Moved East

[markowe]

Just to give you an important bit of info which doesn't seem to be readily available - I confirmed this with the legal department of the Novi Sad vojni odsek (local army headquarters) for my own purposes, I've been trying to confirm this for years, and I thought I would pass it along.

If you are a Serb born in the diaspora and wish to enter into Serbian citizenship (i.e. you did not get it for whatever reason, like me), currently you ARE still expected to do military service, and that is up to the age of 35, or rather up to the end of the year in which you turned 35. The exception is if you have already served compulsory military service in your "adopted" country. Since some countries, like Britain, do not have compulsory military service, you are de facto required to serve in Serbia.

Apparently, this is set to change this year, with a new Army Act which is supposed to be passed, but at the moment the advice is, if you are planning to get Serbian citizenship, perhaps because you want to come to live in Serbia or whatever, and you are under the age of 35 and have not done military service in your country of residence, WAIT before applying for citizenship, unless for some bizarre reason you want to devote 6 months of your life shining your boots, eating bad food and standing in the cold. Either that or 9 months working in a hospital.

Incidentally, the citizenship procedure is quite simple now - I will post details about that if anyone is interested. I am still waiting though, after several years, so simple it may be, but quick it ain't...
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[blueeee11]

holy crap you are still waiting for citizenship several years after applying!!!!!??? is it really that long?

6 months of military isn't that bad. i heard they allow for conscientious objection and you do just 9 months alternative service.

personally i would go for the 9 months alternative service. no running, no firing guns or throwing grenades. and it is just 3 months more than military service.

but i have already done my stint in the army here so it doesn't apply to me anyway.

[markowe]

I got it in the end, my case dragged on I think because the law changed halfway through. I think it takes a lot less time now.

Fine if someone wants to do civilian military service. Personally, at the age of 36 there is NO way I would waste 9 months of my life on something like that. I think I can contribute to this country in other more productive ways.
_________________
Odista - professional English and Serbian translation services.
Odista - prevod na engleski prepustite Englezima!

[blueeee11]

yeah most people who are not thinking of a career in the armed forces would find conscription a liability... but hey, what are you going to do? for those serbian fellows facing conscription it is either a) you do it or b) they throw you in jail for a few years for desertion

please check your pm mark. really looking forward to hearing from you about those questions...!! thanks a lot..really appreciate it.