Discretionary special-interest naturalization — Vlada Rešenje (Art 19)
Citizenship in Serbia
- Eligibility
- CASCADE-FIRST: Government decree admitting foreigner whose admission represents an interest for RS. ~330 grants 2022-Apr 2025 / 204 to Russian nationals (BIRN/KRIK). Published in Sl. glasnik as 05 broj 204-X/YEAR. EC 2025 flagged Chapter 24 visa-policy risk. (Law 135/2004 Art 19)
- Renunciation
- Not required
Overview
Overview of RS-BNA-03 (Discretionary special-interest naturalization — Vlada Rešenje (Art 19)):
This route in the BNA bucket sits within Serbia's post-1999 Yugoslav-successor citizenship framework. Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia 135/2004 (Sl. glasnik RS 135/2004) as amended by 90/2007 (introducing Art 23 IMA PRAVO shall/may asymmetry + Art 18 unrestricted-kinship operative form) and 24/2018 (standalone 31 Dec 2016 anchor, 12-month window 03.04.2018-03.04.2019 now CLOSED).
Substantive provisions:: Government decree admitting foreigner whose admission represents an interest for RS. ~330 grants 2022-Apr 2025 / 204 to Russian nationals (BIRN/KRIK). Published in Sl. glasnik as 05 broj 204-X/YEAR. EC 2025 flagged Chapter 24 visa-policy risk. (Law 135/2004 Art 19).
Constitutional anchor: Constitution of the Republic of Serbia 2006 (Sl. glasnik RS 98/2006 + amendments 115/2021 + 16/2022). Preamble + Art 182 establish the Kosovo non-recognition doctrine; Art 38(3) anchors statelessness reduction; Art 97(2) reserves substantive citizenship competence to the central state (closing the door on Vojvodina via USRS IUz-353/2009). The Yugoslav 4-layer continuity chain — Yugoslav 4-Layer continuity chain — SFRY 1976 (Sl. list SFRJ 58/76) → FRY 1996 (Sl. list SRJ 33/96 + 9/2001 with Art 46 founding population + Art 47 zero-option) → SaM Constitutional Charter 2003 Art 7 derivative-only citizenship (Sl. list SCG 1/2003) → RS 2004 (Law 135/2004 Art 51 transitional + Const 2006). ECtHR sole-successor doctrine confirmed in Bijelić 11890/05 + Jovančić 38968/04 + Pejčić 34799/07 + Šimić 29908/05. — governs the historical predecessor citizenship layers that interact with this route via Art 51 and Art 52 transitional clauses.
Fee schedule (Tarifni broj 39 of Zakon o republičkim administrativnim taksama) — standard 14,550 RSD for full Art 14 naturalization; reduced 7,270 RSD for RS-BiH bilateral track per Dual Citizenship Agreement; preferential 580 RSD for refugees/displaced under Art 23(2); 1,610 RSD upis u evidenciju za Art 8/10 descent recordings; Vienna consular 571 EUR vs Berlin 258 EUR (different consular-fee schedules).
Example scenarios
Dmitry Volkov · age 42
Eligible Art 19 Vlada Rešenje (special-interest). One of ~330 grants 2022-Apr 2025 / 204 to Russian nationals. EC 2025 Chapter 24 visa-policy risk flag.
RS-CF-001: Pure executive discretion. No Art 14(1)(2-4) conditions. Vlada decision published 05 broj 204-X/YEAR in Sl. glasnik.
Anastasia Ivanovich · age 38
Eligible Art 19 Vlada Rešenje (special-interest, post-2020 dissident wave)
Belarusian special-interest grants overlap with Russian cohort post-2020-2022.
Russian oligarch (hypothetical) · age 50
Eligible Art 19 Vlada-decreed pattern
High-profile Art 19 grants documented in 05 broj 204-X/YEAR Sl. glasnik.
Hatem Dovidar (CEO pattern)
Eligible Art 19 high-profile business executive
International CEO category Art 19 grant pattern.
Viktor Šendrik (FSB pattern)
Eligible Art 19 — security-sensitive grant pattern
EC 2025 flagged Chapter 24 visa-policy security risk.
Marija Müller (née Jovanović) · age 24
Eligible Art 33 renunciation (deadline 25th birthday 2026-05-24)
Born-abroad dual-citizen renunciation deadline approaching.
Informational summary compiled from primary legal sources — not legal advice. Citizenship law changes; verify with the competent authority before acting. Last verified 2026-05-17.
Track changes to this route
Descent and naturalization rules change. We'll email you in plain English when anything affecting Serbia updates — no spam.