The Government of Bangladesh has decided to introduce Machine Readable Passport from 01 April 2010. But, initially it will be issued from 10 regional Passport offices within Bangladesh. The facility of applying for Machine Readable Passport in this High Commission is currently not available. The Government has also decided that holders of Bangladesh Passport living abroad can apply for hand written “Emergency Passport” and “Renewal/Endorsement” of their present Bangladesh Passport to the Bangladesh Missions abroad until 31 March 2011.

• Renewal of Passport
• Emergency Passport (Hand Written)

Renewal of Passport

As per the latest government circular, holders of Bangladesh Passport, which is going to expire (five/ten years) after 31 March 2010, can apply for renewal of their Passport and it will be renewed up to 31 March 2011 only. For those whose Bangladesh Passport has the validity until 31 March 2011 or more do not have to send their passport for further renewal at this moment. This is also applicable for those who were less than eighteen years old on the date of issue of their passports. Applicants are requested to send the following documents for the renewal of their Passports:

1. Current Passport and one copy of filled-in application form for Passport renewal. (Application Form). All are requested to provide contact telephone/e-mail address in the application form as sometimes the High Commission needs to contact the applicant urgently for clarification.
   (Incomplete application form will be returned without passport renewal)
2. Two recent photographs (size: 50 mm high x 40 mm wide or close to this).
3. Fee: Ordinary: A$ 13.00 (processing period is 7 (seven) working days). Urgent: A$ 23.00 (Processing period is 2 (two) working days). Payment must be made in the form of Postal Money Order/Bank Cheque payable to "Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra". Personal Cheque/Company Cheque/Cash/EFTPOS/Credit card/Debit Card are not acceptable.
4. Self addressed pre-paid registered envelope or pre-paid return courier (see also arrangement for return delivery below).

Note: We strongly encourage all concerned (passport expires five/ten years between 31 March 2010 to 31 March 2011) to apply for renewal of their Bangladesh Passports rather than hand written new passport.

Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra will continue to issue Emergency Passport (Hand Written) until 31 March 2011. The validity of the passport will be three (03) years from the date of issuance. The fee for an emergency manual Passport will be A$ 138.00.

Please note: Those who have already been issued with Emergency Passport (from 31 March 2010 to 19 May 2010) with one/two year validity, they can apply for correction (renewal) of their Passport for two/one more years and the fee for that will be A$92.00.
  
 In the following cases, the application for hand written Emergency Passport can be made:

• Lost Passport
• Page exhausted
• Physically damaged
• New born baby

Lost Passport

Applicants, who wish to apply for new Bangladesh Passport against their lost Bangladesh passport, are requested to send the following documents:
 

1. 4 (four) copies of filled-in application form for Bangladesh Passport (Application Form). Kindly sign in the designated box at the end of the form which will be affixed in the Passport. Attestation of photographs is also not required. All are requested to provide contact telephone/e-mail address in the application form as sometimes the High Commission needs to contact the applicant urgently for clarification. (Incomplete application form will be returned without passport).
   
2. 4 (four) copies of completed BF-13 forms (Form BF-13). Notarisation of BF-13 forms is not required.
   
3. Total 12 (twelve) recent photographs (size: 50 mm high x 40 mm wide).
   
4. Complete police report.
   
5. 4 (four) sets of photocopy of lost passport. If the photocopy cannot be provided, the applicant must provide document(s) i.e. SSC certificate or equivalent certificate, to ascertain his/her date of birth. If the document is generated in Bangladesh, it must be authenticated by the Consular Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If the document is generated outside Bangladesh, it must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that country. Such cases will be referred to competent authority in Bangladesh to verify applicant’s antecedents.
   
6. Fee: A$ 138.00. Payment must be made in the form of Postal Money Order/Bank Cheque payable to “Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra”. Personal Cheque/Company Cheque/Cash/EFTPOS/Credit card/Debit Card are not acceptable.

1. Self addressed pre-paid registered envelope or pre-paid return courier (see also arrangement for return delivery below).

Note: Applicants must be prepared to wait for at least 3/4 weeks to process their application for a passport against their lost passport as this Mission will have to seek clearance from the issuing authority (if the issuing authority is other than this Mission). In case, we do not receive the necessary clearance within the specified period, we may issue a passport with a validity of 02 (two) year provided we are satisfied as to the antecedents of the applicant as a national of Bangladesh.

New Passport

Applicants, who wish to apply for new Bangladesh Passport against different cases other than lost Bangladesh Passport, are requested to send the following documents as well as to follow the following instructions:

1. Filled-in application form for Bangladesh Passport. (Application Form). Kindly sign in the designated box at the end of the form which will be affixed in the Passport (in case of new born baby please put the left hand thump impression in the box). Attestation of photographs is also not required. All are requested to provide contact telephone/e-mail address in the application form as sometimes the High Commission needs to contact the applicant urgently for clarification. (Incomplete application form will be returned without passport).
   
