How to Fill Out the Bangladesh E-Arrival Card Online: Step-by-Step Guide for Foreigners

By Oscar MikeUpdated 11 November 20267 min read

Every foreign passport holder flying into or out of Bangladesh by air must now complete an electronic Arrival/Departure card, known as the ED card. The Special Branch under the Ministry of Home Affairs launched the online portal on 19 August 2026 to streamline immigration processing.

Paper ED cards are still available at airport counters as a fallback, but the government strongly encourages completing the form online in advance. Doing so saves you time in the arrivals queue and avoids relying on airport Wi-Fi or paper forms that may run out during busy periods.

If you are travelling from Australia on a foreign passport, here is exactly what the Bangladesh E-Arrival Card asks for, where to submit it, and what to have ready before you start.

What Is the Bangladesh E-Arrival Card?

The E-Arrival Card is an online immigration form run by Bangladesh’s Special Branch under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It collects your identity, travel and accommodation details before you land.

There are two separate forms. The arrival card is for inbound travellers. The departure card covers your exit. Each has its own page on the official portal.

At a glance

What it is: A free online arrival/departure (ED) card.
Who files it: All foreign passport holders travelling by air.
When: Shortly before you fly — no strict advance window.
Proof: A downloadable PDF confirmation.
Portal: edcard.specialbranch.gov.bd

Both forms are free. If a website asks you to pay to fill in an ED card, it is not the official portal.

Who Needs to Fill It In?

All foreign passport holders arriving in or departing from Bangladesh by air must complete the form. This includes Australian passport holders, British passport holders, and citizens of any other country travelling on a non-Bangladeshi passport.

Bangladeshi passport holders are exempt.

Important

If you hold dual nationality and are entering Bangladesh on your Bangladeshi passport, you do not need to fill in the ED card. If you enter on your Australian or other foreign passport, you do — the rule follows the passport you travel on, not your heritage.

What Information the Form Asks For

Have these details ready before you open the form. The arrival card and departure card ask for slightly different fields.

Detail	Arrival card	Departure card
Passport details	Full name, passport number, nationality, expiry date, date of birth	Same as arrival
Visa details	Visa category, visa number, single or multiple entry, intended duration of stay	Visa information
Flight details	Arrival date, flight number, country and city you are flying from	Departure date, flight number
Address	Full hotel address or local address with district, thana, street and house number	Final destination country and city
Contact	A local Bangladeshi phone number or your contact number	Not required
Travel party	Details of any accompanying family members	Not required

If you are unsure which travel documents apply to your trip, our full checklist breaks it down by trip type.

How to Submit the E-Arrival Card: Step by Step

Go to the official arrival portal at edcard.specialbranch.gov.bd/foreigner/register
Select your nationality and enter your passport number
Fill in each section: personal details, flight information, accommodation address, and visa details
Double-check every field. The passport number, visa number and flight details must match your travel documents exactly
Submit the form. The portal generates a PDF confirmation you can download and save
Save the PDF to your phone and print a physical copy to carry with your passport

Heading home? The departure card is a separate submission at edcard.specialbranch.gov.bd/foreigner/departure.

Expert tip

Travelled to Bangladesh before? The portal has a "Search Your Existing Info" feature. Enter your passport number and nationality to auto-populate your saved details instead of retyping everything from scratch.

Expert tip

Submit your arrival card before you leave for the airport. Airport Wi-Fi can be unreliable, and completing it at home gives you time to double-check your passport and visa numbers without the pressure of a boarding call.

Why You Should Print a Copy

Bangladesh Special Branch immigration officers may ask to see your ED card confirmation when you arrive. A printed copy is the safest option. Phone screens can be hard to read under airport lighting, batteries die, and some officers prefer paper.

Save a digital PDF on your phone as a backup, but carry the printout in your hand luggage alongside your passport.

When to Submit

Submit the form shortly before you travel. There is no strict advance window, but completing it the day before or on the day of your flight is standard practice.

Do not leave it until you arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Airport Wi-Fi is often slow during peak arrival periods, and queuing for internet access while other passengers clear immigration defeats the purpose of the online system. If the portal is down or you cannot access it before your flight, paper forms are still available at the immigration counter as a backup.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Entering the wrong passport or visa number. Even one digit out can cause a mismatch at immigration
Leaving the accommodation field vague. Provide the full hotel name and address, or a detailed local address including district and thana
Forgetting the departure card. You need a separate submission when you leave Bangladesh, not just the arrival card
Using an unofficial website. The only legitimate portal is edcard.specialbranch.gov.bd. Third-party sites charge unnecessary fees and may mishandle your personal data

The E-Arrival Card Is Not a Visa

Filling in the ED card does not grant you permission to enter Bangladesh. You still need a valid visa or a visa on arrival, or, if you are of Bangladeshi origin, an NVR (No Visa Required) stamp in your foreign passport.

Australian passport holders can apply for a visa on arrival at Dhaka airport, provided they meet the eligibility criteria and carry the required documents. If you plan to visit family regularly, the NVR endorsement may be a better long-term option.

What Happens If You Do Not Complete It Online

Arriving without a completed ED card will not result in a visa refusal. Paper forms remain available at the airport immigration counter if needed. However, filling in a paper form on the spot adds time to an already long process, especially during peak arrivals from the Middle East, UK and Australia.

Your airline may also check for ED card confirmation at check-in. Some carriers have started asking for proof of submission before boarding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Australian citizens need the Bangladesh E-Arrival Card?

Yes. Every foreign passport holder flying into Bangladesh must submit the form, including Australian citizens.

Is there a fee for the ED card?

No. The official ED card is free. Any site asking for payment is not the government portal.

Can I fill it in after landing in Dhaka?

Yes. Paper forms are available at the immigration counter. However, completing the form on the spot means waiting while other passengers who submitted online move through the queue ahead of you.

Do children need their own form?

Yes. Every traveller, including infants, needs an individual submission. Parents or guardians can fill in the form on behalf of minors.

I am transiting through Dhaka. Do I need the form?

If you stay in the international transit area and do not clear immigration, you are generally exempt. If you leave the airport, you need the form.

I have a Bangladeshi passport. Do I need to fill it in?

No. The ED card applies to foreign passport holders only. Bangladeshi nationals are exempt.

Do I need both the arrival and departure card?

Yes. They are two separate submissions on two separate pages of the portal — one for entering Bangladesh and one for leaving.

Before You Fly

Set aside ten minutes before your trip with your passport, visa confirmation, flight itinerary and Bangladesh address open in front of you. Fill in both the arrival and departure cards, save the PDFs, and print them. A few minutes of preparation at home saves a long wait at Dhaka immigration.

Check the Smartraveller Bangladesh page for the latest Australian Government travel advice before you fly.

If you need help planning flights to Dhaka, Chittagong or Sylhet, or have questions about entry documentation, the Airways Travel team can assist with airfares and travel logistics across Bangladesh.

Oscar Mike

Travel & Tourism Specialist

Oscar Mike writes about travel and tourism for Airways Travel, with a focus on the paperwork and planning that trips up Australian travellers heading overseas. His work covers entry requirements and visa rules, airline and airport policy, fare trends on the Australia–South Asia routes, and destination guides for families flying long-haul. He spends a lot of time reading government travel notices so you do not have to, and turns them into plain-English guides you can act on before you get to the check-in desk.