Germany Allows Dual Citizenship; BiH Still Waiting for Reciprocal Pact Affecting 30,000 BiH Diaspora

Germany’s sweeping citizenship reform, in force since June 27, 2024, opened the door to full dual citizenship for all nationalities. Yet more than a year later, a large share of people from BiH (Bosnia and Herzegovina) living in Germany say the change has not reached them. With BiH still without a reciprocal deal, over 30,000 people of BiH origin in Germany cannot regain or keep their BiH passports, even though German law now allows it.

The gap has grown into a daily problem for families who want legal ties to both countries but remain stuck between two systems moving at different speeds.

What Germany changed

The core shift in Germany is simple: new citizens no longer have to give up their original nationality. This applies to Bosnians too.

• Before 2024, Germany usually required renunciation, with limited exceptions.
• The new approach aims to keep ties with migrants while boosting the pool of skilled workers.
• Officials framed it as a practical step to meet labour needs and reflect the reality that many people live their lives across borders.
• The reform also recognizes that identity and belonging are complex, and legal walls do not change that.

What BiH’s rules still say

BiH, however, still runs on an older rulebook. The country’s nationality law expects most people who naturalize elsewhere to renounce BiH citizenship, unless a bilateral agreement says otherwise. No such agreement with Germany exists as of August 31, 2025.

• People who once gave up BiH citizenship to gain German passports—often for jobs, family, or stability—now struggle to get BiH citizenship back.
• Community groups describe a steady loss of rights in BiH (property, inheritance, voting, political participation) because the law treats them as foreigners despite deep roots.

Political steps taken so far

In August 2025, the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH adopted an initiative led by Denis Zvizdić, urging the Ministry of Civil Affairs to start talks with Berlin on a dual citizenship agreement. The Council of Ministers is expected to steer the process.

• As of today, nothing has been signed.
• Negotiations are expected to begin later in 2025, but there is no official timeline for a deal or for how people could regain their BiH status once it is in place.

Scope and human impact

Advocates warn time is running out. Over recent years, more than 100,000 people have renounced BiH citizenship, many to obtain German, Austrian, or Slovenian passports under rules that did not allow dual nationality on the BiH side.

• In the first eight months of 2025, 597 former BiH citizens completed renunciation.
• These figures reflect workers, students, and parents who traded part of their legal identity for a secure future.

Diaspora representatives and activists frame the issue as both practical and emotional.

• Remittances support families and small businesses back home and make up a notable share of the BiH economy.
• A passport can shape a child’s sense of belonging; dual nationality lets parents pass a heritage forward without forcing children to choose one country over another.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the mismatch between Germany’s open policy and BiH’s agreement-based model has turned into a bottleneck many families cannot bypass on their own.

“Dual” is not only a legal status; it lets parents pass a heritage forward without forcing their children to choose one country over another.

Policy changes overview

• Germany (effective June 27, 2024): Fully allows dual citizenship for all nationalities, including people from BiH. Naturalized Germans may keep their original citizenship if their home country permits it.
• BiH: Has not yet signed a dual citizenship agreement with Germany. Without such a pact, people who take German citizenship usually must renounce BiH citizenship, and those who already renounced cannot easily regain it.
• August 2025 initiative: The BiH House of Representatives urged talks with Germany (led by Denis Zvizdić). The Council of Ministers is expected to take the next steps, but no agreement has been signed.

Practical consequences for applicants and families

• Blocked from regaining or keeping BiH passports: More than 30,000 people of BiH origin in Germany affected.
• Potential benefits if agreement is signed: Tens of thousands could restore or retain BiH citizenship, regaining property, inheritance, and political rights in BiH.
• Current reality without agreement: BiH citizens who naturalize in Germany face a forced choice and risk losing legal ties to their homeland.

Real-life examples illustrate the problem:

• A retired factory worker in Munich cannot easily manage family property near Mostar without a BiH passport.
• A nurse in Stuttgart worries her children will lose legal connection to their grandparents’ village.
• A student in Berlin fears losing voting rights in BiH elections and a voice in her country of origin.

Legal and administrative pathway (on paper)

The legal path forward would involve several steps:

1. The Ministry of Civil Affairs negotiates the text of an agreement with Germany.
2. The Council of Ministers approves the negotiated text.
3. Both parliaments ratify the agreement.
4. Administrative implementation defines:
   • How people who renounced BiH citizenship could apply to reacquire it,
   • What proof is required to show previous status,
   • Fees and timelines.

Until negotiators agree on terms, these steps remain plans rather than practice.

Concerns and considerations

• Some BiH lawmakers cite administrative capacity limits and worry about processing backlogs or potential misuse.
• Supporters argue aligning with European practice is necessary given the diaspora’s size—over 40% of people born in BiH live outside the country.
• Economists say remittances and diaspora investment respond to trust signals; a dual citizenship deal would indicate BiH sees emigrants as part of the national family.

Implications for employers, schools, and the economy

• Hospitals, factories, and universities in Germany employ many people with BiH roots.
• A bilateral deal would remove uncertainty for residents and families and help businesses plan for cross-border projects.
• Clear rules would facilitate skilled workers moving back and forth, sharing knowledge, and investing.

Practical advice for people with BiH roots in Germany

Because BiH has not signed a bilateral agreement, naturalizing in Germany usually means giving up BiH citizenship for now. People should:

• Keep records proving former BiH status, residence history, and ties.
• Prepare documentation so they can respond quickly if Sarajevo and Berlin finalize a deal.
• Discuss early with family about property, wills, and voting, since legal rights may differ for citizens and non-citizens.

For Germany’s rules and guidance, consult the official resource:
– German Federal Foreign Office guidance on citizenship: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/einreiseundaufenthalt/staatsangehoerigkeit

What happens next

The pressure on BiH leaders is growing. Diaspora groups say the country cannot afford to let more people sever legal ties. Economists warn that every year without a deal shrinks remittance flows and weakens investment plans.

Key unresolved questions that will matter in any eventual deal:

• Who qualifies to regain citizenship?
• How do children inherit status?
• What documents and fees are required?
• How long will the process take?

Clear rules could turn relief into real passports. Unclear rules could turn hope into another waiting line. The next few months will show whether the August 2025 initiative moves from paper to a real negotiating table — and whether families can finally bridge the two parts of their lives.