Serbian Citizenship and Passports
Not sure where to begin or just want further information? Have a read of the below to find out more!
Do you want to apply for a Serbian passport?
We can translate your documents for you. Read some of the information below prior to starting your Serbian citizenship journey.
YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A SERBIAN PASSPORT – FIND OUT MORE!
Why apply for Serbian citizenship?
There are numerous benefits to applying for Serbian citizenship even if you already have an Australian or New Zealand passport. Whether it being pursuing a life as a digital nomad, retaining a close connection to the mother country, ensuring that your own children can one day apply for Serbian citizenship or the various visa free arrangements which Serbia has with many countries – the options are endless.
Heritage
Stay close to your roots by taking out Serbian citizenship and retaining a connection with the homeland. Only citizens can take out identity cards and other documents required for life in Serbia.
Migration
If you are wanting a change in pace in life or considering life as a digital nomad, a Serbian passport might be just the way to escape the rat race and live a simpler and more fulfilling life.
Travel
Did you know that Serbia has visa-free regime arrangements with many countries? This means that if travelling on a Serbian passport you won’t need to apply for a visa prior to travel.
Who can apply for Serbian citizenship?
There are various ways of applying for Serbian citizenship even if you were born in Australia or New Zealand. We’ve provided summaries from the Serbian Consulate General website here to assist you below.
SERBIAN CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT – PARENTS WITH SERBIAN CITIZENSHIP AT TIME OF BIRTH
If one or more of your parents was a Serbian citizen at the time of your birth, then up to the age of 23, you may be able to apply for Serbian citizenship by descent.
SERBIAN CITIZENSHIP BY ADMISSION – FOREIGNERS, EMIGRANTS FROM SERBIA OR MEMBERS OF THE SERBIAN PEOPLE
Serbian citizenship is offered to the following categories of people whose parents were not Serbian citizens at time of birth:
- A foreigner with a minimum of three years residency in Serbia.
- A foreigner married to a Serbian citizen, and living in Serbia, for at least three years
- An emigrant from the Republic of Serbia, or their descendants, who is permanently living overseas
- A member of the Serbian people from any of the states of the former Yugoslavia (including Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro), or their descendants.
Please note that we are not Migration Agents, nor giving any migration advice, and that we encourage you to contact your local Serbian embassy or consulate listed below for more information.
Which documents do I need to apply for Serbian citizenship by descent?
Below is the list of documents which our clients are often asked for when applying for Serbian citizenship by descent. We encourage you to contact your local Serbian embassy or consulate for advice as requirements do sometimes change.
If your documents are in English, then they will all need to be translated by an official translator into Serbian. We can help translate your documents for you!
All official Australian or New Zealand documents must have an Apostille stamp on them. An Apostille stamp verifies that your document is an official document and the contents of the document are true – only the Australian or New Zealand government can provide this stamp.
Australia: You can organise an Apostille stamp by contacting Notarial Services via this link and by booking an appointment or sending them your document in the post.
New Zealand: You can organise an Apostille stamp by contacting the New Zealand authorities via this link.
Translations for Serbian Citizenship
If you are submitting documents to the Serbian Embassy or Consulate in Australia or New Zealand – then we can translate your documents for you!
Parents or Grandparents from Serbia
If your parents or grandparents are/were citizens of Serbia then you may be eligble to apply for Serbian citizenship under Article 18 of the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia. You will first need to fill out this form – Form 4 – and submit it to the Serbian embassy or consulate along with your application.
We’ve provided a list of documents below which you will need to submit along with a completed Form 4 including:
BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITH APOSTILLE STAMP – TRANSLATED
You will need an original Australian or New Zealand birth certificate with an apostille stamp affixed to the back of it. Both documents must be translated into Serbian by an official certified Serbian translator.
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE WITH APOSTILLE STAMP – TRANSLATED
If applicable, you will need an original Australian or New Zealand marriage certificate with an apostille stamp affixed to the back of it. Both documents must be translated into Serbian by an official certified Serbian translator.
PROOF OF EMIGATION – TRANSLATED
You will need to show proof of emigration such as an immigration visa, travel documents, documents from foreign authorities or a statement from yourself explaining how and when your parents or grandparents emigrated from Serbia.
If these documents are not in Serbian, then they will need to be translated into Serbian by an official certified Serbian translator.
CHILDREN OVER THE AGE OF 14
You will need a National Police Check that has been translated into Serbian by an official Serbian translator. You can find out how to apply for one via the link here.
