• CITIZENSHIP OF SERBIA



    ACQUISITION OF CITIZENSHIP BY ORIGIN

    A person older than 18 years of age, born abroad, whose one parent at the time of his/her birth was a citizen of Republic of Serbia, while the other parent was a foreign citizen, can acquire citizenship of the Republic of Serbia through origin if by his/her 23rd birthday he/she submits a request to be entered into the evidence of the citizens of Republic of Serbia. In order for a person to submit a request for acquisition of citizenship by origin, it is necessary for him/her to submit the following to the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Nairobi:
     
    1. Completed application form for entering into evidence of citizens (PDF format). Signature of the applicant must be notarized by a notary public;
    2. Proof that the applicant was not entered into the evidence of citizens in the territory of Serbia, which is to say at the place of birth of the applicant as well as at the place of birth or residence of his/her parents at the time of applicant’s birth;
    3. Certified copy of the birth-certificate and its translation into Serbian language;
    4. Parents’ proof of citizenship of Republic of Serbia, which is: 
    - certified copy of proof of citizenship of Republic of Serbia, not older than six months, or
    - passport of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (bearing blue binding);
    5. Certified copy of parents’ marriage certificate (proof of marriage) and translated into Serbian language-if marriage was concluded in Kenya and
    6. Notarized photo-copy of the passport, identification card or other document bearing a photograph;
    Tax fees are non-refundable.
    Incomplete requests can not be submitted for processing and will be returned to the applicant at his/her own expense.

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    VALIDATION OF CITIZENSHIP

    An individual, who acquired citizenship of Republic of Serbia, while not entered into the book of vital records of birth or into the evidence of citizens of Republic of Serbia as administered according to present regulations, can submit request for the validation of citizenship. In order to submit such a request, above individual must submit the following to the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia:
    1. Fully completed request form for validation of citizenship (PDF format). Signature of the applicant must be notarized by a Notary Public;
    2. Proof that the said individual is not registered into the evidence of citizens or Republic of Serbia, that is to say at the place of applicant’s birth and/or at the place of applicant’s parents residence at the time of his/her birth;
    3. Original of the birth-certificate, not to be older than six months (from the date of issuance).
    4. Original proof of citizenship of the applicant’s parents, not to be older than six months (from the date of issuance).
    5. Copy of the applicant’s parents marriage certificate.
    6. If married, the applicant needs to submit a copy of his/her marriage certificate.
    7. Notarized photo-copy of his/her passport, government issued ID or other photo-bearing document

    Tax fees are non-refundable.
    Incomplete requests can not be submitted for processing and will be returned to the applicant at his/her own expense.

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    RE-ACQUISITION OF CITIZENSHIP OF REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND CITIZENSHIP OF REPUBLIC OF SERBIA (REINTEGRATION)

    An individual who was released from the citizenship of Republic of Serbia and acquired a foreign citizenship as well as an individual who, at the request of his/her parents, terminated citizenship of Republic of Serbia by a release from or renunciation of same, can again acquire citizenship of Republic of Serbia if he/she is full 18 years of age, if his/her work capabilities are not compromised and if he/she submits a written statement that he/she considers Republic of Serbia as his/her own country. In order for an individual to submit a request, it is necessary that he/she submits to the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Nairobi following documents:
    - Completed request for re-acquisition of the citizenship (PDF format). Signature of the applicant on the request form must be notarized by a Notary Public;
    - Written statement stating that he/she recognizes Republic of Serbia as his/her own country(PDF format). Signature of the applicant on the request form must be notarized by a Notary Public;
    - Copy of Decree stating the release of said individual from the citizenship of Republic of Serbia;
    - Proof of foreign citizenship;
    - Original of the birth-certificate;
    - Photo-copy of the Kenyan passport

    Tax fees are non-refundable.
    Incomplete requests can not be submitted for processing and will be returned to the applicant at his/her own expense.

