Tailored for Bangladesh

Your document & visa roadmap

Every document and process to study abroad from Bangladesh — passport, attestation/apostille, affidavit, police clearance, university application, finance, VFS Global and the student-visa steps — and exactly where to go for each one.

Applying from:Bangladesh India Pakistan Nigeria

The full roadmap

Follow the stages in order. Tap a stage to see what you need and where to go.

Stage 1

Core identity & academic documents

The base documents every application and visa will ask for. Get these ready first.

Passport (e-Passport)

Apply for or renew your Bangladeshi e-Passport online, pay the fee, then give biometrics at your Regional Passport Office. Police verification follows.

NID / Birth RegistrationOld passport (if renewing)

Where: Dept. of Immigration & Passports

Apply early — issuance plus police verification can take several weeks.

Academic certificates & transcripts

Collect SSC, HSC and your degree certificates with mark sheets / transcripts — originals plus attested photocopies.

SSC & HSC certificatesDegree + transcriptTestimonials

Where: Education Board / University Registrar

Birth Registration & National ID

A digital Birth Registration Certificate (BDRIS) and your NID are used across passport, bank and visa steps.

Where: BDRIS NID — Election Commission

Stage 2

Language & standardized tests

Prove your English (and any subject tests) the destination requires.

IELTS / TOEFL

Book and sit IELTS (Academic) or TOEFL. Some universities accept a Medium-of-Instruction (MOI) letter instead — check each program.

Where: British Council — IELTS IDP IELTS

Scores take ~2 weeks; book your date before deadlines close.

GRE / GMAT / SAT (if required)

Mostly for US / competitive master's, MBA or bachelor admissions. Confirm whether your program actually needs it before paying.

Stage 3

Verification, attestation & legalization

Bangladesh is not in the Hague Apostille Convention, so you use an attestation chain — not an apostille stamp.

Board / University verification

Get your certificates verified by the issuing Education Board or university first.

Where: Education Board / University

Ministry of Education attestation

Required before foreign-ministry attestation for documents going abroad.

Where: Ministry of Education

MOFA attestation

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Consular wing, Dhaka) attests your documents — the key step before any embassy legalization.

Where: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Embassy legalization

Because Bangladesh isn't an Apostille member, the destination country's embassy/consulate legalizes after MOFA. Germany, Italy & France also have their own academic checks — see the pathways below.

Where: Destination embassy in Dhaka

Stage 4

Personal & legal documents

Affidavits and local certificates that visas and universities frequently request.

Affidavit (name / guardian / declaration)

Sworn statements drafted on non-judicial stamp paper and sworn before a Notary Public or First-Class Magistrate.

Where: Notary Public / Magistrate Court

Family / Nationality certificate

A nationality / family-relationship certificate from your local government office.

Where: Union Parishad / City Corporation

Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)

A character certificate from Bangladesh Police, then MOFA-attested for use abroad.

Where: Bangladesh Police — PCC

Apply early and get it MOFA-attested in the same trip as your certificates.

Stage 5

University application & offer

Apply directly or through the destination's official portal, then secure your offer.

Apply (direct or via portal)

Germany → uni-assist or the university; Italy → Universitaly; France → Campus France 'Études en France'; UK → UCAS / university; Netherlands → Studielink; Sweden → University Admissions; Canada/Australia → the university directly.

Where: uni-assist (Germany) Universitaly (Italy)

Receive admission / offer letter

Your unconditional offer (or CAS for the UK, CoE for Australia) unlocks the financial-proof and visa stages. Keep digital + printed copies.

Stage 6

Financial proof

Show you can fund your studies and stay — the form depends on the destination.

Bank solvency / statement

A solvency or balance certificate from your (or your sponsor's) bank, usually recently dated.

Where: Your bank branch

Blocked account / GIC (where required)

Germany requires a blocked account (~€11,904/yr — verify current amount) via Fintiba/Expatrio; Canada uses a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC).

Where: Fintiba Expatrio

Sponsor documents & affidavit

If a parent/relative sponsors you: a notarized financial-support affidavit, their bank statements, income/tax documents and relationship proof.

Where: Notary Public

Stage 7

Visa application

Submit through VFS Global or the embassy directly, give biometrics, and attend any interview.

VFS Global submission

Most destinations (UK, Schengen states like France/Italy/Netherlands, Canada, Australia) collect student-visa documents and biometrics through VFS Global centres.

Where: VFS Global

Embassy-direct (e.g. Germany)

Germany's national (student) visa is handled by the German Embassy directly — book the appointment with them and complete the VIDEX form.

Where: German missions abroad

Biometrics, fee, insurance & interview

Pay the visa fee, give fingerprints/photo, arrange travel health insurance, and attend the interview with your full document set (passport, offer, finances, attested certificates).

Stage 8

Pre-departure

Final medicals and logistics before you fly.

Medical test & vaccinations

Some visas/universities require a medical certificate from an approved centre and specific vaccinations.

Where: Approved medical centre

Ticket, accommodation & forex

Book a (refundable/dummy first) air ticket as required, arrange accommodation, and set up a student forex/travel card. Attend any pre-departure briefing.

Country-specific pathways

The extra, country-only steps on top of the roadmap above.

