Child's citizenship by descent in Serbia
A Serb's child inherits Serbian citizenship from the parent — no move, no purchase of property and no period of residence are needed here. The decision is taken by the Ministry of the Interior: inside the country through the territorial civil registry offices, abroad through diplomatic missions. There is no need to prove language or to obtain a work permit; the status follows from birth and kinship. For a minor the application is filed by the parent; an adult who was not registered in time applies themselves.
Who is entitled to citizenship by descent
The entitlement depends on where the child was born and what citizenship the parents held at the time of birth.
The child was born in Serbia
- Both parents were Serbian citizens at the time of the child's birth
- Or only one parent is a Serbian citizen and the child was born on the territory of Serbia
- Citizenship is entered in the birth register together with the record of birth — no separate decision of the Ministry is issued
The child was born abroad
- One parent is a Serbian citizen and the other is a foreign national, stateless or of unknown citizenship
- While the child is under 18, the parent registers them at the consulate and files an application for entry in the register of citizens
- Between 18 and 23 a person who was not registered earlier files such an application themselves
When the programme is not a fit
You want Serbian citizenship yourself, but your parent is not a Serb
Admission to citizenship (prijem u državljanstvo) — naturalisation after residence in Serbia, for people of Serbian nationality abroad or on the other grounds in the law
The parent is a Serb, but the applicant is already over 23 and was not registered as a citizen by descent
Admission to citizenship on the general grounds — a separate procedure of the Ministry, not sticanje poreklom
You want status through marriage to a Serbian citizen rather than through a parent
Admission to citizenship through marriage — part of the prijem u državljanstvo procedure, unconnected with descent
Documents to gather
The list comes from the Serbian Ministry of the Interior page on the programme.
- The original extract from the birth register issued by the foreign authority — where possible on an international form (under the Paris or Vienna Convention or a bilateral treaty)
- If the form is not an international one — the same document with a translation into Serbian and certification
- A document confirming the parent's Serbian citizenship
- The child's written consent, if they have already turned 14
- An application for entry in the register of citizens — when registering through a consulate or a civil registry office
How the process runs
The procedure differs for children born in Serbia and for those born abroad.
- 1
Collecting the documents on birth and on the parent's citizenship
The parent collects the original foreign extract from the birth register and a document confirming their own Serbian citizenship.
- 2
Registration of the birth in Serbia — for children born on the territory of the country
Citizenship is entered in the birth register at the same time as the fact of birth, without a separate decision of the Ministry.
- 3
Applying to a consulate or a civil registry office — for children born abroad
The parent files an application for the child's entry in the register of citizens with a Serbian diplomatic or consular mission, or directly with the civil registry office for the parent's last place of residence in Serbia.
- 4
Consent of a child over 14
If the child has already turned 14 at the time of filing, the application will not be accepted without their own written consent.
- 5
Entry in the register of citizens of the Republic of Serbia
The final step: for those born in Serbia the record of citizenship appears automatically together with the registration of birth; for those born abroad it follows the consideration of the application filed.
Timelines and rights
Work
A Serbian citizen does not need a work permit.
Residence
There is no requirement to live in Serbia. A child born abroad is registered by the parents before the age of 18, and between 18 and 23 the person files the application themselves.
Who you can bring with you
Particular categories of children obtain citizenship on the same grounds as the natural children of Serbian citizens.
An adopted child under full adoption
A child who would otherwise be left stateless
How it differs from the routes next to it
The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.
| Child's citizenship by descent | Employment residence permit | Azil | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grounds | Birth to a parent who is a Serbian citizen | Employment contract | Persecution |
| Work | A Serbian citizen does not need a work permit | Yes, this is the main ground; the permit goes through the National Employment Service | The conditions for work are not set out |
| Residence | There is no requirement to live in Serbia | An address; compliance with the terms of employment | Actual residence in the country is mandatory |
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to permanent residence
Stalno nastanjenje is not required for this ground. A child born in Serbia to Serbian parents is recorded automatically, and no separate decision is issued.
Route to citizenship
For those born abroad to one parent who is a Serbian citizen: until the age of 18 the parent registers the child with a diplomatic or consular mission and files an application for entry in the register of citizens; between the ages of 18 and 23 the person may file such an application themselves, if they were not registered earlier. For children over 14 their consent is required. The documents are: the birth certificate issued by the foreign authority and a document confirming the Serbian parent's citizenship
Frequently asked questions about Child's citizenship by descent
Does the child have to live in Serbia in order to obtain citizenship by descent?
What should be done if the parents did not register a child born abroad before the age of 18?
Is a fee payable for entering a child in the register of citizens?
Is the child's consent required for citizenship?
Can a child obtain citizenship if the other parent is a foreign national or their citizenship is unknown?
How does citizenship by descent differ from admission to citizenship (prijem u državljanstvo)?
Other ways to move to Serbia
- Residence permit through employmentWork residence permit
- AzilAsylum / refugee status
- Single residence and work permitWork
- Study residence permitStudy
- Residence permit through Serbian originOrigin
- Residence permit for investors and start-up foundersInvestment and business
- Family reunificationFamily
- Permanent residence — permanent settlementPermanent residence
- Naturalisation — admission of a foreign national to citizenshipCitizenship
- Citizenship for members of the Serbian peopleCitizenship by descent
Every route in one list — migration programmes: Serbia.
The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.