The Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Antonio Alessandro, has assured that Italy will take action to resolve delays in processing work visas for Bangladeshi applicants. Reports indicate that the current processing times are excessively lengthy.
These comments were made during the reception of Jashim Uddin, Bangladesh’s new Foreign Secretary. Ambassador Alessandro emphasized the need to enhance bilateral relations and expressed Italy’s commitment to swiftly address the work visa issue. He also highlighted Italy’s intent to cooperate in reducing irregular migration and supporting legal skills mobility between Bangladesh and Italy.
The Italian Embassy in Dhaka had previously advised against using intermediaries for Schengen visa applications, attributing delays to these third parties. Additionally, organized criminal networks attempting to submit counterfeit documents have further complicated the process.
Ambassador Alessandro pledged to expedite work visa processing and to collaborate on measures to tackle irregular migration. Bangladesh, with a significant diaspora in Europe, has many citizens living across the EU.
Stricter Immigration Measures Underway
In addition to improving work visa procedures, the Italian government is implementing stringent new measures to address immigration concerns. These measures focus on combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
During his meeting with Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Alessandro congratulated Jashim Uddin on his appointment and expressed hope for strengthened bilateral relations between Italy and Bangladesh.
Enhanced Visa Processing Efforts
Italy’s Foreign Affairs officials, working with international partners, are assisting the Embassy in streamlining the visa issuance process to expedite applications.
High Volume of Bangladeshi Schengen Visa Applications
In 2023, Bangladeshi nationals submitted 39,729 visa applications, with 34% of these for Italian Schengen visas, according to SchengenVisaInfo. However, Italy has one of the lowest approval rates for these applications, granting only 40% of requests. Following Italy, Bangladeshis most frequently apply for Schengen visas in Sweden, Germany, and France.