Australia Refused 51% of Bangladeshi Student Visas. India Visa Is Free. Here Is What Bangladeshi Students Need to Know.
Australia's student visa refusal rate for Bangladeshi applicants stands at 51 percent. More than half of all Bangladeshi students who applied for an Australian student visa were refused. That is not a marginal statistic. It is a majority, and it represents a significant barrier for Bangladeshi students whose study abroad plans were built around an Australian destination.
India, by comparison, operates on a completely different basis for Bangladeshi applicants. Under the longstanding bilateral arrangement between Bangladesh and India, all visas issued to Bangladeshi nationals by India are issued free of charge. No visa fee. The process still requires document submission and processing through IVAC : the Indian Visa Application Centre : but the visa itself costs nothing.
For Bangladeshi students considering where to study, this difference is significant. This article covers the India visa process for Bangladeshi nationals, what documents are required, and how to apply to Maharashtra's universities through fn.mahacet.org once the visa is in place.
The Australia Situation for Bangladeshi Students
A 51 percent refusal rate means that applying for an Australian student visa as a Bangladeshi national is statistically more likely to result in refusal than approval. The reasons for individual refusals vary and include concerns about genuine temporary entrant status, financial capacity, ties to home country, and the overall immigration risk assessment that Australian visa processing applies to each application. The specifics of any individual case matter, but the aggregate number tells a clear story about the difficulty of this pathway for Bangladeshi applicants.
For students who have spent months preparing an Australian university application, gathering English language test scores, and assembling financial documentation, a visa refusal is a serious setback. For students who are still in the planning stage and have not yet committed to a destination, it is important information that should factor into the decision.
India offers a different picture. The bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and India is one of the closest in South Asia, and the visa arrangements reflect this. The free-of-charge visa for Bangladeshi nationals is one concrete expression of that relationship.
The India Visa for Bangladeshi Nationals : What the Bilateral Arrangement Means
Bangladesh and India have a longstanding bilateral arrangement under which all visas issued to Bangladeshi nationals by India are issued free of charge. This arrangement covers student visas. A Bangladeshi student applying for an Indian student visa through IVAC does not pay a visa fee.
This is distinct from most international visa processes, where visa application fees are a standard component of the cost of studying abroad. The elimination of that fee for Bangladeshi nationals is a meaningful reduction in the upfront cost of pursuing education in India.
It is important to be clear about what the free-of-charge arrangement covers and does not cover. The visa itself is free. The IVAC processing centre handles document submission, biometric collection, and administrative processing. The process requires time, document preparation, and physical attendance at an IVAC centre in Bangladesh. But the visa fee : the charge that other nationalities pay for the right to have their application considered : is not charged to Bangladeshi applicants.
The IVAC Process : Documents and Requirements
Bangladeshi nationals applying for an Indian visa submit their applications through IVAC : the Indian Visa Application Centre, which is the official processing channel for Indian visas in Bangladesh. The IVAC process for a student visa involves the following requirements:
First: a properly filled online application form. The Indian visa application form is completed online through the official Indian visa application portal. The form must be filled accurately and completely. Errors or inconsistencies in the form are a common source of processing delays and must be avoided.
Second: a 6-month bank statement. The bank statement demonstrates that the applicant has sufficient financial capacity to support themselves during their period of study in India. The statement should be from the applicant's own bank account or, for students supported by family, from the supporting family member's account. The statement should cover the full six months immediately preceding the application date and should show a balance and transaction history that is consistent with the financial support being claimed.
Third: a valid trade license, for applicants who are self-employed. Applicants who are self-employed or who own a business should provide a current, valid trade license as part of their documentation. This demonstrates the legitimacy of their commercial activity and financial position.
Fourth: a 2-month gap between visits. Bangladeshi nationals applying for an Indian visa must have a minimum 2-month gap since their last visit to India. If a previous India visit was within the last two months, the application should be deferred until the 2-month requirement is met. This is a standard requirement of the bilateral arrangement and must be observed.
These four requirements : completed online form, 6-month bank statement, trade license if self-employed, and 2-month gap since last visit : are the core document requirements for the IVAC process. Additional documents specific to the student visa category, such as the offer letter from the Indian institution and academic transcripts, are also required. Applicants should check the current IVAC documentation requirements directly on the official IVAC Bangladesh website before preparing their application, as specific requirements can be updated.
fn.mahacet.org : The Destination for Maharashtra
Once the Indian student visa is in place, the admission process for Maharashtra's institutions is through fn.mahacet.org : the Government of Maharashtra's official Foreign Candidate Registration Portal, operated by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Government of Maharashtra.
fn.mahacet.org is a direct government platform. It is not a private company, not a consultancy, not an agent. It is the government's own portal for processing international student admissions across Maharashtra's 6,000 plus institutions. Every program listed on the portal is government-verified. Every fee is government-regulated.
