The collective diplomatic missions of Schengen Area member states accredited to Bangladesh issued an advisory on Monday, urging visa applicants in Dhaka to submit only authentic and unaltered documents as part of their applications, warning that the use of falsified materials carries automatic consequences.

The notice, published on the verified Facebook page of the Missions of Schengen States in Dhaka, said, "Please only present original and non-manipulated documents with your application. Submitting falsified or manipulated documents will result in refusal of your application."

The Schengen Area comprises 29 European countries that have abolished passport and border controls at their shared internal borders. Nationals of Bangladesh, which holds a non-Schengen passport, are required to apply for a short-stay visa—commonly known as a Schengen visa—before travelling to any member state for purposes including tourism, business, or family visits.