Serbian Citizenship by Marriage: Requirements, Process, and What to Expect in Practice

Updated: May 2026  |  Next review: November 2026

We are witnessing a time when more and more people travel, relocate and work abroad, leading to an ever more frequent occurrence of mixed marriages. Their numbers are growing worldwide, and Serbia is no exception to this trend.

Marriage to a Serbian national makes the path to Serbian citizenship easier, but does not guarantee it. This distinction has practical consequences that many spouses discover only after years of marriage and life in Serbia.

According to data from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, 31,670 marriages were concluded in Serbia in 2023. Nearly 8% were between spouses of different nationalities. Behind each of those marriages, sooner or later, the same question arises.

If you are married to a Serbian national, you may be wondering how to obtain Serbian citizenship. This article answers the question of how spouses of Serbian nationals can acquire Serbian citizenship by marriage. For a broader overview of all ways to obtain Serbian citizenship, see our comprehensive guide on how to get Serbian citizenship.

Is marriage a ground for acquiring Serbian citizenship?

Under the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia, foreigners who are married to a Serbian national have the right to apply for citizenship. It is important to understand which conditions must be met and what steps need to be taken.

We can take as an example Gisele from the United States of America, who came to Belgrade having heard about the many benefits of life in Serbia for foreign nationals. During her temporary residence in Serbia on the basis of company ownership, she fell in love with a young Belgrade native, Nikola. After a year together, they decided to get married and build a life in Belgrade.

First of all, Gisele is probably wondering whether she needs to change the basis of her temporary residence in Serbia, since the circumstances under which she is residing, and under which she will reside in the future, have changed. In addition, as the relationship was progressing well, the couple decided to get married. However, Gisele is not certain whether marriage to a Serbian national would constitute grounds for acquiring citizenship.

This brings us to the key question: is the fact of being married to a Serbian national the only condition for acquiring citizenship? Are there other conditions that must also be met?

In brief: marriage is a facilitating factor, but the main conditions required are permanent residence and three years of marriage.

Conditions for acquiring Serbian citizenship by marriage

Below we will focus on the key conditions:

1. Length of marriage

You must have been married to a Serbian national for at least three years. This condition is important as it demonstrates the stability and seriousness of the relationship.

Now, after three years of happy marriage, Gisele is wondering whether she satisfies the condition for obtaining Serbian citizenship by marriage. The law requires that the marriage has lasted a certain period before a foreign national may apply for Serbian citizenship by marriage. Gisele believes that, after three years of a stable and serious marriage to Nikola, she meets this condition and can begin the procedure for obtaining Serbian citizenship. However, before beginning the procedure, Gisele must also satisfy further conditions for acquiring citizenship, one of which concerns her residence in Serbia.

2. Permanent residence in Serbia

If you decide to apply for citizenship by marriage, you must also satisfy a further condition: qualifying residence. The applicant must hold approved permanent residence (a permanent residence permit). For more on residence and residence permits for foreigners in Serbia, see our article on residence of foreigners in Serbia.

For permanent residence to be approved, the foreign national must prove their residence in the country and satisfy additional conditions. Following recent amendments to the Law on Foreigners, foreign nationals may apply for permanent residence after three years of continuous temporary residence in Serbia. In the specific case at hand, it is important to note that the basis on which one applies for permanent residence should be the existence of a marital union with a Serbian national.

• Written declaration: Citizenship can only be acquired if you submit a written declaration that you regard the Republic of Serbia as your country.
• Social integration: It would be advisable to demonstrate that you have integrated into Serbian society. This may include knowledge of the Serbian language, culture and customs. While not a strict legal requirement, it can support the process.
• Security checks: As part of the procedure, you will undergo security checks to ensure there are no obstacles from a national security perspective to you becoming a Serbian national.

How is a mixed marriage concluded in Serbia?

You may be wondering under what conditions foreign nationals can conclude a marriage with a Serbian national, which is of course the prerequisite for acquiring citizenship by marriage. Such a mixed marriage may be concluded under the same conditions as those prescribed for domestic nationals in the Family Law. On the other hand, the procedure for concluding the marriage has certain specific features.

Specifically, the foreign national must submit the following documents:

• Birth certificate
• Certificate of single (unmarried) status
• Valid passport

The required documents must then be properly legalised and translated.

