Every year, hundreds of people apply for Serbian citizenship and are denied. This happens not because they failed to meet the legal requirements, but because they identified the wrong legal ground for their application, submitted incomplete documentation, or were unaware that the competent Ministry has discretionary power to reject an application even when all conditions are formally met.
In recent years, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has seen a growing number of citizenship applications submitted not only by foreigners, but also by descendants of Serbian emigrants who left the country in the 1950s and 1960s for Germany, Australia, the United States, and Canada in search of a better life. According to Ministry data, the number of citizenship applications has doubled over the past five years compared to the previous decade.
The Law on Citizenship provides that citizenship may be acquired by persons whose only connection to the Republic of Serbia is ethnic origin and belonging to the Serbian people. If you are wondering how to get Serbian citizenship and obtain a Serbian passport, this guide covers all legal grounds, conditions, and the procedure for 2026. For a broader overview of the rights of foreigners in Serbia, see our comprehensive guide on residence of foreigners in Serbia.
Contents
- The concept and significance of citizenship
- Why Serbian citizenship?
- How to get Serbian citizenship: four legal grounds
- Acquiring Serbian citizenship by naturalisation
- The naturalisation procedure
- The path to Serbian citizenship for a foreigner, step by step
- Citizenship, tax residency, and tax incentives
- Serbian passport and dual citizenship
- Costs and timelines
- Serbian citizens abroad: eGovernment and digital services
- Frequently asked questions about Serbian citizenship
- How to get Serbian citizenship: a brief summary
The concept and significance of citizenship
The difference between a foreigner with permanent residence in Serbia and a Serbian citizen is not merely formal. A Serbian citizen has the right to vote and stand for election, may hold certain public offices, holds a Serbian passport that allows visa-free entry to 130+ countries, and has an unrestricted right to return to Serbia. A foreigner with permanent residence enjoys most economic rights, but not all.
If you are looking into how to get Serbian citizenship, understanding this relationship is the first step, as it helps you assess your rights and obligations as a future citizen.
Why Serbian citizenship?
In recent years, legislative changes in Serbia have led to a liberalisation of the visa regime and expanded opportunities for foreigners to obtain the right to work and temporary residence. For the current rules, see the Law on Foreigners as well as our articles on work permits for foreigners and temporary residence for foreigners in Serbia.
Nevertheless, despite numerous efforts to equalise the rights and obligations of foreign and domestic nationals, significant differences tied to citizenship status remain. Serbian citizenship also brings concrete legal and economic benefits, including tax incentives for newly domiciled taxpayers and a range of incentives for corporate development. This is precisely why so many people are exploring their options for obtaining Serbian citizenship.
How to get Serbian citizenship: four legal grounds
The acquisition of citizenship in the Republic of Serbia is governed by the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia, which currently provides for four principal methods:
- By descent
- By birth on the territory of the Republic of Serbia
- By naturalisation
- Under international treaties
The primary method of acquiring Serbian citizenship is by descent, while place of birth serves as a supplementary criterion.
Acquisition under international treaties is not a regular or common route. This ground is most often invoked in situations involving changes to state borders and serves as an instrument for defining citizenship relations between two countries. One example is the framework established between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, based on a bilateral agreement, allows nationals of one state to acquire the other's citizenship under preferential conditions.
In this article, we focus on naturalisation, as the most common route for adult applicants, since this is where the question of how to get Serbian citizenship most frequently arises in practice.
Acquiring Serbian citizenship by naturalisation
Serbian law provides that legally competent individuals may, on the basis of their connection to Serbia, apply for and, under certain conditions, acquire Serbian citizenship. The decision on naturalisation is made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs upon application.
1. Naturalisation
For the naturalisation of foreigners, the Law on Citizenship requires that one preliminary condition be met: approval of permanent residence in Serbia in accordance with the regulations governing the movement and residence of foreigners. In addition, the following conditions must be satisfied:
- the applicant must be at least 18 years of age and must not have been deprived of legal capacity;
- the applicant must hold a release from foreign citizenship or submit proof that such a release will be granted upon acceptance into Serbian citizenship;
- the applicant must have had registered residence on the territory of the Republic of Serbia for at least three consecutive years prior to filing the application;
- the applicant must submit a written declaration that they regard the Republic of Serbia as their own country.
It should be noted that the condition regarding release from foreign citizenship will be deemed met if the applicant is stateless, or if they provide proof that under the law of their country of citizenship they will automatically lose that citizenship upon acceptance into Serbian citizenship. The Law also provides a solution for situations where the foreign state does not permit release from citizenship or sets conditions the applicant cannot fulfil. In that case, it is sufficient for the applicant to submit a declaration renouncing their foreign citizenship. For details on the path to permanent residence that precedes this step, see our article on permanent residence in Serbia 2026.
In brief: a foreigner must first spend three years as a permanent resident. The path to citizenship is multi-year, but predictable.
