1. Follow the checklists

If you have received an appointment confirmation from us, now is the time – at the very latest – to start gathering your documents.

Our website has checklists showing everything you need to bring, for each type of visa.

Make sure to bring originals and an A4 sized photocopy of each item wherever possible.

2. Common mistakes

1. Missing email hard copy: Make sure to print out the email you received confirming your appointment at the Embassy. Our security team will need this printout to verify you have an appointment.
2. Not bringing cash: If there is a processing fee required for your application, please make sure to bring cash (BDT), including adequate change. We do not accept debit or credit cards or online banking
3. Wrong sized photo: Please make sure to follow the biometric photo specifications on our website - 35x45mm, white background, 70%-80% face coverage.

3. Use the right entrance

The embassy has two entrances – one for staff, one for visa applicants. If you’re coming from the Gulshan 2 circle, the right entrance for you is the second one!

But don’t worry. Our security staff are always available to guide you to the right spot.

4. Security measures

1. First, you’ll need to present your passport and the printout of the email confirming your appointment to our security team.
2. Next, you’ll be asked to hand over items that are not permitted inside such as phones, laptops, cosmetics etc. Our security team will put them in a locker for safekeeping. You will be given the key to this locker, along with a visitor card.
3. For security reasons, all your remaining items will be scanned on a conveyor belt and you will be asked to go through a metal detector.
4. If all is well, you’ll proceed to the waiting area.

5. Waiting...

At the Franco-German Embassy in Dhaka, France and Germany share the building. The waiting area is no exception. Visa seekers for both countries wait side by side.

The room is equipped with chairs, a water cooler, and bathrooms to keep you comfortable while you wait for your name to be called.

And don’t worry about being bored to death! Most applicants sit in the waiting area for less than half an hour.

6. At the counter

You will know it’s time to go to the counter when a visa officer calls out your name.

The officer will ask for your documents one by one. Any attempt to submit fake or falsified documents is subject to penalties.

If your application requires a processing fee, this is when you’ll make the payment. Remember, we only accept cash. Please bring adequate change.

7. Save your receipt

You will receive a collection slip verifying the submission of your documents. This slip also acts as a receipt for any payment you make.

The slip contains a barcode number, which you must quote to us, along with your passport number, for any further communication or requests regarding your application.

It is therefore very important to keep this collection slip safe until you receive a final decision on your visa.

8. Forgot something?

We always ask that you do your best to bring all the documents listed on your checklist, to avoid delays in processing your application.

But if you do forget something:

1. Send us your missing document(s) as an attachment via this webform.
2. For documents like marriage or birth certificates, which we only accept original hard copies of, you may hand them to the Embassy’s security staff later in an envelope. The envelope should be closed and clearly labelled with: “Missing documents,” your name, your passport number, and the barcode number from your collection slip.

9. All done!

After your appointment, when you exit the Embassy, our security team will return to you any items you left in the locker when you entered. And that’s it! You’re done!

We will email you when a decision has been made on your visa. You can then come back to pick up your passport and any other original documents submitted.

Note: Processing times vary by visa type. From our Visa Services landing page, head to the page about your desired visa to see its typical processing time.

10. A note on agencies

We strongly encourage visa seekers to complete their applications on their own. It’s not rocket science! You can do it! It saves you time and money, and gives you full control of your data.

Too often, we see examples of unethical practices by agents, such as charging exorbitant fees, making false promises, cancelling appointments without informing the client, and even identity theft.

If you plan on using the services of an immigration agency, please exercise vigilance. Remember, no agency can guarantee that your visa will be approved.