Request for Admission of Foreigners to the Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia

In Article 14 of the Serbian Citizenship Law, it is provided that a foreigner who is not married to a citizen of the Republic of Serbia but has been granted permanent residence in the Republic of Serbia in accordance with regulations on the movement and stay of foreigners can be admitted to the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia upon their request, if they provide proof of renunciation of foreign citizenship or submit evidence that they will obtain renunciation if admitted to the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia.

To submit a request, the following is required:

a) A certified copy of the approval for permanent residence in the Republic of Serbia; b) An extract from the birth registry (for individuals born abroad, it is necessary to attach the original extract from the birth registry of the country of birth, as well as for children if they are included in the request); c) An extract from the marriage registry; d) Confirmation or guarantee from the competent foreign authority that they will receive renunciation if admitted to the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia, or in the case of already having been renounced, a decision on the renunciation of foreign citizenship. e) A photocopy of the foreigner’s identity card; f) A payment receipt generated on the eGovernment portal.

If children are included in the request, one of the listed documents should be attached for them as well if they are not covered by the document related to the applicant. If a child is older than 14 years, their written consent to acquire the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia, or their consent to the statement of the parent/applicant regarding renunciation of foreign citizenship upon acquiring the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia, must also be attached.

Note: The competent authority, with the consent of the party, may obtain data from official records:

1. About the personal status of citizens (birth registry, marriage registry, and death registry),
2. Approval for permanent residence in the Republic of Serbia,
3. As well as other data necessary for decision-making from other official records kept by the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia.

If the party wishes, they can obtain the mentioned documents themselves and attach them to the submitted request.

Article 17 of the Law provides the possibility for a foreign national who has been married to a citizen of the Republic of Serbia for at least three years and has been granted permanent residence in the Republic of Serbia to be admitted to citizenship under simplified conditions, without renouncing foreign citizenship, if they submit a request and sign a statement that they consider the Republic of Serbia as their own country.

To submit a request, the following is required:

a) An extract from the birth registry (for individuals born abroad, it is necessary to attach the original extract from the birth registry of the country of birth); b) An extract from the marriage registry (not older than 6 months as proof of at least three years in a marital relationship); c) Approval for permanent residence in the Republic of Serbia; d) A written statement considering the Republic of Serbia as their own country; e) A photocopy of the foreigner’s identity card; f) A photocopy of the travel document; g) A payment receipt generated on the eGovernment portal.

If minor children are included in the request, the following should be attached for them:

• An extract from the birth registry,
• A photocopy of the travel document, if not covered by the document related to the applicant.

The consent of a child older than 14 years should be attached, and the consent of the other parent for the admission of a minor child to the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia is required.

Note: The competent authority, with the consent of the party, may obtain data from official records:

1. About the personal status of citizens (birth registry, marriage registry, and death registry),
2. Records of citizens of the Republic of Serbia – a certificate of citizenship of the Republic of Serbia,
3. As well as other data necessary for decision-making from other official records kept by the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia.

If the party wishes, they can obtain the mentioned documents themselves and attach them to the submitted request.