Bangladesh

Last Updated: 2026-03-31

Official Portal: Ministry of Home Affairs — Citizenship

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Quick Facts

Category	Details
Residency for naturalization	5 years continuous residence in Bangladesh
Language requirement	Adequate knowledge of Bengali (Bangla)
Civics test	None; assessed during interview
Processing time	6—18 months
Naturalization fee	BDT 500—1,000 (approximately USD 5—10)
Dual citizenship	Permitted for citizens of certain countries by government notification
Citizenship by birth in Bangladesh	Yes, for persons born in Bangladesh (with restrictions post-2009)
Citizenship by descent	Automatic for children of Bangladeshi fathers; mothers’ descent rights established after 2009 amendment
Governing law	Bangladesh Citizenship Act, 1951; Bangladesh Citizenship (Temporary Provisions) Order, 1972

Dual Citizenship

Bangladesh historically did not permit dual citizenship. However, through a series of government notifications under the Bangladesh Citizenship (Temporary Provisions) Amendment Ordinance 2008 and subsequent amendments, dual citizenship is now permitted on a conditional basis.

Current rule: Bangladeshi nationals who have acquired citizenship of designated countries may retain their Bangladeshi citizenship. The government periodically updates the list of approved countries by notification. Countries currently approved include the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and several EU member states.

Key conditions:

The individual must apply for retention or restoration of Bangladeshi citizenship.
Dual citizens are issued a “No Visa Required” stamp or certificate confirming their Bangladeshi citizenship alongside the foreign nationality.
Dual citizens cannot hold certain public offices or positions in the security forces.
Citizens of countries not on the approved list who acquire foreign nationality may lose Bangladeshi citizenship automatically.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

A person born in Bangladesh acquires Bangladeshi citizenship at birth, subject to the following:

Before 2009: Any person born in Bangladesh was a citizen regardless of the nationality of the parents.
Post-2009 amendment: A person born in Bangladesh is a citizen if at least one parent is a Bangladeshi citizen or if the person would otherwise be stateless.

Foundlings discovered in Bangladesh are presumed to be citizens until proven otherwise.

Historical note: Bangladesh’s full jus soli was one of the most generous in South Asia prior to 2009. The amendment was introduced amid concerns about irregular migration from neighboring countries, particularly Myanmar.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

Before the 2009 amendment: Citizenship by descent was transmitted only through the father. A child born abroad to a Bangladeshi father was a citizen by descent.

After the 2009 amendment: Both the father and mother can transmit citizenship by descent. A child born outside Bangladesh to a Bangladeshi parent (father or mother) acquires citizenship, provided the birth is registered at a Bangladeshi mission abroad.

Registration requirement: Births abroad should be registered with the nearest Bangladesh Embassy or High Commission within one year. Failure to register does not extinguish the right to citizenship by descent, but creates significant documentation challenges when applying for a Bangladeshi passport or national identity card.

By Adoption

Bangladesh does not have a formal statutory adoption framework recognized under the Citizenship Act. Islamic guardianship (kafalah) is the prevailing model, and adoption in the Western legal sense is not codified. Adopted children of Bangladeshi citizens do not automatically acquire citizenship through adoption. Naturalization is the standard pathway for adopted foreign children.

By Marriage

There is no automatic acquisition of Bangladeshi citizenship through marriage. A foreign spouse of a Bangladeshi citizen may apply for naturalization, subject to meeting residency and other requirements. There is no explicit reduced residency period for spouses, though the government has discretion.

In practice, foreign wives of Bangladeshi men have historically found the process more straightforward than foreign husbands of Bangladeshi women, though the 2009 amendment moved toward greater gender equality.

By Naturalization

Requirement	Details
Continuous residence	5 years in Bangladesh
Good character	Must be of good character, as determined by the government
Language	Adequate knowledge of Bengali
Intention	Must intend to reside in Bangladesh permanently or be in government service
Renunciation of prior citizenship	Required unless dual citizenship is permitted under government notification
Age	Must be of full age (18 years) and capacity
Fee	BDT 500—1,000

Naturalization is granted at the discretion of the government and is not an entitlement.

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary Renunciation

A Bangladeshi citizen of full age and capacity may renounce citizenship by making a declaration, provided they hold or are about to acquire another nationality. Renunciation renders the person a non-citizen from the date of registration of the declaration.

Involuntary Loss

Ground	Details
Acquisition of foreign citizenship	Automatically lost upon acquiring citizenship of a country not on the approved dual citizenship list
Fraud	Citizenship obtained by fraud, false representation, or concealment of material fact may be revoked
Disloyalty or disaffection	Demonstrated by act or speech toward the state
Trading with the enemy	During wartime
Continuous residence abroad	Naturalized citizens who reside outside Bangladesh continuously for 7 years without registering with a mission may lose citizenship

Restoration of Nationality

Former Bangladeshi citizens who lost citizenship by acquiring a foreign nationality may apply for restoration if:

They return to Bangladesh with the intention of permanent residence, OR
Their country of acquired citizenship is on the approved dual citizenship list.

Applications are submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Restoration is discretionary and subject to approval by the government.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

Bangladesh is not a party to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. However, under domestic law:

Foundlings: A newborn found in Bangladesh whose parents are unknown is presumed to be a Bangladeshi citizen.
Stateless persons: The 2009 amendment to the citizenship law provides that a person born in Bangladesh who would otherwise be stateless acquires Bangladeshi citizenship at birth.

The Rohingya population in Bangladesh presents a significant statelessness concern, though this is primarily governed by humanitarian and political frameworks rather than the Citizenship Act itself.

Document Checklist

Sources

Bangladesh Citizenship Act, 1951 — Primary legislation governing citizenship. http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/act-242.html
Bangladesh Citizenship (Temporary Provisions) Order, 1972 — Post-independence citizenship provisions. http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/act-details-426.html
Ministry of Home Affairs — Responsible authority for citizenship matters. http://www.mha.gov.bd/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Embassy and mission information for overseas applications. https://mofa.gov.bd/
Constitution of Bangladesh, Part III — Fundamental rights and citizenship provisions. http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/act-367.html

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