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    ADMISSION OF EMIGRANTS INTO CITIZENSHIP OF REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

    Emigrant (an individual who emigrated from Republic of Serbia with intention of permanently living abroad) and his/her descendant can be admitted into the citizenship of Republic of Serbia under condition that he/she is full 18 years old, that his/her work capabilities are not compromised and that he/she submits a written statement stating that he/she recognizes the Republic of Serbia as his/her own country. In order for the emigrant to submit the request, it is necessary to provide Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Nairobi with the following:
    - Completed request for admission into the citizenship of Serbia (PDF format). Signature of the applicant must be notarized by the Notary Public;
    - Written statement(PDF format) that he/she recognizes Republic of Serbia as his/her own country;
    - Original of the birth-certificate not older than six months;
    - Original of the marriage license, with the translation of the document into Serbian;
    - Photocopies of the old Yugoslav passports (bearing blue binding) and other documents available to the applicant;
    - Certified copy of the birth-certificate of ancestors born in the Republic of Serbia who had citizenship of the Republic of Serbia (if applicant was not born in the Republic of Serbia);
    - For a child older than 14 years of age, written consent of the child notarized by Notary Public;

    Tax fees are non-refundable.
    The payable tax fees are covering the whole family (parents and children who are minors). Incomplete requests can not be submitted for processing and will be returned to the applicant at his/her own expense.

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    ADMISSION TO THE CITIZENSHIP OF REPUBLIC OF SERBIA FOR SERB OR OTHER NATIONALS OR MEMBERS OF OTHER ETHNIC COMMUNITIES WHO RESIDE ABROAD

    Article 23. of the Law confirms that the member of Serb or some other nation or ethnic community from the territory of the Republic of Serbia, who do not reside within the territory of the Republic of Serbia, may be admitted into the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia provided that he/she is 18 years of age, that his/her work capabilities are not compromised, and that he/she submits a written statement stating that he/she recognizes the Republic of Serbia as his/her own country. In order for the above individual to submit a request for admission to the citizenship the following documents must be submitted to the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia:
     
    - Completed request for admission to the citizenship (PDF format). Request must be completed by each member of the family. Signature of the applicant must be notarized by a Notary Public.
    - Signed written statement(PDF format) that the applicant recognizes the Republic of Serbia as his/her own country. This statement is submitted by each member of the family. Signature of each applicant must be notarized by a Notary Public.
    - Original of the birth certificate, not older than six months from the date of issue.
    - Original of the mariage certificate and translated into Serbian language - if marriage was concluded in Kenya
    - Identity documents (government issued personal ID, passport or travel document with which the person arrived to the Kenya, driver’s license or some other document bearing a photograph). Photo-copies of the documents must be notarized by a notary public who must certify that they are true to the original.
    - Original proof of citizenship of another country developed within the territory of the SFR Yugoslavia or the republic which was a part of SFR Yugoslavia.
    - A child between 14 and 18 years of age must sign a statement(PDF format) in front of the Notary Public that he/she is in agreement with the request submitted by the parents for the admission into citizenship.
    - Children born in Kenya require a certified copy of the birth-certificate

    Tax fees are non-refundable.
    The payable tax fees are covering the whole family (parents and children who are minors).
    Incomplete requests can not be submitted for processing and will be returned to the applicant at his/her own expense.

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    ADMISSION INTO THE CITIZENSHIP OF REPUBLIC OF SERBIA FOR AN INDIVIDUAL BORN IN ANOTHER REPUBLIC OF FORMER SFRJ WHO HAD CITIZENSHIP OF THAT REPUBLIC OR IS A CITIZEN OF ANOTHER COUNTRY FORMED ON THE TERRITORY OF FORMER SFRJ; WHO AS A REFUGEE, OUTCAST OR DISPLACED PERSON RESIDES IN THE TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA OR IS A REFUGEE ABROAD.

    Article 23. sub-part 2 of the Law confirms that above mentioned individual, who does not have residence in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, can be accepted into the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia under following conditions: that the individual is full 18 years of age, that his/her work capabilities are not compromised, and that he/she submits a written statement stating that he/she recognizes the Republic of Serbia as his/her own country. In order for the above individual to submit a request for admission to the citizenship the following documents must be submitted to the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia:
    1. Completed request for admission to the citizenship (PDF format). Request must be completed by each member of the family. Signature of the applicant must be notarized by a Notary Public.
    2. Signed statement(PDF format) that the applicant recognizes the Republic of Serbia as his/her own country. This statement is submitted by each member of the family. Signature of each applicant must be notarized by a Notary Public;
    3. Original of the birth certificate, not older than six months from the date of issue;
    4. Original of the marriage certificate and translated into Serbian language
    5. Original proof of citizenship of another country formed on the territory of SFR Yugoslavia or republic that was part of former SFR Yugoslavia;
    6. Proof of refugee status or proof that the applicant has been outcast of displaced;
    7. Proof of residence abroad (photo-copy of the permission to reside entered into the travel document or proof issued by an authorized foreign authority such as Resident permit, etc;
    8. Photo-copy of the personal identification card, passport or some other government issued document bearing a photograph of the applicant. Photo-copies must be notarized by the Notary

