The visa · Part A: What the visa is, and how it works
CIMEA, ARDI or Declaration of Value: which one is mine?
Short answer: For a Bangladeshi qualification, either CIMEA's Comparability and Verification at €300, or a Declaration of Value from the embassy, which is free in Dhaka when requested for study. ARDI almost certainly does not apply to you.
Why ARDI does not apply
ARDI is CIMEA's quicker route, and it covers qualifications from countries that have signed the Lisbon Recognition Convention (CIMEA). Bangladesh is not a party to that convention, so an SSC, HSC or Bangladeshi degree does not go through ARDI. You can check the current list of parties yourself on the Council of Europe treaty page.
This matters because agencies and forums often say "get your CIMEA" as though it were one service at one price. It is several, and the one that applies to you is the more expensive one.
The CIMEA services and what they cost (CIMEA)
| Service | Cost | Time | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARDI Correspondence and Verification | €150 | Not published | Lisbon Convention countries only |
| Comparability only | €150 | 60 working days | Countries where verification is nearly impossible |
| Comparability and Verification | €300 | 60 working days | Most other countries, Bangladesh included |
| Urgent add on, comparability | €100 extra | Cuts that part to 30 working days | Optional |
Verification itself cannot be rushed, so the urgent add on speeds up only half the job.
The embassy route
A Declaration of Value is free in Dhaka when requested for study (Dhaka fee table). Dhaka accepts a Declaration of Value already issued, or the receipt of your application for one, or a verifiable CIMEA certificate (Dhaka checklist).
Which one to choose
Ask your university, because some insist on one or the other, and some have CIMEA agreements at lower prices. The detail by program is in B13, M17 and P15.
Only you can apply
CIMEA accepts requests from the holder of the qualification, not from agents (CIMEA). An agency offering to "do your CIMEA" means it will log in as you.
This page explains official rules in plain language. I am not an immigration adviser and I do not give visa advice. For that, always use official government sources. Rules change: confirm with your university, the embassy and VFS before you act.