Bangladesh issues a dual nationality certificate, and for a Bangladeshi who has become a U.S. citizen it is not optional paperwork: the missions require a copy of it, together with the U.S. passport, in order to process a passport application at all.
Quick facts
If you are not a U.S. citizen, the requirement is different: proof of lawful status here, such as a visa or a permanent residence card, or a notarised affidavit stating that you are not a U.S. citizen.
Which document applies
| Your situation | What the mission needs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi who became a U.S. citizen | Dual nationality certificate and U.S. passport | Required for the passport file |
| Bangladeshi with a green card or visa | Proof of that status | Photocopy suffices |
| Bangladeshi with neither | Notarised affidavit | Stating you are not a U.S. citizen |
| Former Bangladeshi, now foreign only | No visa required seal | Covered on the visa page |
| Child born in the U.S. | Birth registration in Bangladesh | Then passport or seal |
The affidavit requirement is unusual and worth flagging: a signed statement that you hold no foreign citizenship, notarised, forms part of a routine passport file for many applicants.
How to apply
- Establish your status: U.S. citizen, lawful resident, or neither.
- Apply for the dual nationality certificate if you have naturalised.
- Gather the Bangladeshi documents proving origin, including expired passports.
- Register children born here so they enter the Bangladeshi record.
- Keep the certificate with your other documents: it is asked for repeatedly.
- Use the appropriate route afterwards, whether a passport or the no-visa seal.
Required documents
- Bangladeshi passport, valid or expired.
- National identity card or verified birth registration certificate.
- U.S. naturalisation certificate and passport, where applicable.
- Marriage certificate where names have changed.
- Children’s birth certificates for family files.
- Proof of address in the United States.
Where to apply
At the mission covering your state, which forwards the application to the competent authority in Bangladesh.
Additional notes
Get it before you need it
People discover the certificate is required when they turn up to renew a passport. Obtaining it first avoids a second appointment.
Children born here
They are U.S. citizens by birth and entitled to Bangladeshi documents through a parent. Registering the birth early keeps both options open.
Keep expired documents
An expired Bangladeshi passport proves origin for several procedures. It is the single most useful thing to hold on to.
Consular tours
Where a mission visits your city, these files can often be handled there rather than by travelling to the consulate.