The portal covers programs across every level and discipline: Engineering (Bachelor of Engineering/Technology), Pharmacy (B.Pharm and Pharm D), Planning (Bachelor of Planning), Hotel Management (B.HMCT), Law (L.L.B.), Education (B.A.-B.Ed. and B.Sc.-B.Ed.), Medical Education, and more. Bangladeshi students can browse programs using the search filters, selecting their level, course name, and specialization, and then seeing which institutions across Maharashtra offer that program.
The portal fees for international students are fixed at USD 50 for the eligibility fee and USD 1,150 for the processing fee. Both are non-refundable and listed on the portal before any payment is made. There are no additional charges. No agent commission. No service fee. Just the two fixed government amounts.
International students through fn.mahacet.org enter a 15 percent supernumerary quota reserved specifically for Foreign National Students, NRI, OCI, PIO, and CIWGC candidates. Bangladeshi students applying as Foreign National Students are assessed within this quota : their 12th grade marks compared against other international applicants, not against the large domestic Indian student pool.
Academic Requirements for Key Programs
For Engineering (Bachelor of Engineering/Technology), the requirement is Physics and Mathematics as compulsory 12th grade subjects, plus one additional science subject, with a minimum 45 percent aggregate. No entrance exam is required for international students : MHT-CET is not required. This is confirmed in the MHT-CET 2026 official brochure which explicitly exempts Foreign National Students from the examination.
For Pharmacy (B.Pharm), the requirement is English plus Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics or Biology in 12th grade. No entrance exam required.
For Pharm D (Doctor of Pharmacy), the requirement is Physics and Chemistry with Mathematics or Biology in 12th grade. No entrance exam required.
For Planning (Bachelor of Planning), the requirement is Mathematics as a compulsory 12th grade subject with two additional relevant subjects and a minimum 45 percent aggregate. No entrance exam required.
For Medical Education (MBBS and Ayush programs), NEET qualification is mandatory.
For Architecture (B.Arch), NATA qualification is mandatory.
All other programs on fn.mahacet.org are based on 12th grade marks only. Bangladeshi students with completed 12th grade qualifications in the relevant subjects are academically eligible to apply for the programs that match their subject combination.
Why Maharashtra Is a Strong Choice for Bangladeshi Students
Maharashtra is India's most economically significant state. Mumbai and Pune are two of India's most active cities for technology, finance, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and service industries. The institutions accessible through fn.mahacet.org include some of India's most respected universities: COEP Technological University in Pune, Savitribai Phule Pune University, VJTI in Mumbai, Government Law College Mumbai, and hundreds of other institutions across the state.
Degrees from Maharashtra institutions are globally recognised. This is stated on fn.mahacet.org's official blog. For Bangladeshi students who intend to work in Bangladesh, the Gulf, or internationally after graduation, a degree from a Maharashtra institution carries the recognition and credibility that a serious professional qualification requires.
The combination of a free Indian student visa for Bangladeshi nationals and direct government-portal admission to Maharashtra's institutions removes two of the most significant barriers that Bangladeshi students face when considering international education: visa cost and admission complexity. Both are resolved. The visa is free. The admission is direct. fn.mahacet.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the India student visa really free for Bangladeshi nationals?
Yes. Under the longstanding bilateral arrangement between Bangladesh and India, all visas issued to Bangladeshi nationals by India are issued free of charge. This includes student visas. The application is processed through IVAC : the Indian Visa Application Centre in Bangladesh. While the visa itself carries no fee, applicants must still prepare and submit the required documents including a completed online application form, a 6-month bank statement, a valid trade license if self-employed, and must observe the 2-month gap since their last visit to India. Applicants should verify current IVAC requirements directly on the official IVAC Bangladesh website before preparing their application.
How does a Bangladeshi student apply to Maharashtra institutions after getting a visa?
After securing an Indian student visa, Bangladeshi students apply through fn.mahacet.org : the Government of Maharashtra's official Foreign Candidate Registration Portal. They register on the portal, confirm their eligibility as Foreign National Students using the category checker, browse programs using the search filters, upload their documents, and pay the fixed portal fees of USD 50 eligibility and USD 1,150 processing. The offer letter arrives through the portal. On arrival in India, FRRO registration must be completed within 14 days. The helpline at +91-9152252049 (10am-6pm IST) and student@mahacet.org are available for questions throughout the process.
Ready to apply?
Maharashtra is India's most connected state for international students. 6,000+ institutions. Every confirmed program. One government-backed portal. No agents. No middlemen.
Apply now at fn.mahacet.org/ : the official Government of Maharashtra portal.
Follow us:
