Serbian nationality law

Citizenship Act of
the Republic of Serbia
National Assembly of Serbia
  • An Act regulating the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia
PassedOctober 20, 1979[a]
PassedDecember 14, 2004
Signed byPresident Boris Tadić
SignedDecember 29, 2004
Status: Current legislation

Citizenship of Serbia is regulated by the 2004 Citizenship Act, based primarily on the principle of Jus sanguinis. Article 23 of the citizenship law stipulates that any foreign national with Serbian descent has the right to acquire Serbian citizenship by written request. In certain cases, the act also allows dual citizenship, allowing an individual the right to retain his or her current citizenship and receive Serbian citizenship.[1][2]

The 2007 amendments enabled ethnic Serbs residing outside Serbia the right to citizenship. These amendments, adopted after the Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006, also allowed citizens of Montenegro living in Serbia the right to gain citizenship, if they submit the request within a 5-year period.[3]

Acquisition of citizenship

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  • Acquiring citizenship by descent - citizenship by descent is limited to one generation (either parent must be registered as Serbian at time of birth) and the applicant cannot be older than 23 years of age at the time.[4]
  • Acquiring citizenship by birth[5]
  • Acquiring citizenship by admission (naturalization) - at least three years of uninterrupted permanent residence in Serbia.[1]

Termination and reacquisition of citizenship

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  • Upon naturalisation and admission to the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia, release from any previous foreign nationality or evidence that you will be released from it.
  • Termination of citizenship by release[5]
  • Termination of citizenship by renunciation[5]
  • Reacquisition of citizenship by the Republic of Serbia[5]

Visa requirement for Serbian citizens

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As of 2023, Serbian citizens have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 138 countries and territories, ranking the Serbian passport 38th overall in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index and among the five passports with the most improved rating since 2006.[6][7]

Notable naturalized people

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See also

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Explanatory notes

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  1. ^ First time as the Act on Citizenship of the Socialist Republic of Serbia.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Citizenship". www.mfa.gov.rs. Archived from the original on 2021-02-06. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  2. ^ "Zakon o državljanstvu Republike Srbije" (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  3. ^ "Izmene zakona o državljanstvu" (PDF) (in Serbian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-07.
  4. ^ "Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in Sydney". Archived from the original on 2021-01-17. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  5. ^ a b c d "Citizenship". Archived from the original on 2021-02-06. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  6. ^ "The Henley Passport Index: Q3 Update" (PDF). Henley & Partners. July 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  7. ^ Partners, Henley &. "The Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index Celebrates Ten Years". www.prnewswire.com. Archived from the original on 2017-05-24. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  8. ^ a b "Kome je Srbija sve dala državljanstvo?". Archived from the original on 2021-09-20. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
  9. ^ "Najpopularniji Amerikanac u Srbiji konačno dobio državljanstvo!". ddl.rs. 5 June 2020. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  10. ^ Serbia, RTS, Radio televizija Srbije, Radio Television of. "Kleo dobio pasoš". Archived from the original on 2017-12-13. Retrieved 2016-01-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2016-01-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ Rudić, Filip (11 September 2017). "Actor Ralph Fiennes Receives Serbian Citizenship :: Balkan Insight". www.balkaninsight.com (in Serbian). Balkan Insight. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  13. ^ "Džudista Gerasimenko dobio državljanstvo Srbije". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  14. ^ "Evandro dobio srpski pasoš". 4 August 2011. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  15. ^ "...Arnaud Gouillon…". inSerbia. 11 May 2015.
  16. ^ "Čarls Dženkins dobio srpski pasoš!". Archived from the original on 2018-01-06. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  17. ^ "Demarkus Nelson dobio državljanstvo Srbije".
  18. ^ Službeni glasnik RS No. 79 - p.33
  19. ^ "Službeni glasnik RS No. 69 - p.21". Archived from the original on 2021-09-24. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
  20. ^ "Exclusive : FK Vozdovac Striker Obiora Odita Gets Serbian Passport". all Nigeria soccer. Archived from the original on 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  21. ^ "Danijel Pejdž predstavljena u Košarkaškom savezu Srbije". Archived from the original on 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  22. ^ "Cum a obţinut Victor Ponta cetăţenia sârbă. Explicaţiile fostului premier". mediafax.ro. Archived from the original on 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  23. ^ Decision was published in Official Gazette Službeni glasnik RS 002/2016.; "Stiven Sigal dobio državljanstvo Srbije". Radio Television of Serbia. 10 January 2016. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  24. ^ "Državljanstvo Srbije za bivšu premijerku Tajlanda u bekstvu". Archived from the original on 2021-09-20. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
  25. ^ "Руски пливач Вјатчањин добио српско држављанство". May 13, 2015.