Four routes — and which one is yours
Serbian citizenship can be acquired by Serbian descent, by birth on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, by naturalisation, or by virtue of international treaties.
Citizenship by descent is granted to a child born to two Serbian citizen parents; or to a child born on Serbian territory with one Serbian citizen parent; or to a child born abroad with one Serbian citizen parent where the other parent is unknown, of unknown citizenship, or stateless. A child born abroad to one Serbian citizen parent and one foreign parent acquires citizenship by descent if the citizen parent registers the child before the age of 18. An adult born abroad to a Serbian citizen parent acquires citizenship by descent by applying for registration in the citizens’ register before the age of 23.
Citizenship by birth on the territory — applies only to foundlings and children whose parents are unknown, of unknown citizenship, or stateless, as well as to stateless children.
Under international treaties — on a reciprocity basis, by virtue of a ratified treaty.
For an adult foreigner who has come to Serbia to live, naturalisation remains an option. More on that below.
- By Serbian descent — for children of citizens, with registration deadlines at ages 18 and 23
- Citizenship by birth on territory — a narrow case for children with no established citizenship
- On arrival — the main route for those who have already entered
- Under international treaties — on a reciprocity basis
Naturalisation: conditions
The first condition is stated at the very beginning of the section: an application for naturalisation may be filed by someone who is authorised to reside permanently in Serbia. The path is therefore always two-stage — permanent residence first, then citizenship.
Four conditions must all be met. Age of 18 and no deprivation of legal capacity — applications for minors are submitted by parents. Release from foreign citizenship, or submission of confirmation that the applicant will be released upon acceptance into Serbian citizenship. At least three consecutive years of registered residence in Serbia. And a written declaration that the applicant regards the Republic of Serbia as their state.
Decisions on admission to citizenship are made by the Ministry of the Interior, Department of Administrative Affairs.
| Admission condition | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | permanent residence is permitted |
| Age | 18 years old, with no legal incapacity |
| Previous citizenship | exemption or guarantee of exemption |
| Residence | at least 3 consecutive years of registered |
| Application | in writing: I consider Serbia my home country |
A separate pathway for spouses of Serbian citizens
For a foreigner married to a Serbian citizen for at least three years who has obtained permanent residence, the portal describes the process differently: they may apply for citizenship by submitting a written declaration stating that they consider Serbia their country.
This is a separate track with its own document list, which includes, among other things, a marriage certificate no older than six months — as confirmation of three years of marriage.
The permanent-residency condition applies here too: marriage shortens the path but does not remove the first step.
- Marriage to a Serbian citizen for at least three years
- Permanent residence already obtained
- Written statement that you consider Serbia to be your state
- Marriage certificate issued within the last six months
Documents
The lists vary by route. Below is the general set that the portal specifies for citizenship applications; for the spousal route, a marriage certificate dated within the last six months is added; for the general route, proof of release from previous citizenship or a guarantee of such release is required.
One convenience worth noting: with the applicant’s consent, the competent authority retrieves data directly from official registries — birth, marriage and death records, permanent residency approvals and other registers.
- Certified copy of the permanent residence permit
- Birth certificate; for those born abroad — original from the country of birth
- Marriage certificate, if married; when applying on the basis of marriage — issued within the last six months
- Certificate or guarantee of release from foreign citizenship, or a release decision
- Written statement that you consider the Republic of Serbia to be your state
- Copy of the foreign national’s card
- Copy of passport
- Payment receipt generated through the e-government portal
Dual citizenship: how Serbia sees it
The portal opens the section with a statement that explains the logic of the entire procedure: a citizen of the Republic of Serbia who also holds the citizenship of a foreign state is considered, within the territory of the Republic of Serbia, to be a citizen of the Republic of Serbia.
In practical terms, this means that a person with two passports interacts with the Serbian state solely as a Serbian citizen — with all the rights and obligations that follow from that.
This does not override the condition on prior citizenship at the point of admission: the renunciation requirement relates to the moment of admission, while the dual-citizenship provision relates to the person’s status once inside the country.
Serbian citizenship: preparation and application
- Checking which of the four grounds applies to you
- Assessment of admission conditions: status, duration, registration
- Analysis of the question about renouncing previous citizenship before filing
- Gathering and legalising birth and marriage certificates
- Preparing the written application and the package for children
- Filing with the competent authority and managing the case
A legal consultation — 80 €.Credited toward the full service fee if you continue with us.
During the consultation the lawyer reviews your situation based on your documents and provides filing route: which basis, what will be needed and in what order.
Government fees, notarisation, certified translations and apostille, where required, billed separately at actual cost — we will itemise them for your situation. Processing time depends on the authority and its workload, which is why we do not publish an average figure.
Frequently asked questions
Can you obtain Serbian citizenship without permanent residence?
Naturalisation is available to those who have been granted the right to permanently reside in Serbia. Other routes — descent, birth on the territory, and international treaties — generally do not apply to an adult foreigner who has moved there.
How many years do you need to live there?
At least three consecutive years of registered residence in Serbia — having already obtained permanent residence.
Do you need to renounce your previous citizenship?
The admission condition is to be released from foreign citizenship, or to provide confirmation that you will be released if Serbia accepts you as a citizen. How this can be done under the law of your home country must be established before submitting an application.
What does marriage to a Serbian citizen give you?
Three years of marriage, combined with having obtained permanent residence, opens a separate application track that requires a written statement affirming you consider Serbia your country, along with a marriage certificate no more than six months old.
Who makes the decision?
Ministry of Interior, Department of Administrative Affairs.
Verified September 6, 2026. The thresholds and amounts are tied to indicators that are reviewed annually — check the official source for your country before filing.
Services and prices — openly, before any conversation
People usually add: certified translation of a document — from 30 € · diploma nostrification — from 200 €. Two or more services — 5% off each.
Prices are in euros and are all-inclusive — nothing is added on top. Government fees are paid separately and directly: ~€230 per person for status, including biometrics and an ID card. VAT (PDV) of 20% does not apply to these services.