France has launched a new visa application centre in Dhaka. Photo : Collected

DHAKA, Sept 17, 2025 (BSS) - France has launched a new state-of-the-art visa 
application centre in Dhaka to provide an enhanced and seamless experience 
for Bangladeshi applicants seeking short and long-stay visas.

The centre, located at Rangs Z Square on Gulshan Avenue, was inaugurated on 
Tuesday by the France Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy, said a press 
release here today. 

From today onwards, applicants can submit their visa applications at the 
centre by booking prior appointments through VFS Global's website.

Speaking at the inauguration, Ambassador Masdupuy said the initiative aims to 
facilitate travel for Bangladeshi residents by improving accessibility and 
efficiency. 

"This shift will increase the number of daily applications submitted, reduce 
the waiting time to get appointments, modernise payment options, and 
generally improve applicant experience via a specialised centre," she noted. 

She emphasised that while VFS Global would collect applications and related 
documents, the responsibility for processing and decision-making would remain 
with the Embassy of France.

The facility is equipped with trained customer service representatives and 
designed for convenience, offering flexible payment options, extended hours 
for application submission and passport collection, as well as optional 
services such as premium processing, courier support, and form filling.

VFS Global has partnered with the French government on visa processing since 
2004, currently operating 70 dedicated visa centres for France across 29 
countries.

VFS Global clarified that its role is limited to front-end administrative 
tasks, such as collecting application forms, required documentation, and 
biometric enrolment. 

Visa decisions, including approvals and refusals, remain the sole 
responsibility of the French Embassy under the Schengen system.

The new Dhaka centre will operate from Sunday to Thursday, 8:30 am to 4:00 
pm. Applicants can book appointments online at 
https://visa.vfsglobal.com/bgd/en/fra.