Bangladesh urges netherlands to ease student visa delays

Bangladesh has expressed concern over prolonged processing times and a rising number of visa rejections affecting Bangladeshi students admitted to higher education institutions in the Netherlands, urging the Dutch government to take prompt measures to resolve the issue.

The matter was raised by Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman during a bilateral meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen on the sidelines of events marking the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia in Manila, the Philippines, on Friday (July 24).

According to diplomatic sources, the two ministers reviewed the longstanding bilateral relationship and discussed expanding cooperation in higher education, technology, migration, circular economy, delta management and technology transfer.

The issue of student visas featured prominently in the discussions.

The foreign minister noted that many Bangladeshi students, despite securing admission to Dutch universities, have been facing lengthy delays in obtaining visas, while the number of visa refusals has also increased. As a result, many students have been unable to begin their academic programmes on time, putting their higher education plans at risk.

Dr. Khalilur Rahman urged the Dutch government to streamline the visa process for Bangladeshi students to ensure they can travel to the Netherlands and commence their studies without unnecessary delays.

He also raised the issue of the acceptance of Bangladeshi apostille documents, requesting the Netherlands to review existing restrictions related to their recognition.

In response, Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen assured Bangladesh that the concerns would receive due consideration. He said the Netherlands would review the issues surrounding student visas and apostille documentation and work towards a satisfactory solution.

Both sides also expressed their commitment to expanding cooperation in education, innovation, legal migration and sustainable development, reaffirming their interest in strengthening bilateral ties.