diff --git a/phonenumber_field/serializerfields.py b/phonenumber_field/serializerfields.py
index 2502a57a..2fe66ae4 100644
--- a/phonenumber_field/serializerfields.py
+++ b/phonenumber_field/serializerfields.py
@@ -1,16 +1,22 @@
+from django.conf import settings
 from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 from rest_framework import serializers
 from rest_framework.exceptions import ValidationError
 
-from phonenumber_field.phonenumber import to_python
+from phonenumber_field.phonenumber import to_python, validate_region
 
 
 class PhoneNumberField(serializers.CharField):
     default_error_messages = {"invalid": _("Enter a valid phone number.")}
 
+    def __init__(self, *args, region=None, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        validate_region(region)
+        self.region = region or getattr(settings, "PHONENUMBER_DEFAULT_REGION", None)
+
     def to_internal_value(self, data):
         str_value = super().to_internal_value(data)
-        phone_number = to_python(str_value)
+        phone_number = to_python(str_value, region=self.region)
         if phone_number and not phone_number.is_valid():
             raise ValidationError(self.error_messages["invalid"])
         return phone_number
diff --git a/tests/test_serializers.py b/tests/test_serializers.py
index 2d02f401..ab06834f 100644
--- a/tests/test_serializers.py
+++ b/tests/test_serializers.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-from django.test import SimpleTestCase
+from django.test import SimpleTestCase, override_settings
 from rest_framework import serializers
 
+from phonenumber_field.phonenumber import PhoneNumber
 from phonenumber_field.serializerfields import PhoneNumberField
 
 from .models import OptionalPhoneNumber
@@ -25,3 +26,74 @@ class PhoneNumberSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
 
         s = PhoneNumberSerializer(data={"phone": 1})
         self.assertIs(s.is_valid(), False)
+
+    def test_empty_required(self):
+        class PhoneNumberSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+            phone = PhoneNumberField()
+
+        serializer = PhoneNumberSerializer(data={"phone": ""})
+        self.assertIs(serializer.is_valid(), False)
+        self.assertEqual(serializer.validated_data, {})
+
+    def test_empty_optional(self):
+        class PhoneNumberSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+            phone = PhoneNumberField(allow_blank=True)
+
+        serializer = PhoneNumberSerializer(data={"phone": ""})
+        self.assertIs(serializer.is_valid(), True)
+        self.assertEqual(serializer.validated_data, {"phone": ""})
+
+    def test_e164_phone_number(self):
+        class PhoneNumberSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+            phone = PhoneNumberField()
+
+        serializer = PhoneNumberSerializer(data={"phone": "+33612345678"})
+        self.assertIs(serializer.is_valid(), True)
+        self.assertEqual(serializer.validated_data, {"phone": "+33612345678"})
+        self.assertIsInstance(serializer.validated_data["phone"], PhoneNumber)
+
+    def test_region(self):
+        class PhoneNumberSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+            phone = PhoneNumberField(region="FR")
+
+        serializer = PhoneNumberSerializer(data={"phone": "0612345678"})
+        self.assertIs(serializer.is_valid(), True)
+        self.assertEqual(serializer.validated_data, {"phone": "+33612345678"})
+        self.assertIsInstance(serializer.validated_data["phone"], PhoneNumber)
+
+    def test_region_invalid(self):
+        class PhoneNumberSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+            phone = PhoneNumberField(region="GB")
+
+        serializer = PhoneNumberSerializer(data={"phone": "0612345678"})
+        self.assertIs(serializer.is_valid(), False)
+        self.assertEqual(serializer.validated_data, {})
+        self.assertEqual(serializer.errors, {"phone": ["Enter a valid phone number."]})
+
+    @override_settings(PHONENUMBER_DEFAULT_REGION="FR")
+    def test_region_from_settings(self):
+        class PhoneNumberSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+            phone = PhoneNumberField()
+
+        serializer = PhoneNumberSerializer(data={"phone": "0612345678"})
+        self.assertIs(serializer.is_valid(), True)
+        self.assertEqual(serializer.validated_data, {"phone": "+33612345678"})
+        self.assertIsInstance(serializer.validated_data["phone"], PhoneNumber)
+
+    @override_settings(PHONENUMBER_DEFAULT_REGION="GB")
+    def test_region_kwarg_precedes_setting(self):
+        class PhoneNumberSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+            phone = PhoneNumberField(region="FR")
+
+        serializer = PhoneNumberSerializer(data={"phone": "0612345678"})
+        self.assertIs(serializer.is_valid(), True)
+        self.assertEqual(serializer.validated_data, {"phone": "+33612345678"})
+        self.assertIsInstance(serializer.validated_data["phone"], PhoneNumber)
+
+    def test_invalid_region(self):
+        with self.assertRaisesMessage(
+            ValueError, "“INVALID” is not a valid region code. Choices are"
+        ):
+
+            class PhoneNumberSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+                phone = PhoneNumberField(region="INVALID")