Translation

All of the above documents in a foreign language must be translated by an authorised court interpreter. A certified translation may be produced in the country of origin of the document or in the country where it will be used, i.e. in Serbia.

Legalisation

The documents of the foreign national must also be properly legalised. Depending on whether the country of origin is a member of the Hague Convention governing this matter, an apostille stamp or full legalisation of the documents will be required.

Presence of a court interpreter

A court interpreter for the relevant language used by the foreign national spouse must be present. If your future spouse is not a Serbian national and does not speak Serbian, a court interpreter will be required on the day of the wedding itself, and often also when scheduling the ceremony with the registrar.

Permanent residence in Serbia: the mandatory step towards citizenship

Acquiring Serbian citizenship for foreign nationals requires prior obtaining of a permanent residence permit in Serbia. This process involves demonstrating long-term residence in the country, which is an essential condition for legal status and integration into the local community.

Permanent residence in Serbia may be approved by the competent authority for a foreigner who has continuously resided in the country for more than 3 years on the basis of a temporary residence permit, or for 3 years if they are married to a Serbian national or to a foreigner who holds permanent residence. There are of course other legal grounds that may precede permanent residence, and a detailed overview of the grounds and conditions for permanent residence is available in our dedicated article.

After a foreign national concludes a marriage with a Serbian national, they may apply for permanent residence after 3 years have elapsed, provided they have maintained continuous residence in Serbia throughout that period on a legally regulated temporary residence permit.

In this situation, the foreign national simultaneously satisfies two conditions for acquiring citizenship by marriage: they obtain a permanent residence permit and fulfil the condition regarding the length of the marriage.

However, it should be noted that the competent authority of the Ministry of Internal Affairs may reject an application for permanent residence, meaning that in each individual case the competent authority retains the right to exercise its discretionary decision-making powers. In other words, the mere fact of filing an application and submitting the required documentation does not automatically result in a favourable decision.

In the example above, permanent residence is the key step because it secures Gisele's legal right to reside in Serbia. It is also an indispensable condition in the naturalisation process, i.e. the process of admission to Serbian citizenship.

Therefore, after concluding the marriage and satisfying the other formal legal conditions for permanent residence, Gisele must file an application with the competent authority, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to obtain a permanent residence permit. Furthermore, in order to qualify to apply for citizenship, she must also satisfy the second condition: a marriage of at least 3 years' duration to a Serbian national. For more details on the procedure for obtaining a temporary residence and work permit that precedes permanent residence, see the relevant article.

The citizenship application procedure

If you consider that you meet all the conditions, the next step is to file an application. The process looks as follows:

• Gathering documentation: Once you have gathered all required documentation, you must submit it to the competent authority conducting the citizenship acquisition procedure.
• Filing the application: An application for Serbian citizenship may be filed with the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the competent police administration. If you are abroad, your application may be submitted through the competent diplomatic-consular mission of the Republic of Serbia, which will forward it to the Ministry without delay.
• Payment of the administrative fee: Part of the process includes payment of an administrative fee for processing the application.
• Interview and checks: Following submission, an interview with officials may be required to verify the credibility of your statements and your integration into society. Officials will also conduct security checks.

Advantages and disadvantages of Serbian citizenship

Acquiring Serbian citizenship brings a number of significant advantages:

• The right to work and reside in Serbia without additional permits
• Voting rights and other political rights (active and passive suffrage)
• Free education at primary, secondary and higher education institutions, which is not guaranteed to foreigners
• The right to reside without time restrictions
• The right to personal identity documents
• Employment: access to certain positions unavailable to foreigners, such as positions in state administration, the police and the military
• The right to acquire agricultural land

Serbian citizenship therefore confers permanent rights that permanent residence does not provide.

On the other hand, there are also less favourable aspects:

• The citizenship acquisition process can be lengthy and require extensive documentation.
• Administrative costs: The citizenship procedure entails administrative costs that, in addition to the fee payable to the Republic of Serbia, also include the costs of legalisation and translation of documents.
• Application rejection: Since the competent authority has discretionary powers, there is always a possibility that the application may be rejected.
• There are potential challenges in demonstrating genuine marital intent.

