Admission comes first
Every route starts with a university document: an offer or acceptance letter, the US Form I-20, China's JW201 or JW202, or Malaysia's eVAL.
2027 intakes · 12 countries compared
Every country runs its own student visa, but the route is similar: admission, proof of money, attested documents, then a visa or residence permit application. For nine of the 12 countries in this guide you hand in your file in Bangladesh. Finland needs an identity check in New Delhi, and in Malaysia and Cyprus your university applies for you.
Written and reviewed by Anisuzzaman Kiron, Founder & CEO · Updated
| Countries in this guide | 12, each with its own visa page |
|---|---|
| File handed in within Bangladesh | Italy, Hungary, Malta, Norway, Greece, Türkiye, China, the USA, Canada |
| Involves New Delhi | Finland (identity check), Greece (decision after an interview) |
| Your university applies | Malaysia (EMGS), Cyprus (Migration Department) |
| Lowest fixed money rule | China US$2,500 a year · Greece €400 a month |
| Official success rate | None published for Bangladeshi students |
| Document attestation | Apostille through MyGov; not accepted by Finland or Greece |
From official embassy, immigration and government sources, as cited on each country page · Last verified
The basics
A student visa or residence permit lets you enter a country and stay for your studies. You apply only after a university admits you, and you prove three things: that you have a place, that you can pay for your stay, and that your documents are genuine. Who decides, and where you hand in the file, differs by country.
Every route starts with a university document: an offer or acceptance letter, the US Form I-20, China's JW201 or JW202, or Malaysia's eVAL.
Most countries set a fixed amount to show, from US$2,500 a year for China to NOK 170,368 for Norway. Hungary, Türkiye and Malaysia publish no fixed figure.
Many countries give you an entry visa first and a residence permit after you arrive. Finland, Norway and Canada decide the permit before you travel.
Apostille or legalisation? Bangladesh joined the Apostille Convention with effect from 30 March 2025, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues apostilles online through MyGov. Finland and Greece objected to Bangladesh joining, so between Bangladesh and those two countries the apostille does not apply; check the country page for the route their embassies accept.
Sources: HCCH Apostille status table · HCCH: objections to Bangladesh's accession · BSS: MoFA e-apostille on MyGov, 13 Dec 2025 · the official sources on each country page. Last verified 11 Nov 2026.
Compare countries
All 12 accept Bangladeshi students, but the routes differ. Choose by situation: to avoid travelling to India, pick a country where you hand in your file in Bangladesh or your university applies; for the lowest fixed money rule, look at China and Greece; for the most work hours while studying, Finland and Hungary allow 30 a week.
Showing 12 countries
| Country | What you apply for | Where you apply | Money to show | Official fee | Work while studying |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | National (Type D) study visa | VFS Global, Dhaka; decided by the Embassy of Italy | €10,179.85 a year | BDT 12,590 in total at VFS Dhaka | 20 hours a week |
| Finland | Residence permit for studies | Online in Enter Finland; identity check at VFS Global, New Delhi | €9,600 in your own account | €600 online, €750 on paper | 30 hours a week on average |
| Hungary | Residence permit for study, with a type D visa | BLS International, Banani, Dhaka | No fixed amount; sponsor's last 6 months | €110 | 30 hours a week in term |
| Malta | National (D) visa, then a residence permit | VFS Global, Malta visa services for Bangladesh | 75% of the minimum wage a month (about €746) | €100 + BDT 13,935 VFS charge | 20 hours a week after 3 months |
| Norway | Study permit | VFS Global Denmark visa centre, Dhaka | NOK 170,368 a year | NOK 5,400 + DKK 1,875 + BDT 2,735 | 20 hours a week; full time in holidays |
| Greece | National (D) visa for studies | GVC World, Dhaka; decided by the Embassy of Greece, New Delhi | €400 a month of study | €90 + €30 service fee | Up to 20 hours a week |
| Türkiye | Student visa, then a residence permit | Mosaic Visa, Banani, Dhaka | No fixed amount | About BDT 25,740 (2025 guide) | Work permit needed; bachelor's after year one |
| USA | F-1 student visa | Interview at the US Embassy, Dhaka | First year's cost on your I-20 | US$185 + US$350 SEVIS | 20 hours a week on campus |
| Canada | Study permit | Online with IRCC; biometrics at VFS Global in Bangladesh | CAD 23,448 a year + tuition + travel | CAD 150 + CAD 85 biometrics | 24 hours a week off campus |
| Malaysia | Student pass, plus a single-entry visa | Your university, through EMGS | No fixed amount set by EMGS | RM1,600 EMGS + RM150 eVAL + RM50 i-Kad | 20 hours a week at approved places |
| China | X1 visa, then a residence permit | Chinese Visa Application Service Center, Dhaka | US$2,500 a year (self-funded) | Paid in taka at the centre | 8 hours a week in term, with permission |
| Cyprus | Entry permit, then a residence permit | Your university, to the Migration Department | €7,000–7,500 | €140–350 + €70, €55, €70 | 20 hours a week in listed sectors |
Each country name opens its full visa page, where every figure links to the embassy, immigration office or university that publishes it. Figures last verified 9–11 Nov 2026.
