What to know about 'free visa' scam targeting migrant workers
The so-called "free visa," a term familiar to many Bangladeshi migrant workers, is anything but free.
Although the term "free visa" originally refers to a legitimate policy in which employers or governments cover the costs of the visa and airfare to reduce the financial burden on migrant workers, the concept has been distorted in Bangladesh's labour migration sector.
In reality, job seekers often pay large sums to intermediaries for visas that are not tied to any confirmed employment or lawful work authorisation.
Behind promises of easy access to overseas jobs lies a web of fraud, inflated fees, and exploitation that cost Bangladeshi workers an estimated Tk30,000 crore in 2022 alone, according to a study by the Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP).
The study found that workers travelling under these arrangements frequently face post-arrival extortion and additional payments to secure work permits or legal status in destination countries.
Many are forced to take high-interest loans to cover these costs, which erode their ability to send remittances home.
Among surveyed migrants, 51% had gone to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries through so-called "free visa" channels.
Of them, 21% had to pay an average of Tk1.48 lakh after arrival to obtain valid permits, while others spent further sums to find new jobs or return home after employment failures.
The report described the "free visa" system as unregulated and exploitative, contributing to capital flight and weakening the country's migration economy.
OKUP's findings expose how systemic malpractice drains both workers' savings and national resources.