For those who are considering moving to Serbia or are considering moving to Europe but are still not sure which country is right for them, it is essential to know how to acquire Serbian citizenship and how Serbian passport ranks in comparison to others.
There are several ways to acquire Serbian citizenship:
Acquiring by origin
Children, whose one or both parents are national of the Republic of Serbia at the moment of the child’s birth, under different conditions, can acquire a citizenship of the Republic of Serbia. A parent should make sure to report the child’s birth in time to the relevant diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Serbia, so that child’s name could be noted in the register of the citizens.
Also, if you are 18 years old but under 23, and at the moment of your birth your parents were nationals of the Republic of Serbia, but did not report your birth to the relevant diplomatic or consular mission, you should file an application to that relevant diplomatic or consular mission.
Acquiring by admission
If you are a foreigner who has permanent residence in the Republic of Serbia, you may acquire Serbian citizenship if you fulfill certain requirements, such as:
- That you have turned 18 and have not been deprived of business capacity;
- That you have been released from foreign citizenship or that you have presented evidence that you will be released from it, if admitted to citizenship of the Republic of Serbia;
- That you had registered permanent residence in the territory of the Republic of Serbia for at least three years without interruption before submitting the application;
- That you provide a signed statement that you consider the Republic of Serbia to be your country.
On the other hand, if you are a foreigner who has been married to a national of the Republic of Serbia for at least three years and who already acquired permanent residence in Serbia, you be admitted to citizenship of the Republic of Serbia if you submit a signed statement that you consider the Republic of Serbia to be your country.
Filing an application regarding citizenship
Application for acquisition of Serbian citizenship is decided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This application should be filed in person or through an authorized person, and for a child over the age of 14, the child’s consent is also required.
How well is Serbia passport ranked
Serbia ranks 28th in the list of countries according to travel freedom, which is a jump of three places relative to 2018 when Serbia was 31st in the world. Serbian citizens do not need a visa or immediately given upon entry to 128 countries.
Holders of Serbian passport can travel visa-free to 84 countries, while 43 countries issue visas immediately upon entry. Also, they need a visa to enter 71 countries.
