The application for a temporary residence permit is submitted either in person to the Belgrade City Police Department - Foreign Nationals Directorate, or regional police departments through the e-government portal, depending on the address of short-term residence or the address of residence of the foreigner.
The application for granting or extending temporary residence must be submitted in person with the supplement of the full documentation, that is, all the necessary evidence attached to the application. The application may be supplemented with additional evidence at the request of an authorized official.
The application for extension of the temporary residence permit is submitted no earlier than three months and no later than 30 days before the expiration of the approved temporary residence permit.
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Required documents
Documents required for a temporary residence permit (for all reasons):
valid passport
confirmation of the availability of funds for stay during the planned temporary residence
registration of a short-term or permanent address in the Republic of Serbia
confirmation of health insurance during the planned stay
confirmation of payment of the established administrative fee
two photos (35x45mm, color)
completed application form
In addition to the mandatory documentation, separate documentation must be attached for each reason for staying.
1. Employment:
an extract on the registration of a legal entity or entrepreneur in the Republic of Serbia;
an employment contract, an urgent temporary contract, or other contract confirming the employment of a foreign citizen in the Republic of Serbia in accordance with labor law.
2. Getting an education:
3. Based on family reunification:
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Additionally
Proof that a foreign citizen has a means of funds for living is considered to be:
salary certificate (payroll, etc.);
an employment contract, an urgent temporary contract or other contract confirming the employment of a foreign citizen in the Republic of Serbia in accordance with labor law.
confirmation of pension insurance payments;
a certificate or extract of funds in the bank account of a bank registered in the Republic of Serbia in the amount of the minimum wage in the Republic of Serbia;
Proof of a foreigner's health insurance is considered to be:
European Social Security Card. And another document confirming that a foreign citizen is insured in their country of origin per the provisions of the Republic of Serbia on medical insurance;
a foreigner's health insurance policy agreed with a medical insurance company in Serbia;
confirmation of the availability of funds that can cover the cost of emergency medical care or treatment of chronic diseases;
health insurance card of the Republic of Serbia.
Evidence that has not been issued by the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia must be translated by an authorized court interpreter. Applications of a foreign citizen, which are proof of fulfillment of the relevant legal conditions for the provision of temporary or permanent residence, must be notarized.
More details on the list of documents can be found on the website.
The application for a permanent residence permit is submitted to the Belgrade City Police Department - Foreign Nationals Directorate and regional police departments, depending on the address of residence of the foreign citizen.
The application for a permanent residence permit must be submitted in person, and the application must be accompanied by complete documentation
Conditions for granting a permanent residence permit
A foreign national has the right to apply for permanent residence after five years of continuous approval of temporary residence in the Republic of Serbia unless otherwise provided by law. Before applying for a permanent residence permit, a foreign citizen must be granted temporary residence on one of the grounds provided for a temporary residence permit.
In some cases, a permanent residence may also be granted to a foreign citizen:
who has spent at least three years continuously on the territory of the Republic of Serbia based on permitted temporary residence on the basis of family reunification with a citizen of the Republic of Serbia;
a minor who has obtained a temporary residence permit in the Republic of Serbia, if one of the parents is a citizen of the Republic of Serbia or a foreigner who has been granted permanent residence;
another foreign national who has been granted temporary residence if required for reasons of humanity or in the interests of the Republic of Serbia.
Documents required for a permanent residence permit
When applying for a permanent residence permit, you must add:
valid personal passport;
proof of financial solvency;
proof of health insurance;
registration of the address of residence in the Republic of Serbia (registration of the address is the address of residence at which the foreign citizen was granted temporary residence);
proof of payment of the established administrative fee;
💡 Tip: To ensure a safe move to Serbia, we advise you to contact a specialist. Our qualified specialists with legal education will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration.
After the consultation, you can ask us additional questions. We are interested in the complete resolution of your case. Get a full range of legal services conveniently and quickly - order a consultation right now!
In addition to the aforementioned documents, depending on the grounds on which a foreign citizen was previously granted temporary residence in the Republic of Serbia, and which are the grounds for applying for permanent residence, some of the following documents must be attached:
certificate of ownership of real estate (extract from the land register, etc.);
proof of employment in the Republic of Serbia;
proof of kinship with a citizen of the Republic of Serbia or a foreign citizen holding an approved permanent residence (birth certificate);
marriage certificate issued no earlier than 6 months before the date of application and certificate of citizenship of the spouse, if the spouse is a citizen of the Republic of Serbia;
marriage certificate with a foreign citizen who received the right to permanent residence under the national legislation of the country where the marriage was concluded;
proof of origin from the Republic of Serbia (birth certificate of the applicant, birth certificate of one or both parents of the applicant).
🔗 To safely move, travel or work in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can apply for an extended policy on our website here.
With our health insurance package, you get access to high-quality medical care anytime, anywhere. Our policy covers a wide range of medical services, including medical consultations, hospitalization, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. Protect yourself from unexpected events right now. Choose insurance on our website and receive your policy by email in just a few minutes.
Additionally
Proof that a foreign citizen has a means of funds for living is considered to be:
salary certificate (payroll, etc.);
an employment contract, an urgent temporary employment contract, or other contract confirming the employment of a foreign citizen in the Republic of Serbia in accordance with labor legislation;
confirmation of pension insurance payments;
a certificate or extract of funds in the bank account of a bank registered in the Republic of Serbia in the amount of the minimum wage in the Republic of Serbia.
Proof of a foreigner's health insurance is considered to be:
European Social Security Card, and other documents confirming that a foreign national is insured in their country of origin under the provisions of the Republic of Serbia on health insurance;
a foreigner's health insurance policy agreed with a medical insurance company in Serbia;
confirmation of the availability of funds that can cover the cost of emergency medical care or treatment of chronic diseases;
health insurance card of the Republic of Serbia.