Naturalisation under more favourable conditions
In addition to the general conditions set out above, the Law on Citizenship provides for a number of concessions for foreigners applying for citizenship, including concessions related to birth on Serbian territory and to marriage with a Serbian national.
For a person born on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, it will be sufficient to have resided continuously in Serbia for at least two years prior to filing the application, along with a declaration that they regard Serbia as their own country.
Where the application is based on marriage, the concession means that the applicant does not need to satisfy all of the general conditions listed above. It is sufficient to hold permanent residence, which may be obtained after three years of marriage to a Serbian national.
Foreigners whose naturalisation is in Serbia's interest
A provision of the Law that has been the subject of considerable debate and allows for broad interpretation provides that a citizenship application may be approved for a foreign national whose naturalisation is in the interest of the Republic of Serbia. The decision as to what constitutes such an "interest" is made by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, on the proposal of the competent Ministry. As a rule, this applies to distinguished scientists, artists, athletes, or other persons of particular significance to Serbia. It is worth noting that Steven Seagal, Ralph Fiennes, Adriana Lima, and a number of other public figures have obtained Serbian citizenship by this route.
2. Emigrants and their descendants
Given the large number of people who emigrated from Serbia in the 1950s and 1960s, the Law treats emigrants and their descendants as a special category of persons entitled to apply for citizenship. A more detailed overview of this ground is available in our dedicated article on citizenship by descent.
The Law defines an emigrant as a person who left the Republic of Serbia with the intention of residing permanently abroad. An emigrant and their descendant may be admitted to citizenship if they are at least 18 years of age and have not been deprived of legal capacity, and if they submit a written declaration that they regard the Republic of Serbia as their own country.
In brief: an emigrant or descendant of an emigrant who wishes to obtain Serbian citizenship does not need to live in Serbia or renounce any other citizenship. This is a significant advantage compared to foreigners applying through the regular naturalisation procedure.
3. Members of the Serbian people
The most favourable route for all members of the Serbian people and their descendants who regard Serbia as their home country is acquisition of citizenship by demonstrating an ethnic connection to the Republic of Serbia, with no obligation to live in Serbia or renounce any other citizenship. The only additional requirements are that the applicant be of legal age and submit a written declaration that they regard Serbia as their own country.
4. Refugees, expelled persons, and displaced persons from the former SFRY
The Law also singles out persons who were born in one of the states of the former SFRY with citizenship of that state, or who hold citizenship of another state formed on the territory of the former SFRY, and who as refugees, expelled, or displaced persons reside in Serbia or are living as refugees abroad. The same conditions that apply to members of the Serbian people must also be met by applicants in this category.
The naturalisation procedure
An application for acquisition of Serbian citizenship by naturalisation is submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs through the internal affairs authority at the applicant's place of residence or domicile, or through an authorised representative, and may also be submitted through the competent Serbian diplomatic-consular mission.
After a multi-month review of whether the conditions have been met, the Ministry issues a decision granting citizenship, provided all prescribed conditions are satisfied. It is important to note that the Ministry may reject an application if it determines that there are reasons of state interest to do so. For this reason, if you are considering how to get Serbian citizenship through naturalisation, consulting a lawyer specialising in immigration law is strongly advisable.
In brief: a positive decision is not guaranteed. Even when all legal conditions are formally met, the Ministry retains discretionary power over each application. Without a lawyer who understands the practice, there is a real risk of rejection on grounds that could have been addressed with proper legal assistance.
The path to Serbian citizenship for a foreigner, step by step
The process for an ordinary foreigner planning the path to Serbian citizenship looks like this:
The first step is to arrange temporary residence or a unified residence and work permit. Then, once the legal conditions are met, the foreigner applies for permanent residence in Serbia. Only after acquiring permanent residence and spending at least three years in that status can they apply for citizenship.
A useful analogy for understanding this system: the path to citizenship resembles obtaining a driving licence. First comes a provisional licence (temporary residence), then a full licence (permanent residence), and only then can one apply for a professional licence (citizenship). Each step has its own conditions and timelines.
For details on the first steps, see our dedicated articles on temporary residence for foreigners and company formation, on work permits for foreigners, on employment of foreigners in Serbia, and on permanent residence in Serbia.
Adults: Serbian citizenship by descent
Persons over the age of 18 who were born abroad can also acquire Serbian citizenship by descent, but under different conditions. The key difference lies in the deadlines and the documentation to be submitted with the application.
If a person over 18, born abroad, has one parent who is a Serbian national, they may acquire Serbian citizenship provided they submit their application to the competent Serbian authorities before reaching the age of 23. Compliance with the deadline is decisive for adults applying for citizenship by descent.
It is important that the person file their application for registration in the citizenship records before turning 23, provided they have not already acquired Serbian citizenship by another route.
