Italy Embassy in Dhaka has announced a series of
significant steps to expedite the processing of long-pending visa
applications for Bangladeshi citizens following discussions with the foreign
ministry here.

In an effort to address the backlog, the consular section has increased its
workforce and streamlined its operations, said a Bangladeshi's foreign
ministry's press release this evening here.

Currently, over 40,000 work-related visa applications are under consideration
while the Italy embassy already beginning the process of returning passports
to applicants.

The embassy has assured that decisions on at least 20,000 applications will
be made and passports returned within the next two months.

However, the embassy emphasized that submitting a work permit, or 'nulla
osta', does not guarantee a visa approval, as all documents will undergo
thorough verification to prevent fraud and corruption.

In addition to work visas, the number of applications for study, business,
tourism, and family visas has also been steadily increasing, said the
release.

The embassy further noted that the timeline for visa processing and final
decisions are governed by Italian laws and regulations.

Applicants have the right to appeal, but the embassy is bound to follow the
applicable legal framework.

The Italy Embassy reiterated its commitment to the foreign ministry to
resolve the visa backlog with maximum efficiency and transparency and urging
applicants to cooperate throughout the process, said the release.