CITIZENSHIP

MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ACQUIRING CITIZENSHIP

For the acquisition of citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina based on naturalization, a foreigner – applicant is required to submit the following evidence along with the application:

1. birth certificate for the applicant;
2. citizenship certificate of the applicant’s country of origin;
3. evidence of sufficient knowledge of the language and script of one of the constituent peoples of the Bosnia and Herzegovina, which includes:
   • confirmation of passing the language and script exam of one of the constituent people in Bosnia and Herzegovina at a university, high school, or adult education institution authorized by the Ministry responsible for education to conduct programs in the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina or
   • a diploma of completed primary, secondary, or higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina or
   • a diploma from a foreign educational institution confirming that the education was conducted in one of the languages officially used in Bosnia and Herzegovina or a diploma of completion of a course of at least B1 level of knowledge of one of those languages;
4. proof of payment of the federal administrative fee.

In addition to the above evidence, the applicant must have permanent residence within the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, provided that at the time of application submission, they have permanent residence within the territory of the Federation, and evidence related to the security clearance from the Intelligence-Security Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which the Federal Ministry obtains ex officio.

For acquiring citizenship of the Bosnia and Herzegovina based on naturalization for a child under the age of 18, the applicant is required to submit the following evidence along with the application: 

1. birth certificate of the child;
2. citizenship certificate for the child from the country of origin, and
3. birth certificate and citizenship certificate of the Bosnia and Herzegovina of one of the child’s parents who acquired citizenship of the Bosnia and Herzegovina through naturalization after the child’s birth;
4. proof of payment of the federal administrative fee.

In addition to the above evidence, the applicant must meet the condition regarding approved residence or permanent residence within the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued by the Ministry of Security – Service for Foreigners’ Affairs, provided that at the time of application submission, they have permanent or temporary residence within the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which the Federal Ministry obtains ex officio.

For acquiring citizenship of the Federation based on this provision for a child older than 14 years, the applicant is required to submit, in addition to all the aforementioned evidence, a certified statement from the competent authority or notary that the child older than 14 years consents to acquiring Federation citizenship.

For acquiring citizenship of the Federation for persons recognized as refugees and stateless persons, the applicant is required to submit the following evidence along with the application:

1. birth certificate of the applicant;
2. certificate of criminal record issued by the competent authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina stating that they have not been sentenced to imprisonment for intentional criminal offenses for more than three years within a period of eight years prior to submitting the application;
3. certificate of no ongoing criminal proceedings issued by the competent authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina, unless evidence of meeting this condition cannot reasonably be required;
4. proof of identity of the applicant issued by the Ministry of Security – Service for Foreigners’ Affairs;
5. proof of refugee status issued by the competent authority;
6. certified statement of acceptance of the legal system and constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federation;
7. proof of payment of the federal administrative fee.

For acquiring citizenship of the Federation for emigrants, their spouse, and the first and second generations of descendants of emigrants (children and grandchildren of emigrants), the applicant is required to submit the following evidence along with the application:

For an emigrant:

1. all evidence required for the procedure of acquiring Bosnia and Herzegovina and Federation citizenship based on naturalization, except evidence related to permanent residence within the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
2. proof of reporting residence in the Federation,
3. evidence from a foreign authority that the person has or had emigrant status abroad,
4. proof of payment of the federal administrative fee;

For the spouse of an emigrant – all evidence required for the procedure of acquiring Bosnia and Herzegovina and Federation citizenship based on naturalization, and if the spouse of an emigrant submits evidence of marriage to the emigrant for a duration of at least five years before submitting the application and evidence of renunciation of previous citizenship, in this case, evidence of approved permanent residence within the territory of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is not required.

For persons who are the first (children) and second generation (grandchildren) descendants of emigrants, the following are required:

1. all evidence required for the procedure of acquiring Bosnia and Herzegovina citizenship based on naturalization, except evidence related to permanent residence within the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
2. evidence that descendants of emigrants have reported residence in the Bosnia and Herzegovina,
3. evidence from a foreign authority that the person whose descendants have submitted the application has or had emigrant status abroad,
4. evidence that the applicants are first or second-generation descendants of emigrants;
5. proof of payment of the federal administrative fee.

DECISION-MAKING ON THE APPLICATION

Decisions on the acquisition or cessation of Bosnia and Herzegovina citizenship are made by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.