Italy Aiming to Simplify Work Visa Process for Bangladeshi Applicants
Key Takeaways
1. The Italian ambassador in Bangladesh has welcomed a new secretary.
2. The ambassador announced that the issue of work visas will soon be addressed, with new measures from the Italian government aimed at improving the process.
3. The Italian government is also taking steps to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Antonio Alessandro, has indicated that Italy is working to resolve the delays in processing work visas for Bangladeshi applicants. These comments were made during the introduction of the new secretary, Jashim Uddin, whom Ambassador Alessandro encouraged to enhance bilateral relations with Italy.
During a courtesy visit to the Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Alessandro expressed Italy’s commitment to addressing the work visa issue promptly and improving cooperation to manage irregular migration and promote legal migration pathways from Bangladesh to Italy.
Visa Processing Concerns and Anti-Trafficking Measures
The Italian Embassy has previously advised against using intermediaries for Schengen visa applications, which has contributed to delays. Issues with organized crime networks and counterfeit documents have also been factors in processing slowdowns.
The ambassador pledged to resolve the work visa challenges and work towards reducing irregular migration. Bangladesh, being the second-largest diaspora in Europe, has a significant presence across the EU.
New Anti-Immigration Measures
In addition to improving work visa processing times, the ambassador outlined that Italy is implementing stringent new measures to tackle human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
Ambassador Alessandro congratulated Jashim Uddin on his new role as Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary and expressed hope for strengthened bilateral relations.
Schengen Visa Statistics
According to SchengenVisaInfo, Bangladeshi nationals submitted 39,729 visa applications in 2023, with over one-third (34%) seeking Italian Schengen visas. Italy has one of the lowest approval rates for Bangladeshi visa applications, granting only 40% of requests. After Italy, the top destinations for Bangladeshi Schengen visa applicants are Sweden, Germany, and France.