Citizenship, tax residency, and tax incentives
Acquiring Serbian citizenship frequently goes hand in hand with a change in tax status. Serbian nationals who become tax residents of Serbia and qualify as "newly domiciled taxpayers" under Serbian tax law may benefit from special tax incentives for newly domiciled taxpayers, including a 70% reduction of the taxable salary base for a period of five years.
Company owners who decide to incorporate or relocate their business to Serbia may also benefit from the IP Box regime, which reduces corporate income tax from 15% to an effective 3%. An overview of all relevant tax obligations is available in our article on the costs of incorporating and running a company in Serbia.
An important note: tax residency and citizenship are distinct legal concepts. Before making any decision about changing citizenship or residency status, consulting a specialist in tax law is essential.
Serbian passport and dual citizenship
Although Serbia permits dual citizenship on certain legal grounds, your home country may not allow this. Germany introduced the possibility of dual citizenship in June 2024, significantly improving the position of the Serbian diaspora. More on this topic is available in our article on dual citizenship for Germany and Serbia. However, some countries still require renunciation of existing citizenship as a condition for acquiring Serbian citizenship.
The Serbian passport ranks 36th on the global passport index (Henley Passport Index, 2026).[1] For a detailed overview of all the benefits, see our articles on why Serbian citizenship is useful and on the Serbian passport and how to obtain it.
In brief: check the laws of your home country before applying for Serbian citizenship. Acquiring Serbian citizenship may mean losing another.
Costs and timelines
For emigrants and descendants of the Serbian people who are not required to live in Serbia, costs are mainly tied to obtaining civil registry extracts, certified translations by court interpreters, apostille certifications, and the administrative fee. The administrative fee for filing a citizenship application is approximately EUR 200.
For foreigners applying on the basis of permanent residence, the costs above are supplemented by the prior costs of the temporary residence and permanent residence procedures. The administrative fee for filing a citizenship application is also approximately EUR 200.
Serbian citizens abroad: eGovernment and digital services
Serbia has significantly expanded its digital services for the diaspora over the past two years. All available services are described in our article on the Serbian diaspora and the eGovernment portal. Emigrants living outside Serbia may also file citizenship applications through the competent consulate in their country of residence, without coming to Serbia.
Foreigners who are planning to come to Serbia for the first time may also find it useful to read about electronic visas for Serbia in 2025, as Serbia introduced the option of applying for a type C visa electronically for nationals of 46 countries in April 2025.
Frequently asked questions about Serbian citizenship
Does Serbian citizenship require renunciation of existing citizenship?
It depends on the legal ground. For ordinary foreigners, the law in principle requires release from foreign citizenship. However, for emigrants, descendants of emigrants, and members of the Serbian people, renunciation is not required. More details are available in our article on citizenship by descent.
How long does the Serbian citizenship naturalisation procedure take?
The procedure before the Ministry of Internal Affairs takes from several months to a year, and sometimes longer. The Ministry is not bound by a statutory deadline for its decision. If the time needed to meet the preliminary conditions (temporary residence, permanent residence, three-year period) is included, the total path for an ordinary foreigner takes a minimum of 6 years.
Can a child of a foreigner born in Serbia automatically obtain Serbian citizenship?
No. A child of a foreigner born on Serbian territory cannot automatically acquire Serbian citizenship. However, more favourable conditions apply at naturalisation: two years of continuous residence and a declaration that Serbia is their country are sufficient. If one parent is a Serbian national, the child acquires citizenship by descent.
Does marriage to a Serbian national automatically confer citizenship?
No. Marriage significantly eases the process: a foreigner married to a Serbian national may obtain permanent residence after three years of marriage, without having to satisfy the conditions that ordinarily apply. Permanent residence is a prerequisite for citizenship, but marriage itself does not guarantee citizenship.
Does incorporating a company in Serbia help with obtaining citizenship?
Not directly, but indirectly yes. Incorporating a company in Serbia is one of the most popular grounds for obtaining a temporary residence permit, which is the step preceding permanent residence, which is in turn a prerequisite for citizenship. A foreigner who incorporates a company, obtains temporary residence, and then acquires permanent residence is on a predictable path to citizenship within 6 years.
Can I go through the citizenship procedure without a lawyer?
An application can be filed personally. However, the Ministry retains discretionary power to reject an application even when the conditions are formally met. Engaging a lawyer specialising in immigration law is the way to minimise that risk. Documentation often requires specific evidence and legal arguments that come from established legal practice.
How to get Serbian citizenship: a brief summary
This article has aimed to provide a concise overview of how to get Serbian citizenship, highlighting the most important information on the methods and conditions for acquiring citizenship by naturalisation, so that you can gain a clear picture of how this area is regulated under Serbian law.
In any case, if you are considering filing an application for Serbian citizenship, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialising in immigration law and the rights of foreigners, who can help you identify the correct legal ground and find the most straightforward path to a Serbian passport.
Authors
- Henley Passport Index 2026, available at: henleypassportindex.com
