for a large share of all medical visas India issues.
Where can I check the current status of India's visa policy for Bangladeshi citizens?
Directly through an Indian Visa Application Centre in Bangladesh or India's official visa portal, since the situation has changed more than once in recent years and this guide reflects a specific point in time.
