Iseljenik + descendant — UNRESTRICTED degree-of-kinship (Art 18)
Citizenship in Serbia
- Eligibility
- Operative Art 18 unrestricted in degree of kinship.
- Renunciation
- Not required
Overview
Overview of RS-BRT-01 (Iseljenik + descendant — UNRESTRICTED degree-of-kinship (Art 18)):
This route in the BRT 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: Operative Art 18 unrestricted in degree of kinship. FATAL: "do drugog stepena" limit only in WITHDRAWN 2023 bill + PENDING 2026 amendment. (Law 135/2004 Art 18 post-90/2007).
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).
Legal basis
RS-BRT-01 (Iseljenik + descendant — UNRESTRICTED degree-of-kinship (Art 18)) — section legal_basis:
This section in bucket BRT reflects operative practice under Operative Art 18 unrestricted in degree of kinship. FATAL: "do drugog stepena" limit only in WITHDRAWN 2023 bill + PENDING 2026 amendment. (Law 135/2004 Art 18 post-90/2007).
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). 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).
Example scenarios
Eligible Art 23(1) IMA PRAVO (right-based) + Art 18 iseljenik UNRESTRICTED kinship (4th-gen acceptable per operative text)
Art 18 cohort-distinctive UNRESTRICTED kinship — applies to any descendant of any RS emigrant regardless of degree. Documentation evidence chain critical.
Informational summary compiled from primary legal sources — not legal advice. Citizenship law changes; verify with the competent authority before acting. Last verified 2026-05-16.
Track changes to this route
Descent and naturalization rules change. We'll email you in plain English when anything affecting Serbia updates — no spam.