How to Get Bangladesh CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- None
- Dual citizenship
- Not accepted
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- No income condition in the law
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Not acceptedNew citizens must give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad lose their citizenship automatically, with exceptions.
- Available routes
- Region
- Asia
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
Residence in Bangladesh is the basis of this route, together with the other conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been resident in Bangladesh for 12 months immediately prior to the application, as well as during 4 out of 7 years predating the 12-month period, or the person has been ordinarily resident in Bangladesh for 5 years. Intent to reside in Bangladesh or to enter or continue in the service of Bangladesh required.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
Renunciation of citizenship of another country required.
- Language
- No language requirement
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
Oath of allegiance required.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person must be of good character.
- Income or economic resources
- No income condition in the law
Marriage or civil partnership
Marriage to a citizen of Bangladesh is the basis of this route, together with the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person has been the wife of a Bangladeshi citizen and has been ordinarily resident in Bangladesh for 2 years. Other conditions: renunciation of citizenship and domicile of other country, and evidence proving her husband's citizenship of Bangladesh as well as a marriage certificate. The Government may also require other information regarding, for example, income or knowledge of Bengali language.
Descent (citizen parent)
For a person with a parent who is a citizen of Bangladesh, the rules below set out how this route works.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Bangladesh to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen other than by descent.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen by descent (registration at a Bangladesh consulate required unless the citizen parent is in the service of Bangladesh at the time of the birth).
Birth in the country
This route concerns people born in Bangladesh, and only in the situations described below. The law of Bangladesh confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Person is born in Bangladesh. Unless born to a father who is a foreign diplomat and not a citizen of Bangladesh, or the father is an enemy alien and the child is born in a place then under occupation by the enemy. (Note: no practice is reported in this regard and Bangladesh does not apply the ius soli principle, but ius soli acquisition is arguably possible under BAN 4. In practice at least one of the parents must be a citizen.)
Child of a new citizen
This route covers children of a person who becomes a citizen of Bangladesh, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is a minor residing in Bangladesh whose parent acquires citizenship through naturalisation, includes the child in his/her naturalisation certificate, and has parental authority over the child.
Other family members of citizens
This route covers certain family members not covered by the marriage or descent routes in Bangladesh. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Transfer from deceased citizen
Person is the wife of a deceased citizen (or of a person who would have been a citizen under BAN 3, 4 or 5). Citizenship can be acquired upon fulfilment of the other conditions listed under the rules for spousal coacquisition.
Spousal coacquisition
Person is the wife of someone who becomes a citizen, and makes a declaration expressing the wish to become a citizenship within 1 year after the husband took the oath of loyalty. Other conditions: oath of loyalty and possession of a certificate of domicile.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
This route covers people who previously held citizenship of Bangladesh, subject to the conditions below. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person is a former citizen. If person lost citizenship due to the non-renunciation of citizenship of another country or because s/he was deprived of citizenship, the person is not entitled to reacquisition but is dependent on the previous consent of the government.
Citizens of specific countries
For citizens of certain countries, the law of Bangladesh sets separate rules, shown below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
The person is a citizen of any state of Europe or North America or of any other state which the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, specify in this behalf.
Not available in Bangladesh: Adoption, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Stateless persons, Special achievements, Public or military service, Investment. Coded by GLOBALCIT for 1 January 2024 and updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
As a general rule, the law of Bangladesh does not allow a second citizenship in either direction.
- New citizens
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad lose their citizenship automatically, with exceptions
The person acquiring a foreign citizenship (or is about to acquire) may relinquish Bangladeshi citizenship voluntarily, asking the government to release him. When Bangladeshi citizenship is not relinquished voluntarily in this situation, it lapses ipso facto. Except if person acquires the nationality of any state of Europe or North America or any other State specified by the Government in this behalf and applies for retention of his/her original nationality.
Compare with neighbours
The period of 5 years set under the law of Bangladesh is also the most common one in Southern Asia.
See how Bangladesh compares with every country in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Bhutan | 20 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
 India | 11 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
 Iran | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Nepal | No route | No route | Not accepted |
 Pakistan | 5 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 9, PO 149 of 1972 4, 1926 Act 3, 6, 1978 Rules 3, 4.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Bangladesh Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/bangladesh/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/bangladesh/">How to Get Bangladesh Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Bangladeshi citizen?
The residence period for ordinary naturalisation in Bangladesh is 5 years. Other legal conditions also apply.
Does Bangladesh allow dual citizenship?
Not as a general rule. The data codes dual citizenship as not accepted in Bangladesh.
Do I need a language test for Bangladeshi citizenship?
Applicants are not required to demonstrate language skills under the law of Bangladesh.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Bangladeshi citizenship?
Applicants for Bangladeshi citizenship are not asked to demonstrate civic knowledge.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Bangladeshi citizenship?
Yes, you must give up your current citizenship to get Bangladeshi citizenship.
Can I get Bangladesh citizenship by marriage?
Yes, Bangladesh provides a marriage route. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Bangladesh citizenship by descent?
Yes, the law of Bangladesh provides citizenship by descent from a citizen parent. Procedure: automatic, entitlement.
Can I get Bangladesh citizenship by investment?
The data shows no investment route for Bangladesh.
Related pages
Also see: Bangladesh passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.