People who become Italian citizens often wonder whether they will lose their Bangladeshi citizenship and their green passport. The short answer: you can have both, but Bangladesh requires a specific certificate.
What Italian law says
Italy’s citizenship law (Law 91 of 1992) does not ask you to give up your original citizenship: you can become Italian and remain Bangladeshi. In Italy you will use Italian documents; for Italy you are an Italian citizen in every respect.
What Bangladeshi law says
Bangladesh’s 1972 citizenship law says that a citizen who acquires another citizenship loses Bangladeshi citizenship, unless the government grants an exception. Italy, like other European countries, is among the countries for which dual citizenship is allowed. To keep it you need the Dual Nationality Certificate (DNC), issued by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs.
How to apply for the certificate
- Since 16 May 2025 applications are online only, on the Ministry of Home Affairs portal (scs.ssd.gov.bd); embassies and consulates no longer accept paper applications.
- Documents usually required: your Italian passport and proof of Italian citizenship (for example the decree), a Bangladeshi document (old passport, NID or birth certificate) and a sworn declaration certified by a notary.
- The fee is paid online. After checks by the Bangladeshi police, the certificate arrives in digital form with a QR code.
Why it’s worth doing
With the certificate you remain a Bangladeshi citizen in every respect: you can renew your Bangladeshi passport and keep your rights in Bangladesh, for example over property and inheritance. Without it, under Bangladeshi law you risk having lost your citizenship. One limit to know: Bangladesh’s Constitution does not allow dual citizens to stand for Parliament unless they give up the foreign citizenship.
Only the government issues the certificate – beware of anyone selling it “guaranteed” for money. Before all this, applying for Italian citizenship requires your Bangladeshi birth certificate and police certificate, legalised and translated: read our guide to citizenship by residence.
