Passport Dollar Endorsement & Freelancer Remittance Guide in Bangladesh

1. Annual Travel Quota Limits

Under Bangladesh Bank foreign-exchange rules, an adult Bangladeshi citizen can endorse up to USD 12,000 on a passport in a calendar year (1 January to 31 December):

• SAARC countries and Myanmar: up to USD 5,000.
• Other countries: up to USD 7,000 within the same USD 12,000 total.
• Children under 12: half of the usual limit — USD 6,000.

2. Required Documents for Bank Endorsement

At an authorised dealer (AD) bank branch you usually need:

• The original passport (at least 6 months left) and a photocopy of the bio page.
• A photocopy of your NID.
• A confirmed air ticket or travel booking.
• A visa copy. For visa-on-arrival, a return ticket is often enough.
• The bank form and endorsement fee — usually Tk 300–500 plus VAT.

3. Dual-Currency Cards vs Cash Currency

Putting the amount on a bank dual-currency credit or debit card is usually safer and cheaper than taking all of it as cash notes:

• Safety: lost cash is hard to recover. A lost card can be blocked from the app at once.
• Rate: street cash often costs Tk 2–4 more per dollar than the bank card rate.
• Spending: hotels, ride-share and shops abroad take a card more easily.

4. 2.5% Cash Incentive for Freelance Earnings

To bring IT freelance earnings through a bank, the government has been paying a 2.5% cash incentive. The rate can change with policy — confirm with the bank and Bangladesh Bank before you withdraw.

When money arrives through Payoneer, Wise or a direct bank wire, the extra 2.5% is usually added on top of the amount credited to the account.

5. ERQ Account Benefits & Tax Exemptions

IT exporters and freelancers can open an Exporters Retention Quota (ERQ) account. A large share of the earned dollars — often up to 70% — can stay in dollars. Software licences, cloud hosting and ads can be paid from there. NBR tax holidays for IT also come and go; check the rule for the current financial year.

FAQ