Leaving Bangladesh to work abroad for the first time is one of the most significant decisions in a person’s life. It is exciting, terrifying, and full of unknowns. প্রথমবার বিদেশ যাওয়া মানে জীবনের সবচেয়ে বড় পরিবর্তনের মুখে দাঁড়ানো — সঠিক প্রস্তুতি না থাকলে এই পদক্ষেপ বিপর্যয়ে পরিণত হতে পারে। Every year, thousands of Bangladeshis who did not prepare properly end up in serious trouble abroad — stranded with no money, working under exploitative conditions, or unable to return home. This comprehensive checklist is designed to make sure that does not happen to you.
Part 1: Verify Everything Before You Pay a Single Taka
The most dangerous period in the process of going abroad is before you leave Bangladesh, when you are dealing with recruitment agents. Before you pay any fee or hand over your passport, you must verify three things independently.
First, verify that the recruiting agency is registered with BMET (Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training). You can check the BMET website (bmet.gov.bd) or visit a BMET office to confirm the agency’s registration number is valid. An unregistered agency has no legal accountability if they take your money and disappear. যে এজেন্সিতে যাবেন, তার বিএমইটি রেজিস্ট্রেশন নম্বর নিজে যাচাই করুন — এজেন্সির কথায় বিশ্বাস না করে সরকারি ওয়েবসাইটে check করুন।
Second, verify the visa paper itself. The Saudi Embassy, UAE Embassy, and other embassies in Dhaka all have mechanisms to verify whether a visa paper is genuine. Take your visa paper to the relevant embassy before paying the full agency fee. Fake visa papers are a common scam — an agent shows you what looks like a legitimate visa document, you pay BDT 3–5 lakh, and then you discover the visa is fake and no job exists at the destination.
Third, get everything in writing. Any promise an agent makes to you — specific salary, specific employer, specific job title, specific accommodation — must be in the formal employment contract. A verbal promise means nothing. If the agent refuses to provide a written contract before you pay, that is a red flag. বিদেশ যাওয়ার চুক্তি সবসময় লিখিতে নিন — মৌখিক প্রতিশ্রুতি আইনের চোখে কোনো প্রমাণ না।
Part 2: Documents to Prepare and Verify
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay abroad. If it expires within 6 months, renew it before proceeding with any visa application — many embassies will reject your visa application if your passport has less than 6 months of validity. Check your passport today, not the day before your flight.
You need a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from your local police station (থানা). This document confirms that you have no criminal record in Bangladesh. The process takes 3–7 working days and costs around BDT 500. Some countries require an attested version — meaning the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka stamps it, which takes another 2–3 days.
Keep digital and physical copies of all your documents. Scan your passport, visa, employment contract, educational certificates, and medical reports, and save them in Google Drive or email them to yourself. জরুরি কাগজপত্রের ডিজিটাল copy রাখুন — বিদেশে documents হারিয়ে গেলে এই copy আপনাকে বাঁচাবে। Give a set of photocopies to a trusted family member in Bangladesh who can access them if needed.
Part 3: BMET Registration — This Is Not Optional
Registration with BMET is mandatory by law for every Bangladeshi going abroad for work. You must get a BMET Smart Card (also called the Wage Earner Welfare Fund card) before departing from Bangladesh. Without this card, Biman Bangladesh and most other airlines operating from Dhaka will not allow you to board an international flight.
To register with BMET, go to the District Employment and Manpower Office (জেলা কর্মসংস্থান অফিস) in your district with your passport, visa, and 4 copies of your photograph. The BMET registration also enrolls you in the Probashi Kalyan Bank scheme and the Wage Earner Welfare Fund, which provides some financial protection and death benefits for workers who die abroad. বিএমইটি রেজিস্ট্রেশন আপনাকে শুধু আইনি সুরক্ষাই দেয় না — বিপদে সরকারি সহায়তাও পাওয়ার পথ খুলে দেয়।
Part 4: Financial Preparation Before You Leave
Open a bank account in your name in Bangladesh before leaving, even if you already have one. Ensure the account is linked to bKash or Nagad for easy transfers by your family. Choose a bank with branches near your family home, and make sure your spouse or parents know how to access the account in an emergency. Sonali Bank and Islami Bank have the widest network of branches and mobile banking options used by most remittance services.
Carry at least USD 200–300 in cash when you leave Bangladesh. This is not for spending — it is your emergency reserve for the first month before your first salary arrives. বিদেশে পৌঁছানোর পর প্রথম মাসের বেতন আসতে ৩০ থেকে ৪৫ দিন সময় লাগতে পারে — এই সময়টা সামলানোর জন্য পর্যাপ্ত নগদ টাকা সঙ্গে রাখুন। Keep this cash in a safe place (not all in one pocket or one bag) and do not spend it unless absolutely necessary.
Consider buying life and accident insurance through the Probashi Kalyan Board before leaving. The premium is approximately BDT 400 for BDT 3 lakh of coverage — this is extraordinarily low-cost insurance that provides your family with financial protection if something happens to you abroad. Many workers skip this because the amount seems small, but for a family in rural Bangladesh, BDT 3 lakh can be life-changing support in a tragedy.
Part 5: Prepare Your Family for Your Absence
This step is overlooked by almost every first-time migrant worker, and it causes enormous problems later. Before you leave, sit down with your family and go through these steps together. Write down your employer’s full name, company name, office address, and phone number, and leave this information with at least two trusted family members.
Assign someone — ideally your spouse or a sibling you completely trust — to handle financial matters in your absence. Give them access to your bank account, and if needed, create a notarized Power of Attorney that allows them to manage your financial and property affairs. This becomes important if you need to buy land, renew documents, or handle any legal matter while you are abroad.
Teach your family the Probashi Kalyan Board helpline number: 0800-110-416 (free call). This number is active 24 hours and provides emergency assistance to stranded workers, their families, and people who have been defrauded by recruiting agencies. Also note the Bangladesh Embassy contact number for whichever country you are going to. পরিবারকে দূতাবাসের নম্বর দিয়ে যান — বিপদে এটাই আপনার পরিবারের সবচেয়ে বড় সম্পদ।
At the Airport — Last-Minute Checklist
Arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before your international flight. Bangladeshi airports (especially Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International) can be chaotic, and immigration queues for outbound migrant workers can be very long. Carry your BMET Smart Card, passport, visa, and employment contract all in a single folder — not scattered in your luggage.
At immigration, be honest and confident. Tell the immigration officer where you are going and who your employer is. Do not carry any prohibited items (check the destination country’s customs rules online before packing). Once you board the plane, keep your important documents in your carry-on bag, never in checked luggage. Your documents are more important than your clothes — if your checked bag is lost, you can buy clothes; if your documents are lost, you have a serious problem. বিমানে উঠে সব গুরুত্বপূর্ণ কাগজ আপনার সাথের ব্যাগে রাখুন — check-in luggage এ নয়।