BB makes QR codes mandatory for visa financial documents

The Bangladesh Bank has issued a new directive to streamline the visa application process and eliminate financial document forgery.

To ensure the authenticity of bank statements and other financial certificates submitted for foreign travel, higher education, or employment, all scheduled banks must now include online-verifiable QR codes on these documents.

The Banking Regulation and Policy Department-1 (BRPD) issued the circular on Tuesday, marking a significant shift toward digital transparency in the country’s financial reporting.

The central bank noted that embassies and visa processing centers frequently require bank statements, solvency certificates, and investment certificates.

However, the lack of an instantaneous verification system has historically led to complications, including the use of fraudulent documents.

By implementing a digital verification system, the central bank aims to ensure the rapid authentication of data, reduce administrative overhead, and enhance the credibility of Bangladeshi applicants on the global stage.

Under the new guidelines, every financial document must feature a QR code that, when scanned, provides immediate access to at least five critical data points: account number, account holder’s name, opening balance of the statement period, closing balance, and date of issue.

Banks are required to maintain this information in an online-verifiable format for at least six months from the date of issuance, ensuring that embassy officials have a reliable window to conduct their due diligence.

The central bank has set a strict 90-day deadline for all scheduled banks to upgrade their technical infrastructure and integrate these security features.

Banks have also been reminded to adhere strictly to existing cyber security and data protection regulations to prevent any unauthorized access to sensitive customer information. The rise in allegations of fake bank statements being submitted for visas has prompted this decisive action.

Central bank officials believe that once this system is fully operational, embassies and visa centers will no longer need to rely on manual verification.

This shift is expected to significantly reduce fraud, boost the acceptance rate of Bangladeshi financial documents abroad, and foster a more transparent environment for international mobility.