Govt extends expatriate passport correction deadline

The government has extended by six months the special provision allowing Bangladeshi nationals living abroad to correct passport information when applying for new or reissued passports, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Under the latest decision, the facility will remain in effect until 31 December 2026, reports state news agency BSS.

The notification was issued by the Emigration-4 Branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday and signed by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Nuruzzaman.

According to the notification, the previous order has been extended by a further six months to ensure uninterrupted passport-related services for expatriate Bangladeshis and to serve the public interest.

As a result, Bangladeshi nationals living abroad who need to correct details in their passports, including their name, date of birth or parents' names, will be able to apply for new or reissued passports based on the corrected information within the extended deadline.

The ministry said an earlier order, issued on 8 July 2025, had set the deadline for the facility at June 30, 2026. Under the latest decision, the deadline has been extended to 31 December 2026.

The notification also stated that the decision takes immediate effect, and all relevant departments have been instructed to take the necessary steps.

The notification has been sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Directorate of Immigration and Passports, all Bangladesh missions abroad and other relevant offices.

According to officials, the extension will make passport-related services more accessible for expatriates and help them with legal travel and other administrative matters by allowing those who were unable to apply for passport corrections before the previous deadline to complete the process within the extended timeframe.