Published: 04.12.2025
According to BIRN, some Russian applicants who received preliminary approval for Serbian citizenship and renounced their previous nationality have waited more than a year for a Serbian passport. During this period, they may be unable to leave Serbia, work officially, or access a range of public services.
Sources describe delays at the passport-issuance stage after preliminary approval for Serbian citizenship, including additional security checks by Serbian authorities. For applicants who have already renounced Russian citizenship, this can mean effectively having no valid passport and facing restrictions on travel, formal employment, and access to services. The issue primarily affects Russian nationals seeking naturalisation in Serbia, especially those who renounce their previous citizenship before receiving a Serbian passport. Anyone considering this route should account for the possibility of a prolonged document gap and avoid renouncing existing citizenship before the process is complete where their individual circumstances allow.