On the 12th of May, 2026, under the mandate from the Department of Banking Regulation and Policy, Bangladesh Bank has required all scheduled banks to provide QR codes on bank statements and solvency certificates used by applicants when applying for a visa. This initiative was created as part of Bangladesh’s attempt at reducing visa delays, preventing forgery of documents, and placing some procedural efficiencies regarding document verification with embassies. The QR code requirement will take effect immediately, but scheduled banks will have a total of 90 days from the date of this notice to fully implement the QR code requirement into their systems.
Why is this Change needed?
Embassies usually demand bank statements, solvency certificates, and investment proofs from Bangladeshi applicants, but the absence of instant verification systems creates processing problems and increases costs. “Without digital tools, there are risks of forgery, which slows approvals. Through a simple scan, the QR system will verify information such as account number, name, opening/ closing balances and date of issue.
Banks must keep verification data online for a minimum of six months so that it is readily available. That’s in keeping with global moves toward structured, verifiable financial paperwork as digital fraud rises.
The Way It Works
Customers asking for visa-related statements receive documents with an online-verifiable QR code. Visa officers use it to access live data from the bank’s secure server – no manual checks needed. This reduces administrative hassle and increases accuracy.
For example, a Schengen visa applicant submits a statement with a QR code, the embassy scans it, checks that the balances are the same and proceeds without delay.
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Effect on Applicants
No QR means no acceptance. Statements missing QR are at risk of rejection. Apply early to your bank to make sure you are in compliance. The processing will be quicker for digital-savvy users, but it may be a case of having to visit a bank to get the QR issued for applicants in rural areas.
This could improve visa success rates in Bangladesh by cutting down on fakes, much like India’s push for eKYC.
Bank Compliance Timeline
Immediate effect. But banks have till August 2026 (90 days) for systems. There may be teething problems at first, for requests with QR, contact your bank. Noncompliance can lead to penalties.
General Implications
This helps with remittances and travel by fighting fraud against financial documents. It reflects trends such as India’s CKYC upgrades, which build trust in Bangladesh’s banking. Applicants: Please test QR functionality before submission.
