Bangladesh Immigration Departure Card Fill-Up Guide 2026: Step-by-Step Instructions
All passengers departing Bangladesh through manual immigration counters must fill out a physical Departure Embarkation Card in clear English block letters. Ensure your flight number, passport number, visa type, and foreign employer address match your travel documents exactly to avoid delays or questioning at the immigration desk.
1. What is the Immigration Departure Card & Who Must Fill It?
The departure card (Embarkation Form) tracks outbound citizen travel and foreign departures. It is mandatory for all passengers traveling on manual immigration lanes at Dhaka, Chittagong, and Sylhet airports. e-Passport holders using automated e-Gates do not need to fill out a paper card.
2. Step-by-Step: How to Fill Each Box on the Departure Form
- Full Name: Write your name exactly as printed in your passport in CAPITAL LETTERS.
- Date of Birth & Nationality: Format DD/MM/YYYY and write 'BANGLADESHI'.
- Passport Number & Expiry: Copy your 9-character passport number accurately.
- Flight Number: E.g. BG 039, SV 805, or QR 641 from your boarding pass.
- Purpose of Travel: Check 'Employment' for work visas, 'Tourism', 'Business', or 'Study'.
- Destination Address: Write your employer company or hotel name and city abroad.
- Signature: Sign with your authentic signature matching your passport.
4. 5 Critical Mistakes Expatriates Make When Filling Cards
- Writing in cursive handwriting instead of legible CAPITAL letters.
- Mismatched passport number or typo in flight number.
- Leaving the foreign contact address box blank.
- Checking 'Tourism' when traveling on a work visa (which triggers immigration interrogation).
- Signing with a signature different from your official passport signature page.
๐ Related Essential Travel Guides & Resources:
Special Branch Immigration Departure Card Protocols & Verification Standards
The Bangladesh Police Special Branch (SB) Immigration Directorate utilizes embarkation departure cards to maintain official archival records of departing citizens, migrant laborers, and foreign passport holders. Completing this card accurately prevents questioning, offloading, and administrative bottlenecks at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC).
Critical Field-by-Field Completion Guidelines:
- Full Legal Name in English Block Letters: Write your name exactly as it appears in machine-readable zone (MRZ) of your passport. Do not use local nicknames or omitted middle names.
- Passport Number & Expiry Date: Double-check the alphanumeric sequence. An erroneous passport number will cause the SB immigration computer system to flag an identity mismatch during optical scanning.
- Flight Number & Destination Country: Record the flight number printed on your boarding pass (e.g., BG049, EK583, QR641) and the country where your flight first lands, even if you are connecting to a secondary transit hub.
- Occupation & Purpose of Travel: For manpower visa holders, write "Employment" or "Worker". For tourist or business travelers, state "Tourism" or "Business Meeting". Never leave the purpose of travel field blank.
- Permanent Bangladeshi Address & Mobile Number: Provide an active, reachable domestic phone number and full village/thana/district address for security database logging.
โ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the Bangladesh Immigration Departure Card (Embarkation Form)? โผ
The Departure Card is an official immigration declaration form issued by the Department of Immigration and Passports. Departing passengers fill in their personal details, passport number, destination address, and flight number before presenting it to Special Branch (SB) immigration officers.
2. Do Bangladeshi citizens need to fill out a departure card when using e-Gates? โผ
Passengers using automated biometric e-Gates with electronic passports (e-Passports) are exempt from filling out physical departure cards, as their biometric and flight details are captured digitally. Passengers clearing standard police booths must submit a completed physical card.
3. What language and ink should be used to complete the departure card? โผ
The form must be filled out in English capital (block) letters using a black or blue ballpoint pen. Never use red ink or pencil.
4. What address should expatriate workers write under 'Contact Address Abroad'? โผ
Overseas migrant workers should write their employer's company name, city, and host country contact number (e.g. Al Yamama Co, Riyadh, KSA) or their sponsor's residence address.
5. Where can passengers collect blank departure cards at Dhaka Airport? โผ
Blank departure cards are available free of charge at airline check-in desks, writing counters in front of the immigration gates, and at the Probashi Kalyan Desk.