Bosnian Citizenship Applications and Passports
Not sure where to begin or just want further information? Have a read of the below to find out more!
Do you want to apply for a Bosnian passport?
We can translate your documents for you. Read some of the information below prior to starting your Bosnian citizenship journey.
YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A BOSNIAN PASSPORT – FIND OUT MORE!
Why apply for Bosnian citizenship?
There are numerous benefits to applying for Bosnian citizenship even if you already have an Australian or New Zealand passport. Whether it being pursuing a life as a digital nomad, retaining a close connection to the mother country, ensuring that your own children can one day apply for Bosnian citizenship or the various visa free arrangements which Bosnia has with many countries – the options are endless.
Heritage
Stay close to your roots by taking out Bosnian citizenship and retaining a connection with the homeland. Only citizens can take out identity cards and other documents required for life in Bosnia.
Migration
If you are wanting a change in pace in life or considering life as a digital nomad, a Bosnian passport might be just the way to escape the rat race and live a simpler and more fulfilling life.
Travel
Did you know that Bosnia has visa-free regime arrangements with many countries? This means that if travelling on a Bosnian passport you won’t need to apply for a visa prior to travel.
Who can apply for Bosnian citizenship?
There are various ways of applying for Bosnian citizenship, even if you were born in Australia or New Zealand. We’ve provided summaries from the Bosnian Embassy in Australia here to assist you below.
BOSNIAN CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT – BOSNIAN PARENTS
You may be eligible to apply for Bosnian citizenship by descent if you meet the following criteria:
- Both of your parents were citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the time of your birth
- One of your parents was a citizen of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the time of your birth and you were born in Bosnia
- One of your parents was a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the time of your birth and you don’t have any other citizenship
- If you were born overseas, and one of your parents was a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the time of your birth, provided that you have submitted a citizenship application by the time you are 23 years old
Read more below to find out what you need to do in order to apply!
BOSNIAN CITIZENSHIP BY BIRTH
All persons born in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina are granted Bosnian citizenship by constitutional right.
BOSNIAN CITIZENSHIP BY MARRIAGE
You may be able to apply for Bosnian citizenship if you are married to a Bosnian citizen.
Read more below to find out what you need to do in order to apply
Please note that we are not Migration Agents, nor giving any migration advice, and that we encourage you to contact your local bosnian embassy or consulate listed below for more information.
Which documents do I need to apply for Bosnian citizenship by descent or through emigration?
Below is the list of documents which our clients are often asked for when applying for Bosnian citizenship by descent. We encourage you to contact your local Bosnian embassy or consulate for advice as requirements do sometimes change.
If your documents are in English, then they will all need to be translated by an official translator into Bosnian. We can help translate your documents for you!
All official Australian or New Zealand documents must have an Apostille stamp on them. An Apostille stamp verifies that your document is an official document and the contents of the document are true – only the Australian or New Zealand government can provide this stamp.
All Apostille stamps should be obtained before you send us your documents for translating – as this must be translated into Bosnian.
Australia: You can organise an Apostille stamp by contacting Notarial Services via this link and by booking an appointment or sending them your document in the post.
New Zealand: You can organise an Apostille stamp by contacting the New Zealand authorities via this link.
We can help translate all your Australia or New Zealand documents into Bosnian for you!
Steps to Apply for Bosnian Citizenship by Descent in Australia or New Zealand
If your parents are Bosnian, then you may be eligible to apply for Bosnian citizenship under Bosnian Citizenship Act!
Step One: Obtain relevant documentation
You will need to gather all of the relevant documents below in order to support your citizenship application.
BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITH APOSTILLE STAMP – TRANSLATED
You will need an original Australian or New Zealand birth certificate with an apostille stamp affixed to the back of it. Both documents must be translated into Bosnian by an official certified Bosnian translator.
CERTIFIED COPY OF YOUR ID
You will need to present a Certified Copy of a valid Australia, New Zealand or other passport or Certificate of Citizenship to prove which country you are currently a citizen of.
All of the information on this document must match the names in the birth and marriage certificates as well as the police check.
PROOF OF BOTH PARENTS BOSNIAN CITIZENSHIP
You will need to provide proof that both your parents are Bosnian citizens.
This must be in the form of a Certified Copy of a valid Bosnian passport, Bosnian Identity Card or original Certificate of Citizenship issued no more than 6 months ago.
These copies must be certified by a Justice of the Peace.
As they will already be in Bosnian, they do not need to be translated.
APPLYING WITH ONLY ONE BOSNIAN PARENT
If only ONE of your parents is a Bosnian citizen, then you will have to provide slightly different documentation to support your citizenship application.
Required from you will be:
- A Certified Copy of a valid Bosnian passport or identity card, or original Certificate of Citizenship issued no more than 6 months ago, for the parent who is a Bosnian citizen. As above, this needs to be certified by a Justice of the Peace.
- A Certified Copy of a valid passport for the parent who is not a Bosnian citizen. As above, this needs to be certified by a Justice of the Peace.
- Proof that the individual applying for citizenship has been registered in the Civil Registry for Births. Importantly, this can only be done up until the age of 23.
- For children from the ages of 14 to 18, you will also need your parent or guardian to co-sign the request to be registered in the Bosnian Civil Registry for Births.
We can help translate all your Australia or New Zealand documents into Bosnian for you!
Step Two: Complete the Application Form
If you are applying for Bosnian citizenship then you must fill out this form: Predmet: Zahtjev za naknadnim upisom u MKR građana BiH.
You must list your last place of residence in Bosnia. If you’ve never lived in Bosnia and Herzegovina, then you must list your parents’ last place of residence there.
These forms must be filled out in the Bosnian language. If you are unable to do so, then we can translate them for you and assist with completing the forms in Bosnian.
Step Three: Pay Money Order and Send Documents to the Bosnian Embassy
You will need to pay the money order and any and all relevant consular fees. These can be found on the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s website.
Once done, all of your documents including the application form, originals, translations and money orders must be posted to the Bosnian embassy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Although it may seem daunting at first, applying for Bosnian citizenship is a fairly straightforward process for most. Here are some of the questions which we commonly get asked by our clients.
Do I need a lawyer or migration service?
No! Most our clients apply for citizenship on their own without engaging any lawyers or citizenship services. It is entirely possible, and cheaper, to follow the steps on the Bosnian government website and apply on your own.
How do I get the required documents?
You can ask family in Bosnia, or email/call civil registry offices in Bosnia yourself and request that they provide official documents such as birth certificates from your ancestors.
Do I need paper or digital translations?
The Bosnian embassy seems to prefer printed and ‘wet stamped’ certified translations, so we always mail copies out to clients when we know that they are applying for Bosnian citizenship.
Looking for a NAATI Certified Bosnian translator?
Just send us a message!
Where is my closest Bosnian Embassy or Consulate?
All of the information provided on our website is general in nature and we recommend contacting your nearest Bosnian embassy or consulate below to find out more information on how to apply for Bosnian citizenship.
Canberra
Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Serves as the Bosnian Embassy for Australia and New Zealand
- 5 Beale Crescent, Deakin ACT 2600
- embassy@bihembassy.org
- +61 2 6232 5664
- https://bihembassy.org/index.php?lang=en
Sydney
Consulate of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Level 5, 115 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
- info@bihconsulatesydney.com
- +61 2 9113 7242
- www.bihconsulatesydney.com