Step by step
Seven steps apply to almost every country. The order matters: the admission document comes first, and the police certificate and medical reports should be recent when you apply.
Use the table above: where you hand in the file, how much money you show and whether India is involved.
9–12 months before the startAn offer or acceptance letter, the I-20 (USA), the JW201 or JW202 (China) or the eVAL (Malaysia).
4–8 months beforeBuild the balance the country asks for, in your own or a sponsor's account, and keep the statements it asks for.
Months before you applyPolice clearance from Bangladesh Police, certificates, translations and an apostille through MyGov, or legalisation for Finland and Greece.
Before the appointmentFill in the form online if the country uses one, pay the fee and book VFS Global, BLS, GVC World, Mosaic Visa or the embassy.
As early as the country allowsFingerprints and photo at the centre; an interview for the USA, Greece and some others.
At the appointmentRegister or apply for the residence permit within the country's deadline, for example 7 days in Cyprus and 30 days in China.
After you landSources: the official sources on each country page · Bangladesh Police online clearance · BSS: MyGov e-apostille. Timing: Sunrise advice. Last verified 11 Nov 2026.
Documents
Almost every country asks for the same core set. The exact list, validity windows and number of copies are on each country page.
Sources: Bangladesh Police clearance · BSS: MyGov e-apostille · HCCH status table · HCCH objections · Italy, China and Cyprus visa pages. Last verified 11 Nov 2026.
Bank balance
It depends on the country: from US$2,500 a year for China (about BDT 3.1 lakh) to the full first-year cost on a US I-20. Hungary, Türkiye and Malaysia publish no fixed amount, so your counsellor works out a safe figure with you.
| Country | Official rule | About in taka |
|---|---|---|
| China | US$2,500 a year (self-funded) | About BDT 3.1 lakh |
| Greece | €400 a month of study | About BDT 6.6 lakh for 12 months |
| Cyprus | €7,000–7,500 before you apply | About BDT 9.7–10.4 lakh |
| Malta | About €746 a month (75% of the minimum wage) | About BDT 12.4 lakh for 12 months |
| Finland | €9,600 in your own account | About BDT 13.3 lakh |
| Italy | €10,179.85 a year | About BDT 14.1 lakh |
| Canada | CAD 23,448 a year + first-year tuition + travel | About BDT 20.7 lakh before tuition |
| Norway | NOK 170,368 a year | About BDT 22.6 lakh |
| USA | The first year's full cost on your I-20 | Set by each university; US$33,264 at Texas Tech for most graduate programmes in 2026-27 (about BDT 41.4 lakh) |
| Hungary | No fixed amount; sponsor's last 6 months of statements | Confirmed in counselling |
| Türkiye | No fixed amount on official pages | Confirmed in counselling |
| Malaysia | No fixed amount set by EMGS | Your university may ask for proof |
Tuition is extra in most countries. Several embassies also check that tuition is paid or covered, for example at least a third for Greece. See our study abroad cost guide for tuition and living costs side by side.
BDT amounts are approximate, at about BDT 138.23 per euro (Wise, 18 Oct 2026), BDT 124.42 per US dollar (Bangladesh Bank, 10 Nov 2026) and BDT 88.42 per Canadian dollar (Wise, 11 Nov 2026); Norway's figure is from the Norway page. Rules and sources are on each country page. Last verified 9–11 Nov 2026.
Visa ratio
No embassy or immigration office publishes a student visa approval rate for Bangladeshi applicants, so there is no official "visa ratio". The official numbers that do exist are either for all nationalities or count visas issued, not refusals. Any percentage you see online is an estimate.
41% approved, all countries
IRCC approved 41% of new study permit applications in January–September 2025, down from 51% in the same months of 2024. It does not give a Bangladesh figure in this report.
1,362 → 238 F-1 visas a month
The State Department's monthly reports show 1,362 F-1 visas issued to Bangladeshi nationals in June 2024 and 238 in August 2025. These are issuances, not approval rates.
8,957 students
EMGS figures reported by Malay Mail show 8,957 Bangladeshi students enrolled from January to November 2025, up from 6,103 in 2024. These are enrolments, not visa decisions.
Short-stay only
The European Commission publishes statistics on short-stay visas only. Visas for stays of more than 90 days, such as student visas, follow national procedures, so those figures say nothing about study visas.