2. Current passport. In case of application for a new born baby/already included child, the original passport of the mother/father and the original birth certificate as well as a photocopy of the birth certificate (this is not required for already included child on mother’s passport) of the baby must be sent. In case of application for new passport against page exhausted or physically damaged passport, a separate application is required.
   
3. Four recent photographs (size: 50 mm high x 40 mm wide) and one recent photograph (size: 30 mm x 30 mm).
   
4. Fee: A$ 138.00. Payment must be made in the form of Postal Money Order/Bank Cheque payable to “Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra”. Personal Cheque/Company Cheque/Cash/EFTPOS/Credit card/Debit Card are not acceptable.
   

Self addressed pre-paid registered envelope or pre-paid return courier (see also arrangement for return delivery below).

Endorsement for inclusion of name of Child(ren)

Either mother or father can apply for inclusion of child(ren) in her/his current Bangladesh Passport. Either of the applicants is requested to send the following documents as well as to follow the following instructions for inclusion of child(ren):

1. Filled-in application form for Bangladesh Passport.(Application Form). Either mother or father will be the applicant. In case of father being the applicant, he must submit an explicit written permission from the mother of the child(ren) about the inclusion of her child(ren) in father’s passport. All are requested to provide contact telephone/e-mail address in the application form as sometimes the High Commission needs to contact the applicant urgently for clarification. (Incomplete application form will be returned without endorsement)
2. Valid Bangladesh Passports of father or mother.
3. Birth Certificate in original and one photocopy. (Original will be returned upon processing).
4. Two recent photographs (size: 50 mm high x 40 mm wide) of the applicant and four recent photographs (size: 30 mm x 30 mm) of the child(ren).
5. Fee: Ordinary: A$ 13.00 per child (processing period is 7 (seven) working days). Urgent: A$ 23.00 per child (Processing period is 2 (two) working days). Payment must be made in the form of Postal Money Order/Bank Cheque payable to “Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra”. Personal Cheque/Company Cheque/Cash/EFTPOS/Credit card/Debit Card are not acceptable.
6. Self addressed pre-paid registered envelope or pre-paid return courier (see also arrangement for return delivery below).

Change of Name and Address

The applicants are requested to send the following documents as well as to follow the following instructions for the change of name and address in his/her Bangladesh Passport:

1. Filled-in application form for change of name, address, etc. (Application Form). All are requested to provide contact telephone/e-mail address in the application form as sometimes the High Commission needs to contact the applicant urgently for clarification. (Incomplete application form will be returned without endorsement)
2. Valid original Bangladesh Passport.
3. Supporting documents. In case of name change, SSC certificate or affidavit from First class magistrate or original copy of the advertisement in the Bangladeshi daily newspaper has to be provided. In case of name change according to the surname of husband, the original marriage certificate has to be sent. In case of address change, the original certificate from Union Council/Pourashava/City Corporation has to be furnished. In case of profession change, supporting document in favour of new profession.
4. Two recent photographs (size: 50 mm high x 40 mm wide or close to this).
5. Fee: Ordinary: A$ 13.00 (processing period is 7 (seven) working days). Urgent: A$ 23.00 (Processing period is 2 (two) working days). Payment must be made in the form of Postal Money Order/Bank Cheque payable to “Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra”. Personal Cheque/Company Cheque/Cash/EFTPOS/Credit card/Debit Card are not acceptable.
6. Self addressed pre-paid registered envelope or pre-paid return courier (see also arrangement for return delivery below).

Attestation

1. In case of documents of Bangladesh origin, the documents should first be attested by the authorised officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka, before submitting to this High Commission. Documents originating in Australia/New Zealand/Fiji have to be attested by the concerned authority (i.e. Foreign Ministry of that country) before its submission to this High Commission for attestation.

2. For attestation of Power of Attorney/Affidavit (Holofnama)/Statutory Declaration or similar documents, the applicant will have to appear in this Mission in person along with his/her valid Bangladesh Passport or Australian/New Zealand Passport with 'No Visa Required ...' seal. The applicant will have to sign the 'Power of Attorney' in presence of the authorised Consular Officer of this High Commission. Those who can can not come in person to the High Commission, they can get attestation from this High Commission on their power of attorney or any other document but first they have to get consular attestation from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the respective government (Australia/New Zealand/Fiji). Applicants are requested to check with the Foreign Office regarding their requirements for getting consular attestation.

3. Fee for this service will depend on the size of the document. For each set of document, fee for the first page is A$11.00 and each subsequent page is A$6.00.

4. A Photocopy of the document (which would have to be attested by the Mission) must be provided to the Mission as office copy.

