China tightens rules for visa application agencies in Bangladesh

The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh has issued an important notice on regulating visa application agencies, citing misconduct by several travel intermediaries and introducing new compliance requirements effective 5 July 2026.

In a statement published on its official Facebook page, the Embassy said it has identified irregular practices by some visa service agencies, including falsifying application documents, failing to disclose fees, exaggerating visa difficulty, delaying processing, spreading misinformation, and deceiving applicants. These actions, it said, have disrupted visa processing and caused harm to applicants.

To improve service standards, the Embassy announced that from 5 July 2026, all local travel agencies in Bangladesh handling Chinese visa applications on behalf of applicants must obtain accreditation from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The Embassy stressed that it does not provide preferential treatment to any agency, nor does it relax screening standards. It also clarified that no agency has been authorised, designated or recommended as an exclusive visa service provider, and no partnerships exist with any visa processing institution. Legal action will be taken against any individual or organisation impersonating the Embassy for commercial visa-related activities.

Applicants have been advised to submit visa applications independently with complete and valid documents through the official Chinese Visa Application Service Centre website, instead of relying on intermediaries.

The Embassy reiterated its commitment to providing efficient visa services for Bangladeshi citizens and said it will continue to introduce measures to facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and Bangladesh.

It also urged applicants to remain cautious against fraudulent practices by unverified agencies.