Top Countries Issuing the Most Work Visas to Bangladeshi Citizens in 2026
- Editorial Team
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 18 hours ago
Dhaka, August 2, 2026 — Bangladesh remains one of the world's largest labour-exporting nations, with approximately 1.2 million workers deployed overseas annually through BMET-licensed manpower agencies. In 2025 alone, 1,130,757 Bangladeshis found employment abroad, marking an 11.74% increase over the previous year.
Here are the countries issuing the most work visas to Bangladeshi citizens in 2026.
Published: August 2, 2026 | By VisasUpdate.com Editorial Team
Saudi Arabia – The Unquestioned Top Destination
Workers (2025): ~750,000 | Diaspora: ~2.5 million
Saudi Arabia is by far the largest destination for Bangladeshi workers. In 2025 alone, the Kingdom issued 750,000 work visas and a total of 1.4 million visas to Bangladeshi citizens. This represents a 16% increase over the previous year and accounts for roughly two-thirds of all Bangladeshi overseas deployment.
The increase is fueled by Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 infrastructure initiatives, anticipated to generate up to 300,000 new employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers.
Aspect | Details |
Primary Visa | Work Visa (Iqama) |
Key Sectors | Construction, domestic work, maintenance, retail, hospitality |
Average Salary | SAR 1,500–4,000/month ($400–$1,067) |
Migration Cost | BDT 200,000–600,000 ($1,800–$5,450) |
Contract Duration | 2 years, renewable |
Key Development: A significant employment agreement finalized in late 2025 has strengthened worker protections and opened opportunities for Bangladeshi involvement in key Vision 2030 projects.
United Arab Emirates – A Major But Volatile Market
Workers: ~800,000 | Share of Total: ~16%
The UAE is the second-largest destination, hosting approximately 800,000 Bangladeshi workers, primarily in construction, hospitality, and services in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
However, the UAE has temporarily suspended new tourist and work visa applications for Bangladeshi citizens starting 2026. The suspension remains in effect until further notice, effectively halting new deployments for now.
Aspect | Details |
Primary Visa | Employment Visa |
Key Sectors | Construction, hospitality, services |
Average Salary | AED 1,500–5,000/month ($410–$1,360) |
Golden Visa | 10-year option for specialised talents |
Worker Protection | Wage Protection System (WPS) ensures timely payments |
Malaysia – A Key Asian Destination
Workers: ~600,000 | Share of Total: ~12%
Malaysia remains a significant destination, employing approximately 600,000 documented Bangladeshi workers, primarily in manufacturing, plantation, and construction.
In 2025, Malaysia introduced a Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) for Bangladeshi workers, allowing them to travel in and out of Malaysia multiple times during their work pass validity.
Aspect | Details |
Primary Visa | Employment Pass (FWCMS) |
Key Sectors | Manufacturing, plantation, construction, domestic services |
Average Salary | MYR 1,500–3,000/month ($320–$640) |
Migration Cost | BDT 300,000–500,000 ($2,700–$4,500) |
🇶🇦 Qatar – Growing Demand
Workers (2025): 107,472 | Share of Total: ~10%
Qatar is the third-largest destination, receiving 107,472 Bangladeshi workers in 2025. The country's ongoing infrastructure and development projects continue to drive demand for Bangladeshi labour.
Aspect | Details |
Key Sectors | Construction, infrastructure, services |
Share of Total Migration | 10% |
Singapore – High-Skill, High-Wage Market
Workers (2025): 70,056 | Share of Total: ~6%
Singapore received 70,056 Bangladeshi workers in 2025, accounting for approximately 6% of total overseas deployment. The city-state offers higher wages but requires more skilled workers.
Kuwait – Steady Demand
Workers (2025): 72,717 | Share of Total: ~4%
Kuwait received 72,717 Bangladeshi workers in 2025, representing approximately 4% of total overseas migration.
Oman – Seeking Reopening
Oman has historically been a significant destination. Bangladesh has formally sought the reopening of work visas for its migrant workers in Oman within the next two months.
United Kingdom – A Growing European Destination
Diaspora: ~650,000
The UK remains a top destination for Bangladeshi workers, particularly through the Health and Care Worker visa and Skilled Worker visa routes. These pathways offer a route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years.
Italy – Europe's Fastest-Growing Market
Workers (H1 2026): 4,645 | Growth: +300% from 2024
Italy has emerged as a rapidly growing destination for Bangladeshi workers. In the first half of 2026 alone, Italy recruited 4,645 Bangladeshi workers, compared to only 1,162 in all of 2024.
Japan – Future Growth Market
Current Workers: ~22,000 | Future Target: 100,000
Japan is positioning itself as a major future destination. Under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) programme, Japan plans to introduce 100,000 Bangladeshi workers over the next five years.
South Korea – EPS Programme
Workers: ~18,000
South Korea continues to recruit Bangladeshi workers through the Employment Permit System (EPS) , particularly for manufacturing and fisheries sectors.
Quick Reference: Top Destinations for Bangladeshi Workers (2026)
Rank | Country | 2025 Workers | Diaspora | Key Sectors |
1 | Saudi Arabia | ~750,000 | ~2.5 million | Construction, domestic work, retail |
2 | UAE | ~107,000* | ~800,000 | Construction, hospitality, services |
3 | Qatar | 107,472 | ~400,000 | Construction, infrastructure |
4 | Kuwait | 72,717 | ~350,000 | Construction, domestic work |
5 | Singapore | 70,056 | ~150,000 | Construction, services |
6 | Malaysia | ~60,000** | ~600,000 | Manufacturing, plantation, construction |
7 | UK | ~50,000 | ~650,000 | Healthcare, skilled work |
8 | Italy | 4,645 (H1 2026) | ~50,000 | Agriculture, manufacturing |
UAE visa suspension began in 2026, affecting new deployments. *Malaysia approved approximately 800 workers between December 2025 and January 2026 after a hiring freeze.
Key Trends
1. Gulf Countries Dominate
Approximately 90% of Bangladeshi workers go to just five destinations, with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries hosting about 4.5 million Bangladeshi workers.
2. Europe is Growing Fast
Migration to Europe surged 46.4% in the first half of 2026, with Italy, Portugal, Romania, and Serbia emerging as new destinations.
3. Skill Verification is Increasing
Saudi Arabia's Skill Verification Programme now has testing capacity for 60,000 workers per month in Bangladesh, up from just 1,000.
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