Preparing and filing an application requires knowledge of the conditions, regulations and all the matters on which a positive outcome depends. We therefore always recommend that you first consult specialists in this area of law.

Frequently asked questions

Is marriage to a Serbian national the only condition for acquiring citizenship?

No. Marriage to a Serbian national is not in itself a ground for admission to citizenship. Marriage facilitates the acquisition of permanent residence, which is the mandatory prerequisite. In addition to permanent residence, the marriage must have lasted at least three years and a written declaration must be submitted that the applicant regards Serbia as their country. More on all grounds for acquiring citizenship is available in the guide: How to get Serbian citizenship.

It is important to note a very common misconception that arises in practice. Although under Family Law cohabiting partners have the rights and obligations of spouses under the conditions prescribed by that law, the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia recognises only marriage, i.e. a "marital union", as a ground for acquiring citizenship.

In other words, the existence of a non-marital union does not constitute a legal ground for acquiring Serbian citizenship by marriage to a Serbian national. It is therefore important to draw a clear distinction between the family-law equalisation of marital and non-marital unions and the conditions prescribed by specific legislation, such as the Law on Citizenship in this case.

How long does the process of acquiring Serbian citizenship take?

From several months to a year. The process can take from several months to a year, depending on the complexity of the case. During this process, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will conduct detailed checks of the application and the applicant's statements, verify that the conditions for acquiring citizenship are met, and complete all necessary security checks before issuing a final decision.

What are the costs of filing the application?

Costs vary and always include administrative fees and possible translation costs. The costs of filing a citizenship application vary, but always include administrative fees, the costs of obtaining documents from the country of origin, and the costs of translating documents. Before filing, we recommend finding out the exact costs so that you are fully prepared.

What if my application is rejected?

If your application is rejected, you have the right to initiate an administrative dispute before the Administrative Court within 30 days of receiving the decision rejecting the application. An administrative dispute is a specific type of proceeding in which the legality and correctness of a decision made in administrative proceedings are reviewed, such as the proceedings for admission to citizenship. An ordinary appeal is not permitted as there is no higher-instance authority to decide on it.

Can I keep my foreign citizenship when acquiring Serbian citizenship?

Yes, provided the law of your home country permits it. Serbia permits dual citizenship, which means that Serbian law does not require renunciation of foreign citizenship when applying for citizenship by marriage to a Serbian national. However, some countries do not permit dual citizenship and automatically strip their nationals of citizenship upon acquiring another. Before filing, check the regulations of your home country.

What happens if the marriage is dissolved before the procedure is concluded?

Divorce before the final decision on citizenship admission is issued may be grounds for rejection. The Ministry of Internal Affairs checks the existence of the marriage and genuine cohabitation. If the marriage is dissolved during the procedure, the applicant may lose the preferential ground for acquiring citizenship and will be treated as an ordinary foreigner. For details on the related legal questions, we recommend consulting the team for rights of foreigners and immigration law.

Once I receive the decision on admission to citizenship, can I apply for a Serbian passport at a Serbian diplomatic-consular mission in my country?

Yes, but a further, separate procedure must first be completed.

Specifically, after receiving the decision on admission to the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia, it is necessary to be entered in the civil registry records in the Republic of Serbia, as well as in the register of Serbian nationals. Only after that procedure has been completed and the data recorded in the competent registers is it possible to apply for the issuance of personal documents, by submitting original documentation proving that you have been entered in the said records.

In other words, the decision on admission to citizenship constitutes the legal basis, but registration in the domestic records is also required in order to exercise the right to obtain a passport and other personal documents.

Serbian citizenship by marriage: a new beginning

Serbian citizenship by marriage can be an important step for many couples who wish to build a life together in Serbia. While the process may seem complex, with adequate preparation it is possible to complete all the steps successfully. Meeting the key conditions, such as the length of marriage, permanent residence, the written declaration and the security checks, enables you to qualify and successfully realise your goal of becoming a national of the Republic of Serbia.

To make the process of acquiring citizenship easier and to have all the necessary information in one place, it is useful to consult a lawyer specialising in immigration law and the rights of foreigners. This will minimise the risk of any errors during the procedure for admission to Serbian citizenship by marriage.

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