Who qualifies for Bosnian citizenship by descent
Two BiH-citizen parents: citizen by origin, wherever born. One BiH-citizen parent, born abroad: citizen if registered before 23, or automatically if the child would otherwise be stateless. There's no route through grandparents. BiH allows dual citizenship only where a bilateral agreement exists (such as with Croatia, Serbia and Sweden) — not with the US, UK, Canada or Australia.
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One BiH parent: register before 23
If you were born abroad to one BiH citizen and one foreign parent, you have the right to BiH citizenship, but to keep it you must be registered as a citizen by your 23rd birthday — with a BiH embassy or consulate, or a municipality in BiH. Children who would otherwise be stateless are citizens automatically.
Sources: Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH — citizenship FAQ · Statelessness Index — Bosnia & Herzegovina citizenship law profile
State and entity citizenship
Every BiH citizen also holds citizenship of an entity: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina or Republika Srpska. Your parent's records are kept by the municipality where they're registered, which determines the entity. Knowing that municipality speeds up registration considerably.
Dual citizenship: the deciding issue
BiH accepts dual citizenship only with states it has a bilateral agreement with — such as Croatia, Serbia and Sweden. Without such an agreement, BiH citizens who voluntarily acquire another citizenship can lose BiH citizenship, and people acquiring BiH citizenship are generally expected to give up others. For diaspora members in the US, UK, Canada or Australia, check the current position with the embassy before applying.
Step by step
1. Find your BiH parent's municipality of registration and get their citizenship certificate (uvjerenje o državljanstvu) and birth register extract. 2. Bring your birth certificate (apostilled and translated) and your parent's documents to a BiH embassy or consulate, or the municipality. 3. File the registration before your 23rd birthday. 4. After entry in the register of citizens, apply for a BiH passport — and check the dual-citizenship position for your other country first.
Records
Civil registers in BiH are kept by municipalities; older records, including those from Yugoslav times, may sit in municipal or entity archives. The Archives of Bosnia and Herzegovina and IDDEEA (the identification documents agency) are the national starting points.
Worked examples
Emir was born in Sweden in 2005 to a Bosnian father and a Swedish mother. He must register as a BiH citizen before 2028, when he turns 23; Sweden is among the countries BiH has a dual-citizenship agreement with.
Lejla was born in the US to two BiH citizens. She's a BiH citizen by origin — but because the US has no agreement with BiH, she should ask how her US citizenship is treated before applying for a BiH passport.
Bosnian requirements at a glance
- Two BiH-citizen parents, or one BiH parent and registration before age 23
- Registration with a BiH embassy or consulate, or a municipality in BiH
- Check dual citizenship: allowed only with agreement countries
- No grandparent route
Documents for a Bosnian claim
- 1Your birth certificate (apostilled and translated into Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian)
- 2Your BiH parent's citizenship certificate or BiH ID or passport
- 3Your parents' marriage certificate, if relevant
- 4Your passport
Bosnian processing times
Registration before 23 is administrative but needs records from the municipality where your parent is registered; allow several months.
Where Bosnian claims go wrong
- Missing the 23rd-birthday deadline with one BiH parent
- Assuming dual citizenship is allowed — only with agreement countries
- Not knowing your parent's municipality and entity, which hold the records
Official Bosnian government sources
Bosnian citizenship FAQ
Q1My mother is Bosnian and I'm 21. Can I still get citizenship?
Yes — register as a BiH citizen with a BiH embassy or municipality before your 23rd birthday.
Q2Can I keep my US citizenship?
BiH only allows dual citizenship with agreement countries; the US isn't one. Ask the embassy how this applies to you.
Q3Can I claim through a grandparent?
No. BiH citizenship by origin comes through parents.
Q4Where do I register?
At a BiH embassy or consulate, or at a municipality in BiH.
Q5What if I'm already 23?
The registration route has closed; ordinary naturalisation requires residence in BiH.
Bosnian nationality law
Law on Citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as amended. Citizenship by origin for children of two citizens; children born abroad to one citizen keep it if registered before 23. Dual citizenship is allowed only where BiH has concluded a bilateral agreement.
Dual citizenship in Bosnia and Herzegovina
BiH allows dual citizenship only with countries it has a bilateral agreement with, such as Croatia, Serbia and Sweden. Check whether you'd have to give up another citizenship.
Bosnian application costs
Consular and registration fees are set by BiH embassies; translations and apostilles are extra.