Significant Visa Obstacles for Bangladeshi Students Pursuing European Studies in New Delhi
June 2025, Dhaka/New Delhi More and more Bangladeshi students who want to study in Europe are facing the difficult and depressing fact that getting a visa frequently requires going to New Delhi, India, which is becoming a more difficult and unpredictable path because of continuous administrative and diplomatic obstacles.
The absence of fully operational European embassies and visa processing facilities in Dhaka has resulted in a bottleneck that keeps delaying, interfering with, and occasionally ruining the academic paths of many students. For visa interviews, students must physically visit the embassies of Poland, Romania, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria in New Delhi. However, the process has become nearly impossible for many since India drastically tightened its visa policy for citizens of Bangladesh in 2024.
India’s Restrictions Block the Visa Route
Indian visas are not available to students who want to travel to New Delhi for in-person appointments. Education-related travel has been put on indefinite hold since the Indian High Commission in Dhaka has restricted visa issuance to medical and emergency categories. Many students and travel agents claim that this change in policy has resulted in a backlog of Bangladeshi applicants who have been accepted to universities in Europe but are unable to finish their visa applications.
Many of these students are stuck halfway through the process, having already paid large amounts in tuition fees, university deposits, and service charges to agencies. Mahfuzur Rahman, a Khulna student, stated, “I was accepted to a Polish university for a Master’s program, and my classes begin in September.” However, since I lack an Indian visa, I am unable to travel to Delhi for the visa interview. I’m starting to lose hope.
Long Waits and Congested Embassies
The journey is far from over, even for those who are fortunate enough to enter India. In order to schedule an appointment at VFS Global or the appropriate embassy, students frequently have to wait weeks or even months. The actual interview process is said to be sluggish and disorganized, with lengthy lines and frequent rescheduling. Without any assurances, some students have paid for food, housing, and transportation for weeks while in New Delhi.
“We are students, not travelers or entrepreneurs. Another student applying for a Romanian visa, Sharmin Akter, stated, “We don’t have the money to wait around forever.” “Some students are already postponing or losing their offers, and the uncertainty is killing our dreams.”
Bangladeshi families, who frequently invest their savings or take out loans to support a child’s overseas education, are also feeling the effects of the lengthy wait times and exorbitant fees.
Regional and Diplomatic Options Under Investigation
Policymakers at the national and regional levels have taken notice of the situation. The interim government of Bangladesh, headed by Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus, formally asked European embassies to move their visa-processing duties to Dhaka or other friendly neighboring countries in late 2024. In response, a number of nations have provided partial substitutes. Through their embassies in Vietnam and Indonesia, Romania and Bulgaria have begun to accept applications from Bangladesh, and other countries like Hungary and Latvia are thinking about following suit.
These alternate locations do, however, present their own set of difficulties for many students, including the expense and difficulty of traveling to third countries, making new appointments, and adjusting to strange systems. A disgruntled applicant remarked, “It’s like jumping from one hurdle to another.”
European nations are being urged by Bangladeshi education consultants and university admission officers to think about establishing temporary visa facilitation centers in Dhaka during admissions seasons. “Streamlining the process is beneficial to all parties,” stated Dhaka-based education consultant Nazrul Islam. “Bangladeshi students are very dedicated, academically prepared, and driven. They shouldn’t be stopped by the bureaucratic obstacles.
An Appeal for Institutional and Regional Collaboration
According to experts, cooperation between Bangladesh, the EU, and India will be necessary to find long-term solutions. According to a former Bangladeshi diplomat, “restoring Indian visa services for students, even on a limited scale, would provide immediate relief.” However, in the end, Delhi shouldn’t be the sole regional visa hub for citizens of Bangladesh; EU nations shouldn’t rely on it. Direct access to Dhaka is necessary.
Affected students are pleading with international organizations, education ministries, and embassies in the interim. To raise awareness of their predicament, a number of social media campaigns have been launched using hashtags like #OpenVisaForBangladesh and #LetUsStudy.
In conclusion
Thousands of Bangladeshi students are stuck in a state of uncertainty as the fall 2025 semester draws near—trapped between closed borders, unresponsive systems, and dwindling hopes. Many people view studying in Europe as a chance to change their lives rather than just an academic endeavor. A generation of future scholars runs the risk of falling behind due to misaligned bureaucracy rather than merit if prompt and compassionate action is not taken.
