In a major policy revision designed to ease international financial constraints for citizens, Bangladesh Bank has expanded the annual foreign currency limit for overseas travel by 50 per cent. Under the updated directive, adult Bangladeshi nationals can now endorse and spend up to $18,000 (US dollars)—or the equivalent in other foreign currencies—within a single calendar year.
The previous ceiling stood at $12,000.
A circular released on Sunday, 6 September 2026, by the central bank’s Foreign Exchange Policy Department notified chief executives across all Authorised Dealer (AD) banks of the change. Monetary authorities noted that the adjustment accounts for evolving global travel expenses alongside the actual financial requirements of outward-bound Bangladeshi travelers. The higher quota offers significant flexibility for individuals traveling abroad for medical treatment, family visits, business engagements, or leisure tourism.
While the total annual ceiling has expanded substantially, the regulations governing cash endorsements remain unchanged. Travelers may still carry up to $5,000 in physical cash banknotes per year out of their total allocation. The remaining $13,000 of the newly increased quota must be spent digitally via international debit, credit, or pre-paid travel cards.
For minors under 12 years of age, the framework retains its existing baseline structure. Young travelers are entitled to 50 per cent of the adult allocation, capping their annual entitlement at $9,000.
The central bank’s decision comes against the backdrop of a stabilizing domestic foreign exchange market, where interbank dollar rates have recently settled around 122.78 taka. Strong remittance channels and tighter oversight have strengthened systemic liquidity, enabling regulators to liberalize travel allocations without straining official reserves. Financial analysts suggest the move will also encourage travelers to route their foreign currency transactions through official banking pipelines and digital payment platforms, discouraging reliance on informal kerb markets.