An ‘Australian National Character Check’ is not sufficient for these purposes and we recommend getting an official National Police Check.
AUSTRALIAN PASSPORT OR DRIVER LICENCE – TRANSLATED
If you are applying along with a child over the age of 14, then they will need to provide written consent to this process.
This written consent will need to be certified by a Consular Official or a Justice of the Peace. A copy of this consent form can be found here.
If you cannot write this in Serbian, then we can translate this for you.
SIGNED DECLARATION ACCEPTING SERBIA AS YOUR COUNTRY
You will need to provide a signed declaration accepting the Republic of Serbian as your own country.
A copy of this form can be found here .
If you cannot write this in Serbian, then we can translate this for you into Serbian.
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM – FORM 4
You will need to provide a completed application form – Form 4 – and this can be accessed from the Serbian Embassy’s website in either Word or PDF here.
Your signature will need to be certified by either a Justice of the Peace or a Consular Official.
If you cannot write this in Serbian, then we can translate this for you into Serbian.
We can help translate all your Australia or New Zealand documents into Serbian for you!
Parents or Grandparents from outside of Serbia
If you are Serbian by heritage, but your ancestors are not originally from Serbia, but from Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro or the other former Yugoslav republics, then you too may be eligible to apply for Serbian citizenship under Article 23 of the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia. You will first need to fill out this form – Form 6 – and submit it to the Serbian embassy or consulate along with your application.
We’ve provided a list of documents below which you will need to submit along with a completed Form 6 including:
ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITH APOSTILLE – TRANSLATED
You will need an original birth certificate and this must be translated into Serbian by an official certified Serbian translator. If you were born in Australia or New Zealand, then you must get an Apostille stamp on this certificate and have that translated into Serbian as well.
This document must not be older than 6 months from the date of issue.
ORIGINAL MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE WITH APOSTILLE – TRANSLATED
If married, you will need an original marriage certificate and this must be translated into Serbian by an official certified Serbian translator. If you were married in Australia or New Zealand, then you must get an Apostille stamp on this certificate and have that translated into Serbian as well.
ORIGINAL CITIZENSHIP CERTIFICATE
If you were born in the other countries of the former Yugoslavia, then you will need to present an original citizenship certificate demonstrating that you are either born or registered in Croatia, Bosnia etc.
This document must be less than 6 months old.
VALID IDENTITY DOCUMENT
You will need present a valid form of photo ID such as a passport, ID card or drivers licence
PROOF OF SERBIAN HERITAGE
You will need to present a valid form of Serbian heritage along with your application such as a document confirming that your parents or grandparents identify as Serbian or that they are Serbian citizens.
This will need to be translated into Serbian if it is not in Serbian already.
SIGNED DECLARATION ACCEPTING SERBIA AS YOUR COUNTRY
You will need to provide a signed declaration accepting the Republic of Serbian as your own country.
A copy of this form can be found here .
If you cannot write this in Serbian, then we can translate this for you into Serbian.
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM – FORM 6
PROOF OF SERBIAN HERITAGE
PROOF OF SERBIAN HERITAGE
You will need to provide a completed application form – Form 4 – and this can be accessed from the Serbian Embassy’s website in either Word or PDF here.
Your signature will need to be certified by either a Justice of the Peace or a Consular Official.
If you cannot write this in Serbian, then we can translate this for you into Serbian.
PARENTS APPLYING WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18
If you are applying for Serbian citizenship under Form 6 for your children as well, then you will need to provide the following documents for each child as well:
- An original birth certificate for the child. If born in Australia or New Zealand, then this must have an apostille stamp. Both the birth certificate and the stamp must be translated into Serbian.
- Written consent of the second parent that they agree to their child obtaining Serbian citizenship.
- A declaration from the child that the child accepts the Republic of Serbia as their own country. This must be certified at the Embassy/Consulate or in front of a Justice of the Peace.
- Written consent from the child to the Serbian citizenship application.
- A copy of a passport or Photo ID for the child.
All of these documents must be in Serbian and we can translate them for you if needed.
Looking for a NAATI Certified Serbian translator?
Just send us a message!
Where is my closest Serbian Embassy or Consulate?
All of the information provided on our website is general in nature and we recommend contacting your nearest Serbian embassy or consulate below to find out more information on how to apply for Serbian citizenship.
Canberra
Embassy of the Republic of Serbia
- 4 Bulwarra Close, O’Malley ACT 2606
- srb.emb.australia@mfa.rs
- +61 2 6290 2630