Verification of Bangladesh Driving License (No fee is charged)

Please note that the High Commission needs to verify the authenticity of driving license with the issuing authority in Bangladesh. The verification process generally takes two/three months. Upon receipt of a positive response from the issuing authority in Bangladesh, the High Commission can issue a certificate in this regard. Please send the following documents to the High Commission for verification of Bangladesh Driving License:

1. Copy of both sides of Bangladesh Driving License.
2. Copy of first seven pages of valid Bangladesh Passport.
3. Self-addressed pre-paid registered return envelope or pre-paid return courier.

All are requested to provide contact telephone/email address as sometimes the High Commission needs to contact the applicant urgently for clarification.

Police Clearance Certificate

Please note that the High Commission does not issue Police Clearance Certificates for Bangladesh or Foreign nationals.

Bangladesh nationals may kindly send the following documents to the High Commission for attestation (No fee is charged) as these are required by the concerned authority in Bangladesh:

1. Application addressed to the concerned (in accordance with the permanent address of the applicant) Commissioner of Police / Superintendent of Police / Officer-in-Charge in Bangladesh, original Bangladesh Passport and photocopy of relevant pages (first seven pages and the page containing valid visa) of Bangladesh Passport.
2. Self-addressed pre-paid registered return envelope or pre-paid courier.

The application and photocopy of relevant pages of Bangladesh Passport will be attested by the High Commission and these documents along with the original Bangladesh Passport will be sent back to the applicant. The applicant will then send the attested documents to the concerned Commissioner of Police / Superintendent of Police / Officer-in-Charge in Bangladesh for taking necessary action in this regard. The applicant may in writing authorise a person in Bangladesh to collect the police clearance certificate on his / her behalf from the concerned police office when it is issued.
Foreign nationals may kindly send the following documents to the High Commission:

1. Application addressed to the High Commission.
2. Photocopy of relevant pages of passport(s) held during stay in Bangladesh showing name, photograph, date and place of birth, date of issue and expiry, visa(s) and dates of entry and exit.
3. Photocopy of relevant pages (bearing name, photograph, date and place of birth, date of issue and expiry) of the existing Passport.
4. Photocopy of any other photo identity, if held during stay in Bangladesh.
5. Photocopy of similar documents, mentioned above, or work permit of father or mother or legal guardian if the applicant lived in Bangladesh as a dependent child.
6. A postal money order or bank cheque of A$10.00 in favour of 'Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra'.
7. Self-addressed pre-paid registered return envelope or pre-paid courier.

The High Commission will send the application and other documents to the concerned authority in Bangladesh. The police clearance certificate, once received by the High Commission, will be mailed to the applicant.

Processing Time
   
Please note: For most consular services, except for passport in lieu of lost passport, processing period is minimum seven working days.  Passports issued/renewed on an urgent basis require minimum two working days.  No consular application will be processed unless specific requirements thereby are met.  

Mode of Payment

• Bank Cheque or Postal money Order in favour of “Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra” Personal Cheques and cash are not accepted. Fee for multiple applicants seeking same kind of consular work ( for e.g. 4 persons applying for 'No Visa Required' stamp) may be paid in single cheque/money order. But multiple applicants seeking different kinds of consular works together (for e.g. 3 persons applying for 'No Visa Required' stamp and 1 person applying for Visa) must make payment in separate cheques/money orders.
• Applicants from New Zealand, who opt to get their passports/documents back by post, are strongly recommended to send required number of international coupons for express courier service.  Applicants are requested to check the number of coupons required if more than three passports have to be returned by post. We will only arrange to return the passports/documents by International Express Courier Post of Australian Post. If anyone wishes to have their passports/documents returned by post with the coupons must provide us a letter specifying that the High Commission would not be liable if the parcel does not reach its destination as we would not take any responsibility in such cases. As such, we would recommend that applicants should arrange the courier service for their parcels which may be a bit expensive but should be safe and traceable. The applicants are requested to arrange drop and pick up by the courier agent as this mission will not take any responsibility for arranging the courier service.
• Requirements may vary in case of applicants who are members of Bangladesh Public Service or Teachers of Bangladesh Universities etc.  Please contact the Bangladesh High Commission for details before you apply.

 For further information, please contact:

Bangladesh High Commission, 43 Culgoa Circuit, O'Malley, Canberra, ACT 2606, Australia. Tel:+61 2 6290 0511, 6290 0522, 6290 0533, Fax:+61 2 6290 0544.
Time and Method of enquiry: All enquiries by telephone, in relation to Consular matter, should be made from 0900 hrs to 1300 hrs. Urgent enquiry beyond that period can be made by sending e-mail or by fax. In such cases, name, contact phone number, e-mail address and the nature of the query should be clearly stated. Concerned officials will attend to such queries as soon as possible.
E-mail :   consular@bhcanberra.com