Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Antonio Alessandro, has asked the visa seekers to stay aside from paying anyone for visa or work permit purposes instead of the embassy’s nominal charge of taxes and processing fees.

“We only receive nominal taxes and processing fees. The visa seekers should refrain from paying anyone for buying visas or work permits. All sorts of services are given free of cost, except these fees,” Alessandro said.

Alessandro was talking to reporters after a meeting with State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury at the ministry office in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Both sides discussed the way to improve migration to Italy from Bangladesh and addressed the issue relating to the regular and irregular flows of migration to Italy.

Alessandro explained the delay in visa processing system, citing the discovery of forged documents, counterfeit or fake working permits and fraudulent applications, which have slowed the process.

Calling upon the concerned people not to be panicked over the expiry of their work permits, he said, “I want to reassure everyone that if they email VFS Global, their work permits will not expire, though it will take some time to get a proper appointment."