    Public who must attest that they are true to the original; In case where an adolescent is included in the request of the parents:
    - Request ( point 1) and statment (point 2) are signed by the parent. The signature must be notarized by the Notary Public
    - A child between 14 and 18 years of age must sign a statement(PDF format) in front of the Notary Public that he/she is in agreement with the request submitted by the parents for the admission into citizenship.
    - Children born in Kenya require a certified copy of the birth-certificate

    Tax fees are non-refundable.
    The payable tax fees are covering the whole family (parents and children who are minors). Incomplete requests can not be submitted for processing and will be returned to the applicant at his/her own expense.

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    TERMINATION OF CITIZENSHIP OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

    Citizen of the Republic of Serbia terminates his/her citizenship of the Republic of Serbia by submission of request for release from same and if he/she fulfills the following conditions:
    - applicant is full 18 years of age;
    - if male, has no conflict regarding military service;
    - has satisfied all taxes and other obligations required by Law of Republic of Serbia;
    - has regulated legal obligations pertaining to ownership within the marriage and regarding the familial relations between parents and children in respect to persons residing in Serbia;
    - that in Serbia there is no criminal investigation or legal action in connection with a felony against him/her, or if he/she was sentenced to an incarceration, that the given sentence has been carried out and served;
    - that he/she has a foreign citizenship or proof that he/she will be given foreign citizenship.

    Along with the request the applicant must submit:
    1. Completed request form for release from the citizenship (PDF format);
    2. Original of the birth-certificate (as well as for a minor child if included in the request);
    3. Proof of the citizenship of Republic of Serbia;
    4. If male, a certificate (decision) of the relevant military authority that the applicant has regulated his military service, or agreement by the Ministry of Defense of Republic of Serbia that there is no conflict in order to release the applicant from the citizenship regarding his military service obligations;
    5. Proof that he/she has foreign citizenship or a guarantee of acceptance into the foreign citizenship (as well as for a minor child if included in the request);

    In case where an adolescent is included in the request of the parents:
    - Written agreement by the other parent, if the request includes a minor child under 18 years of age (signature of the parent giving agreement must be notarized at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Nairobi);
    - Opinion of the relevant custodial authority in the Republic of Serbia;
    - Written agreement(PDF format) by a child over 14 years of age, who has to sign it in front of authorized representative of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Nairobi;
    - Lawful court order of divorce (if parents are divorced), or a copy notarized by the relevant authorities in Republic of Serbia or by the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Nairobi (this in case where applicant is the parent who lawfully and by court order has a decree of sole custody of the minor child).
    - Opinion of the relevant custodial authority in the Republic of Serbia or Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Nairobi of Republic of Serbia if the second parent refuses to agree with the release of the child from the citizenship, or resides at the unknown location, or his/her work capabilities are compromised, or is deprived of parental custody.
    - Court decision of full adoption of a child in cases where request for release from citizenship of the Republic of Serbia is for adoptees up to 18 years of age (when the application is being submitted by adoptive parent who is a foreigner, he/she must present proof of foreign citizenship).

    Tax fees are non-refundable.
    Incomplete requests can not be submitted for processing and will be returned to the applicant at his/her own expense.

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    RENUNCIATION OF REPUBLIC OF SERBIA CITIZENSHIP

    Adult citizen of Republic of Serbia, who was born and lives abroad and has a foreign citizenship, can renounce the citizenship of Serbia by his/her 25th birthday. Along with the statement of renunciation of citizenship of Republic of Serbia, which can be made only in person at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Nairobi, the following documents need to be submitted:
    - Original of birth-certificate;
    - Proof of citizenship of Republic of Serbia;
    - Certificate or other proof of foreign citizenship and
    - Proof of residence abroad (identification or other government issued document with the address of residence abroad);

    Tax fees are non-refundable.
    Incomplete requests can not be submitted for processing and will be returned to the applicant at his/her own expense.