A balance below the published figure, or statements that do not cover the period asked for, does not meet the embassy's rule.
Missing originals, expired police or medical certificates and the wrong attestation route delay or sink a file.
Interviews and statements of purpose test whether your course fits your background. Study gaps need an honest explanation, as Ritu's Hungary story shows.
Sources: IRCC, CIMM briefing, 4 Dec 2025 · US State Department, NIV issuances June 2024 · August 2025 · Malay Mail, 18 Dec 2025 · European Commission: visa policy. Country-level notes are in the success-rate section of each country page. Last verified 11 Nov 2026.
Processing times
Official processing times range from at least 21 days for Italy to up to 60 days for Hungary. Finland, Norway, Canada and the USA publish live waiting times, which change through the year, so check them before you book flights.
| Country | Processing time |
|---|---|
| Italy | At least 21 calendar days |
| Hungary | Within 60 days of submission |
| Malta | At least 6–8 weeks; submit at least 9 weeks before the course |
| Türkiye | Up to 45 days (Mosaic Visa) |
| Cyprus | Within about a month if the file is complete |
| Greece | Not published; submit at least 2 months before the start |
| Finland | Published live by Migri |
| Norway | Published live by UDI |
| Canada | Published live by IRCC |
| USA | Interview wait times on the State Department tool |
| China | Not published on the visa centre's procedure page |
| Malaysia | No fixed time published by EMGS |
Plan backwards from your intake. Allow time for admission, money, documents and the appointment before the processing time even starts. Our intakes guide lists the main intakes by country.
Processing times and their sources are on each country page. Last verified 9–11 Nov 2026.
Refusals and arrival
A refusal is not the end: many students succeed on a second, stronger file. Once you arrive, most countries give you a short deadline to register or apply for your residence permit.
Where the embassy gives a reason, it shows which rule your file did not meet. Fix that point first, rather than resubmitting the same file.
Some countries allow an appeal and others only a new application; any deadline is on the decision. Atik won his Hungary visa on his second try.
For Finland you need an Indian visa for the New Delhi appointment. Moksedul got there after two years of Indian visa refusals.
| Country | First step after you land |
|---|---|
| Cyprus | Register with the Migration Department within 7 days |
| Malaysia | Medical check within 7 working days |
| China | Residence permit within 30 days |
| Greece | Residence permit online: €150 + €16 card |
| Türkiye | Student residence permit through e-ikamet |
| Canada | Study permit issued at the port of entry |
| Norway | Residence card at least 20 working days after the police appointment |
| USA | Enter up to 30 days before your programme starts |
Refused or unsure about your file? Book a free consultation in Banani or Sylhet, or message WhatsApp 01611878274. No agency can guarantee a visa: the embassy or immigration office decides.
Arrival rules and their sources are on each country page. Last verified 9–11 Nov 2026.
FAQ
Ask a counsellor directly if your question is not here.
WhatsApp 01611878274For Italy, Hungary, Norway, Greece, Türkiye, China and the USA you hand in your file or attend the interview in Dhaka, and Canada takes biometrics at VFS Global in Bangladesh. Malta uses VFS Global's Malta service for Bangladesh.
Finland: you apply online, then prove your identity at VFS Global in New Delhi, so you need an Indian visa. Greece takes your file in Dhaka, but its embassy in New Delhi decides after an interview.
There is no official one. No embassy publishes approval rates for Bangladeshi student visa applicants. Canada's IRCC approved 41% of new study permits from all countries in January–September 2025.
It depends on the country: US$2,500 a year for China, €400 a month for Greece, €9,600 for Finland, €10,179.85 a year for Italy and NOK 170,368 for Norway. Hungary, Türkiye and Malaysia set no fixed amount.
For most countries, yes: Bangladesh joined the Apostille Convention with effect from 30 March 2025, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues apostilles through MyGov. Finland and Greece objected, so the apostille does not apply for them.
In Malaysia and Cyprus your university applies for you: through EMGS in Malaysia and to the Migration Department in Cyprus. You still prepare the documents and pay the fees.
Yes, within limits: 30 hours a week in Finland and Hungary, 24 off campus in Canada, 20 in Italy, Norway, Greece, Malaysia, Cyprus and on campus in the USA, and 8 in term in China with permission.
At least 21 days for Italy, up to 45 days for Türkiye, within 60 days for Hungary and at least 6–8 weeks for Malta. Finland, Norway, Canada and the USA publish live waiting times.
Usually the university sets the English rule, not the visa. Italy is an exception: it asks for IELTS 6.0 at the visa stage. See our guide to studying abroad without IELTS for alternatives.
No. The embassy or immigration office decides every case. A counsellor can check that your file meets each published rule before you apply.
or WhatsApp 01611878274 · call Sylhet 01710303097