Germany

APS + uni-assist + blocked account

1Get your APS certificate (required for some countries, e.g. India & Bangladesh).
2Apply via uni-assist or directly to the university.
3Open a blocked account (~€11,904/yr) with Fintiba / Expatrio.
4Book a national-visa appointment at the German Embassy (often no VFS).
5Complete the VIDEX form and attend with all documents.

uni-assist DAAD Fintiba

Italy

Universitaly + CIMEA

1Pre-enrol on Universitaly for your chosen program.
2Get a CIMEA Statement of Comparability / Verification.
3Use CIMEA statements in place of the Declaration of Value where accepted.
4Submit the student visa via VFS Global / Italian Embassy.

Universitaly CIMEA VFS Global

France

Campus France — Études en France

1Create your 'Études en France' file with Campus France.
2Attend the Campus France interview.
3Receive university acceptance through the procedure.
4Submit the long-stay student visa (VLS-TS) via VFS Global.

Campus France VFS Global

United Kingdom

CAS + IHS + VFS Global

1Apply via UCAS (undergrad) or the university directly (postgrad).
2Receive your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies).
3Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
4Submit the Student visa via VFS Global and give biometrics.

UCAS VFS Global (UK)

Netherlands

Studielink + university TEV

1Apply through the university and Studielink.
2Have qualifications evaluated by Nuffic if requested.
3The university usually runs the entry-visa (MVV) + residence permit (TEV) procedure for you.
4Give biometrics at a VFS Global centre / Dutch mission.

Studielink Nuffic VFS Global

Sweden

University Admissions + Migrationsverket

1Apply via University Admissions and pay the application fee.
2Accept your admission offer.
3Apply for a residence permit for studies online at Migrationsverket.
4Prove funds & insurance, then give biometrics.

University Admissions Migrationsverket

Canada

DLI + PAL + study permit

1Get a Letter of Acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
2Obtain a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) where required.
3Buy a GIC and show proof of funds.
4Apply for the study permit via IRCC and give biometrics at VFS Global.

IRCC (study permit) VFS Global

Australia

CoE + Genuine Student + Subclass 500

1Apply to the university and receive your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
2Meet the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.
3Arrange Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) and proof of funds.
4Apply for the Subclass 500 student visa via ImmiAccount.

ImmiAccount VFS Global

Document directory

Every key document — what it is, who issues it, and where to get it.

Passport (e-Passport)

Your primary travel document.

Issued by: Dept. of Immigration & Passports
Process: Apply online → pay → biometrics → police verification.

epassport.gov.bd

Academic certificates & transcripts

SSC, HSC and degree certificates + mark sheets.

Issued by: Education Board / University
Process: Collect originals → attested photocopies → digital scans.

Your board / university

Affidavit

Sworn statement (name, guardian, support).

Issued by: Notary Public / Magistrate
Process: Draft on stamp paper → notarize → MOFA-attest if for abroad.

Notary Public / Magistrate

Family / Nationality certificate

Proof of nationality & family relationship.

Issued by: Union Parishad / City Corporation
Process: Apply at Union Parishad / Ward Councillor → collect sealed certificate.

Local government office

Police Clearance Certificate

Character / no-criminal-record certificate.

Issued by: Bangladesh Police
Process: Apply online → submit → collect → MOFA-attest for abroad.

pcc.police.gov.bd

MOFA attestation

Foreign-ministry attestation of your documents.

Issued by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Process: Board/Ministry verify → MOFA Consular wing → collect attested docs.

mofa.gov.bd

Apostille / Legalization

Bangladesh isn't in the Apostille Convention — use legalization.

Issued by: MOFA + destination embassy
Process: MOFA attestation → embassy/consulate legalization.

Destination embassy in Dhaka

Birth Registration Certificate

Digital BRC used across many steps.

Issued by: BDRIS
Process: Apply via BDRIS → verify at local office → collect digital BRC.

bdris.gov.bd

Bank solvency certificate

Proof of funds for visa & university.

Issued by: Your bank
Process: Request from your bank → get a recently dated solvency/balance certificate.

Your bank branch

Blocked account / GIC

Pre-funded proof of living costs (Germany / Canada).

Issued by: Fintiba / Expatrio / bank
Process: Open online → deposit the required amount → get the confirmation for the visa.

fintiba.com

IELTS / TOEFL

English-proficiency score (or MOI where accepted).

Issued by: British Council / IDP
Process: Register → sit the test → receive scores (~2 weeks) → send to universities.

British Council

Medical certificate

Health/fitness certificate & vaccinations.

Issued by: Approved medical centre
Process: Book at an approved centre → tests/vaccinations → collect certificate.

Embassy-approved centre

Key portals

The official sites you'll use most.

e-Passport (DIP)Apply for or renew your Bangladeshi e-Passport.MOFAAttestation / legalization of your documents.Police ClearanceApply for your Police Clearance Certificate.VFS GlobalVisa submission & biometrics for UK, Schengen, Canada, Australia & more.uni-assistGermany — pre-checks & forwards your application to universities.APSGermany — academic certificate check (required for some countries, e.g. India, Bangladesh).CIMEAItaly — Statement of Comparability / Verification of your qualifications.UniversitalyItaly — official university pre-enrolment portal.Campus FranceFrance — the 'Études en France' application procedure.DAADGermany — scholarships & study information.

Guidance for students applying from Bangladesh. Rules, fees and processing times change often and vary by destination — always confirm with the official authority and the destination country's embassy before you act.