Bangladesh Urges EU to Relocate Schengen Visa Services to Dhaka

Bangladesh Urges EU to Relocate Schengen Visa Services to Dhaka

Key Points

  1. Bangladesh Seeks Local Visa Services: The Bangladeshi government has requested the EU to establish Schengen visa application centers within Bangladesh, reducing the need for nationals to travel abroad.
  2. Impact of Indian Visa Restrictions: India’s tightened visa policies for Bangladeshi nationals have complicated the Schengen visa application process, prompting calls for relocation of visa services to Dhaka.
  3. Effect on Students: The current situation limits opportunities for Bangladeshi students, with European universities potentially missing out on talented applicants from the region.

Bangladesh Urges EU to Establish Schengen Visa Centers in Dhaka

Muhammad Yunus, interim head of Bangladesh's government, has urged EU nations to relocate Schengen visa services to the capital, Dhaka, or to a nearby country, citing the challenges faced by Bangladeshis in traveling to New Delhi, India, to submit their applications.

Visa Application Challenges

Currently, Bangladeshi nationals must travel to India for Schengen visa applications, as there are no application centers within Bangladesh. This situation has been exacerbated by India's recent visa restrictions, which limit the issuance of visas to Bangladeshis, approving only those for medical or urgent purposes.

"We are already issuing medical visas and visas for emergency requirements. Once the situation improves, we will resume normal visa operations," said the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

Impact on Students and Talent Migration

Yunus highlighted that the added hurdles are causing uncertainty for Bangladeshi students and hindering their ability to study in Europe. He stressed that relocating visa centers closer to Bangladesh would benefit both sides by facilitating student mobility and reducing administrative burdens.

Every year, thousands of Bangladeshi students pursue studies abroad, with over 50,000 choosing destinations like the UK, the US, and Australia. European universities, however, risk losing out on this pool of talent due to the challenging visa processes.

Schengen Visa Application Statistics

In 2023, Bangladeshis filed nearly 40,000 Schengen visa applications, with a rejection rate of 43.3%—significantly higher than the EU average of 16%.

  • Popular Destinations: Italy (35% of applications) and Sweden (28.7%) are the top choices for Bangladeshi applicants.
  • High Rejection Rates: Out of 39,729 applications, 17,015 were denied.

Conclusion

The Bangladeshi government’s call to establish Schengen visa centers locally reflects the growing demand for easier access to European countries. Addressing these challenges could open doors for thousands of Bangladeshis while strengthening educational and cultural ties with Europe.

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