VFS Global is a commercial outsourcing company, not a government body. It is contracted by the Ukrainian Embassy to handle administrative logistics. VFS has no authority over visa decisions and no access to any immigration database that would allow it to predict or influence an outcome.
What VFS Global Does
VFS Global (Visa Facilitation Services) operates a Ukraine Visa Application Centre in Dhaka. Its role is administrative and logistical. VFS:
- Accepts visa applications and supporting documents on behalf of the Ukrainian Embassy
- Collects biometric data (fingerprints and digital photographs) where required by Ukrainian consular rules
- Verifies that the application form is complete and that required documents are present before forwarding
- Forwards the complete application package to the Ukrainian Embassy for decision
- Provides a tracking portal so applicants can monitor their application status
- Returns the applicant's passport after the embassy issues its decision (approval or refusal)
VFS does not assess applications. VFS does not approve or reject visa applications. A VFS counter officer cannot tell you whether your visa will be approved — any such claim is false.
What VFS Does NOT Do
This is as important as knowing what VFS does. VFS Global Bangladesh:
- Cannot issue visas — only the Ukrainian Embassy has that authority
- Cannot influence visa decisions — VFS has no role in the embassy's deliberation process
- Cannot advise on eligibility — VFS staff are not immigration advisers and have no authority to advise whether you qualify
- Cannot expedite processing beyond what the embassy formally offers for urgent applications
- Cannot correct a refusal — if the embassy refuses, VFS has no mechanism to appeal or overturn that decision
Never pay a VFS staff member extra money in exchange for promises about influencing your application. VFS agents have no such authority. Any VFS employee making such a claim is committing fraud — the payment will be taken and the promise cannot be fulfilled.
VFS Contact and Location (Dhaka)
Always verify current address, hours, and appointment availability directly on the VFS website before attending. Physical locations and operational hours are subject to change. A trip to the VFS centre based on outdated information found on a third-party site (including this one) can result in a wasted journey.
Which Visa Types Go Through VFS
VFS Global Bangladesh lists both short-stay (Type C, up to 90 days) and long-stay (Type D) categories for Ukraine, including work at a Ukrainian company, study, spouse and family reunion. Ukraine has no embassy in Bangladesh, so the VFS Global Ukraine centre in Dhaka is where Bangladeshi applicants lodge the file; the Embassy of Ukraine in New Delhi decides.
VFS Global Bangladesh lists the Ukraine visa categories it accepts. Check that your category is on that list before you book. Students with an electronic invitation from the Unified Interagency Information System follow their university's instructions for that system (Resolution No. 118, para. 8-2).
VFS Fees
VFS charges a service fee in addition to the Ukrainian consular fee. These are two separate charges:
- VFS service fee: A non-refundable administrative fee payable to VFS. Check the current amount at vfsglobal.com before booking — this figure changes and varies by visa category.
- Ukrainian consular fee: A separate fee payable to the Embassy of Ukraine in New Delhi, per its tariff: the base rate under the visa rules is USD 65 unless reciprocity or a treaty sets otherwise, and urgent issuance costs double. Check the embassy consular-fee page before paying.
Both fees are typically non-refundable if your application is refused. Confirm accepted payment methods (card, bank transfer) when booking your appointment.
Booking a VFS Appointment
- Visit vfsglobal.com/ukraine/bangladesh and select your visa category
- Choose your preferred appointment date and time slot
- Complete online registration and pay the VFS service fee by card
- Download and print your appointment confirmation
- Prepare all required documents before your appointment — incomplete applications are rejected at the VFS counter
- Arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment time with all original documents, copies, passport, and the appointment confirmation
Appointment availability in Dhaka can be limited. Book as early as possible — as soon as your work permit, invitation letter, and other documents are complete and valid. Do not book before documents are ready: VFS will reject an incomplete application, your appointment slot is consumed, and you must rebook.
Documents to Bring to Your VFS Appointment
The document checklist follows the Visa Rules (Resolution No. 118, paras. 5, 8). The BMET Smart Card is a Bangladesh exit requirement obtained after the visa. For a D-type employment visa, bring:
- Visa form registered on visa.mfa.gov.ua, printed and signed
- Passport valid at least 3 months after your planned departure from Ukraine, with at least two blank pages, issued within the last 10 years (Resolution No. 118, para. 5), plus photocopies
- One colour photo 35 × 45 mm
- Certified copy of the work permit issued by the Ukrainian State Employment Service (para. 8)
- Proof of sufficient funds for the intended stay
- Medical insurance with at least €30,000 cover, valid for at least your first trip (para. 5)
- VFS service fee receipt and consular fee payment (verify payment method with VFS at booking)
Bring originals and photocopies. VFS will not make copies for you at the counter. Prepare everything in advance.
After Submission: Processing and Tracking
After VFS forwards your application, the Embassy of Ukraine in New Delhi decides within up to 10 working days from receipt of the documents, up to 30 with additional checks (Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 118, para. 19). Add the time for the file to travel between Dhaka and New Delhi and for passport return.
Track your application via the VFS tracking portal (track.vfsglobal.com or the link provided on your appointment confirmation receipt). Enter your application reference number and passport number to see the current status.
Status codes you may see: Received by VFS, Submitted to Embassy, Under Processing, Decision Made, Ready for Collection/Dispatch. "Decision Made" does not tell you the outcome — collect your passport to see the visa sticker or the refusal letter.
Passport Return
After the embassy's decision, your passport is returned to VFS for distribution. You have two options:
- In-person collection: Visit the VFS centre in Dhaka with your collection slip.
- Courier return: VFS offers tracked courier delivery to your home address for an additional fee. This is particularly useful for applicants from Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi, or Khulna who would otherwise need a second Dhaka trip. Opt in at the time of your original VFS appointment submission.
Optional VFS Value-Added Services
VFS Bangladesh offers optional paid services that are not required and do not affect the visa outcome:
- Document scanning and photocopying at the centre
- Form-fill assistance (VFS staff help complete the application form)
- Courier passport return (as above)
- Premium lounge appointment (priority counter, waiting area)
These services are entirely optional. None of them improve your visa outcome probability. If budget is a concern, skip them.