Evidence that has not been issued by the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia must be translated by an authorized court interpreter. Applications of a foreign citizen, which are proof of fulfillment of the relevant legal conditions for the provision of temporary or permanent residence, must be notarized.
More details on the list of documents can be found on the website.
Before obtaining a residence permit in Serbia, you first need to get a "white card". The law provides for the following requirements regarding the terms of obtaining this document:
If a person has stayed with another person, they must come to the police station together and obtain a "white card". Persons who do not have this document can be fined 5000-25000 dinars.
💡 Tip: To ensure a safe move to Serbia, we advise you to contact a specialist. Our qualified specialists with legal education will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration.
After the consultation, you can ask us additional questions. We are interested in the complete resolution of your case. Get a full range of legal services conveniently and quickly - order a consultation right now!
The following categories of persons can apply for Serbian citizenship:
newborn children of Serbian citizens;
foreigners who have a permanent residence permit in the country;
spouses of Serbian citizens who have been in the country with a residence permit for three years;
emigrants from Yugoslavia who plan to return to Serbia;
persons of Serbian nationality.
Renunciation of first citizenship is optional for persons receiving a Serbian passport:
persons receiving citizenship for special services to the country;
ethnic Serbs who arrange repatriation;
spouses of citizens of the country;
investors and entrepreneurs;
persons applying for citizenship based on family reunification.
Conditions
To obtain citizenship, first of all, a foreigner must:
reside in the country permanently, for 5 years; or
stay in the country for 2.5 years with a working residence permit; or
be legally married to a Serbian citizen for three years.
More information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
! The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly recommends that citizens of Ukraine refrain from visiting the southern regions of Serbia and avoid places of mass gathering of people.
On the basis of the Embassy of Ukraine in Serbia, an operational headquarters has been established and a 24-hour "hotline" has been opened to help Ukrainians: +381631113185.
As of May 3, all epidemiological restrictions on entry into Serbia from anywhere in the world have been lifted.
The Republic of Serbia has made it as easy as possible for Ukrainian citizens with biometric passports, overdue biometric passports, non-biometric passports, overdue foreign passports, birth certificates, passports of Ukrainian citizens to enter its territory, and allows transit through its territory. entry to neighboring countries you should find out with the relevant consular offices of Ukraine in the countries of your destination).
The Republic of Serbia has expressed its readiness to officially receive temporarily displaced citizens:
- citizens of Ukraine and members of their families who lived in Ukraine;
- asylum seekers, stateless persons and foreign citizens who have been granted asylum or equivalent national protection in Ukraine, and members of their families who have been granted the right to reside in Ukraine;
- foreign citizens who have been granted actual permanent or temporary residence in Ukraine and who cannot return to their country of origin under permanent and long-term circumstances;
- Temporary protection is also provided to citizens of Ukraine and members of their families who legally resided in the Republic of Serbia at the time of the decision referred to in paragraph 1 of this decision, but whose right of residence expired before the decision on temporary protection.
If you are leaving for Serbia as a temporarily displaced citizen of Ukraine, you must contact the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration and follow the instructions of the Commissariat after crossing the border.
Citizens who have issued a certificate of a person in need of temporary protection have the right to employment and social protection in Serbia.
Contact telephone number and e-mail address for temporarily displaced citizens of Ukraine and those who received them in Serbia
Phone number for consultation: +38164828 3171
These numbers and e-mail addresses provide information from the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration on how temporarily displaced Ukrainian citizens can receive assistance in Serbia, whether they need housing or other assistance.
Information on assistance centers for temporarily displaced citizens of Ukraine
Program of the Belgrade Center for Human Rights (BCLM)
The BCPL youth program focused all its efforts and resources on providing assistance and support, primarily to young people, as well as to all other people from Ukraine who found themselves in Serbia. The program cooperates with other NGOs that provide humanitarian and psychological assistance and support. As a UNHCR partner, the BCPL has been providing free legal aid and advice to all refugees and asylum seekers, including temporarily displaced citizens of Ukraine, since 2012. Basic information on the rights of asylum seekers is available at this link on the UNHCR platform.
Contacts: bgcentar.org.rs and azil.rs
Possibility to extend short-term stays and visas for citizens of Ukraine
Without a visa, Ukrainian citizens can stay in Serbia for 90 days for 180 days.
Serbia grants temporarily displaced citizens of Ukraine the status of persons in need of temporary protection. Those citizens of Ukraine who apply for this status in Serbia and receive a certificate will be able to stay in Serbia for 1 year.
What to do if the passport expires?
According to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine 170 of August 28, 2022, from March 1, 2022, the validity of passports of citizens of Ukraine for travel abroad may be extended for up to 5 years. Extension of passports is carried out by territorial bodies of the LCA of Ukraine, embassies and consulates of Ukraine. In case of expiration of the passport for travel abroad, this period may be extended on the basis of the application of the person or his legal representative. Entering into the passport for travel abroad information on the extension of its validity is free of charge on the day of application of the person in whose name the passport is issued, or his legal representative.
What to do if you have a child without a passport?
Foreign diplomatic missions shall enter information with the indication of personal data about the child into the passport for travel abroad of the parents (one of the parents) and another legal representative of the child, and a photo of the child shall be pasted. This information identifies the child and confirms the citizenship of Ukraine. Entering information about the child is carried out on the day of the application of the legal representative free of charge.
Crossing the border with pets
There are no bans.
Links to official information sources for temporarily displaced persons from Ukraine
https://www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs/SlGlasnikPortal/eli/rep/sgrs/vlada/odluka/2022/36/1/reg
Serbia