Serbian Law stipulate very strict rules on who can acquire Serbian citizenship. These rules are stipulated in the Law on the Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia. There are several ways how someone can acquire Serbian citizenship, and ancestry is one of those ways. Provisions regarding this matter are state in the Article 7 to 12 of the stated Law.
Who can acquire Serbian citizenship by ancestry?
As stipulated by the Serbian Law, Serbian citizenship by ancestry can acquire:
- A child whose parents at the time of her / his birth were citizens of the Republic of Serbia;
- A child born on the territory of the Republic of Serbia; whose one parent was a citizen of the Republic of Serbia at the time of her / his birth;
- A child born abroad; whose one of parents was a citizen of the Republic of Serbia at the time of her /his birth, while the other parent is unknown, or citizenship of that parent is unknown, or that parent is stateless;
- A child whose one of the parents was a citizen of the Republic of Serbia at the time of her / his birth and the other is a foreign citizen, if the parent who is a citizen of the Republic of Serbia registers him by the age of 18 with the competent diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Serbia as a citizen of the Republic of Serbia and if that parent applies for registration of the child in the Register of Citizens with the competent authority in the Republic of Serbia;
- A child born abroad, whose one of the parents was a citizen of the Republic of Serbia at the time of birth, is to become stateless, she / he will acquire Serbian citizenship regardless of the fact that above stated conditions are not fulfilled.
Who can submit Application for the entry in the birth registration?
In case when both or one parent at the moment of birth of the child are citizens of the Republic of Serbia, and the child is born abroad, a Request for entry in the birth registry, where citizenship of the Republic of Serbia is also recorded, is submitted to the competent diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Serbia, where the parent that is submitting a Request has resides temporarily.
In cases when both or one parent citizens of the Republic of Serbia, the Applicant must also submit together with the Application:
- An original of the Birth Certificate of a foreign authority issued on an international form, all in accordance with the Paris or Vienna Convention or under a bilateral agreement. If the Birth Certificate is not on an international form but on the form of the country concerned, it must be translated, and a copy must be certified by the competent diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Serbia.
- Proof of citizenship of the Republic of Serbia for the parent.
As proof of the citizenship one of the following documents must be submitted:
- A Citizenship Certificate of the Republic of Serbia, not older than 6 months, which contains a clause on the basis and date of entry in the register of Serbian citizens; or
- An Extract from the Register of Citizens kept in the Ministry of the Interior, issued in accordance with the Law, or
- Birth Certificate where, in accordance with the Law, the fact of citizenship of the Republic of Serbia is stated, not older than 6 months, or
- Passport, and
- If the child is born extramarital proof of acknowledgment of paternity.
On the other hand, if a person is of legal age and has become stateless as a child and has not been registered nor she /he applied for registration, the Applicant shall also submit:
- Birth certificate;
- Proof that he or she is stateless (travel document for stateless person).
For all your question regarding this matter, and if you need assistance to acquire Serbian citizenship by Ancestry feel free to contact Asst Office at any time.
