Citizenship | Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Swiss Confederation

ADMISSION TO THE CITIZENSHIP FOR SERBIAN PEOPLE

A member of the Serbian people who does not reside in the territory of the Republic of Serbia may be admitted to the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia provided that he has reached 18 years of age, has not been deprived of legal capacity and submits a written statement that he considers the Republic of Serbia his state (Article 23 of the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia).

Required documents

• Completed application for citizenship (obtained and filled in at the Embassy);

• Statement that he considers the Republic of Serbia to be his state (received and filled in at the Embassy);

• Original birth certificate, not older than six months (if the person was born in one of the former republics of Yugoslavia - on a domestic form. If the person was born in Switzerland, on an international, five-language form, stamped with "apostille" - translation of the certificate is done by the Embassy);

• Original marriage certificate, not older than six months (if the person was married in one of the former republics of Yugoslavia - on a domestic form. If the person was married in Switzerland, on an international, five-language form, stamped with "apostille" - translation of the certificate is done by the Embassy);

• Original certificate of citizenship, not older than six months if the citizenship of the state originated in the territories of the former Yugoslavia;

• Proof of regulated residence in Switzerland (residence permit, Swiss passport or Swiss identity card),

• Valid passport.

If a minor is covered by a parent's request

• The request and the statement are signed by the parent, while the other parent signs the statement of agreement with the submitted request. Both documents are received and filled in at the Embassy in person;

• A child between the ages of 14 and 18 signs a statement that he / she agrees with the submitted request of the parents for acquiring citizenship.

Notes

• If the request is submitted by the family (spouses and their minor children) minors are covered by the request of one of the parents and no additional fee is paid for them.

DETERMINATION OF CITIZENSHIP

A person who has acquired the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia, and is not registered in the birth register or in the records of citizens of the Republic of Serbia kept according to previous regulations, may submit a request for determining citizenship (Article 44 of the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia).

Required documents

• Completed application for citizenship (obtained and filled in at the Embassy);

• Proof that the person is not registered as a citizen of the Republic of Serbia in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, according to the place of birth of the applicant and the place of birth or residence of his parents at the time of birth of the applicant - it can also be obtained officially, after the applicant has given his written consent;

• Original certificate of citizenship of the Republic of Serbia for parents, not older than six months or some other proof of citizenship of the Republic of Serbia for parents (copy of valid Serbian passport, ID card ...) - it can also be obtained officially, after the applicant has given his written consent;

• Marriage certificate for parents - if they are married in Serbia, it can also be obtained officially, after the applicant has given his written consent;

• Marriage certificate for the applicant if he or she is married (if the person was married in one of the former republics of Yugoslavia - on a domestic form. If the person is married in Switzerland, on an international, five-language form, stamped with "apostille" - translation of the certificate is done by the Embassy);

• Proof of regulated residence in Switzerland (residence permit, Swiss passport or Swiss identity card);

• Valid passport.

RE-ACQUISITION OF CITIZENSHIP

A person who has been released from the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia and acquired foreign citizenship and a person whose citizenship of the Republic of Serbia was terminated at the request of his parents may regain the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia provided he has reached 18 years of age, has not been deprived of legal capacity and submits a written statement that he considers the Republic of Serbia his state (Article 34 of the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia).

Required documents

• Completed application for re-acquisition of citizenship (obtained and filled in at the Embassy);

• Statement that he considers the Republic of Serbia to be his state (received and filled in at the Embassy);

• Decision on release from citizenship of the Republic of Serbia (in copy);

• Proof of acquired foreign citizenship (certificate of citizenship, passport or ID card);

• Original birth certificate from the Republic of Serbia - it can also be obtained officially, after the applicant has given his written consent;

• Proof of regulated residence in Switzerland (residence permit, Swiss passport or Swiss identity card);

• Valid passport.

DISMISSAL FROM CITIZENSHIP

Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia can be terminated by release, if citizen concerned submits a request for release and if he meets the following conditions:

• that he has reached the age of 18,

• that there are no obstacles in regard to military service,

• that he has paid all the taxes and other legal obligations in the Republic of Serbia,

• that the property and legal obligations from the marital relationship and the relationship between parents and children towards persons living in the Republic of Serbia have all been regulated,

• that no criminal proceedings have been instituted against him in the Republic of Serbia for a criminal offense prosecuted ex officio, and that if he has been sentenced to imprisonment in the Republic of Serbia, that he has served that sentence,

• that he has foreign citizenship or proof that he will be admitted to foreign citizenship (Article 28 of the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia).

Required documents

• Completed application (received and completed at the Embassy) as well as questionnaire for release from citizenship;

• Original birth certificate (for child as well, if covered by the request) - for persons born in Serbia it can also be obtained officially, after the applicant has given his written consent;

• Proof of citizenship of the Republic of Serbia, not older than six months - it can also be obtained officially, after the applicant has given his written consent;

• Assurance of the competent court in Serbia that no criminal proceedings have been instituted against the Applicant in the Republic of Serbia - it can also be obtained officially, after the applicant has given his written consent;

• Certificate of settled tax liabilities in the Republic of Serbia - it can also be obtained officially, after the applicant has given his written consent;

• Certificate of the competent Center for Social Work on settled tax and legal obligations from the relationship between parents and children - it can also be obtained officially, after the applicant has given his written consent;

• Proof of foreign citizenship or guarantee (guarantee) that he will be admitted to foreign citizenship (and for a child if covered by the application) after release from citizenship of the Republic of Serbia;

• Written consent of the other parent, if the same request requires release from citizenship for children up to 18 years of age;

• A child aged 14 to 18 signs a statement that he / she agrees with the submitted request of the parents for release from citizenship;

• Proof of regulated stay abroad;

• Valid passport.

RENUNCIATION OF CITIZENSHIP

An adult citizen of the Republic of Serbia, who was born and lives abroad and has foreign citizenship, may renounce the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia until the age of 25. Along with the statement on renunciation of citizenship of the Republic of Serbia, which must be given in person at the Embassy, it is necessary to enclose:

• The original birth certificate - for persons born in Serbia it can also be obtained officially, after the applicant has given his written consent;

• Original certificate of citizenship of the Republic of Serbia - it can also be obtained officially, after the applicant has given his written consent;

• Certificate or other proof of foreign citizenship;

• Proof of regulated stay abroad;

• Valid passport.

GENERAL NOTES

The Embassy may request additional documents when applying for citizenship. Incomplete requests cannot be accepted. The consular fee is paid by card. The fee is non-refundable in case of a negative response from the competent authority - the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia. The request cannot be submitted by mail (via post). Applications for citizenship based on marriage to a citizen of the Republic of Serbia (Article 17 of the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia) can be submitted exclusively at the police station in the Republic of Serbia. The response of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia (invitation to take a decision or invitation to submit an amendment) will be sent to the applicant at the home address left when submitting the request.

For additional information please get in touch with the Consular Section of the Embassy.