Temporary recidence permit Serbia

Temporary residence of foreigners in Serbia is a special residence permit on the territory of the Republic of Serbia issued to a foreign citizens.

Temporary residence may be granted to a foreigner who intends to stay on the territory of the Republic of Serbia for more than 90 days.

The most common reasons for temporary residence in our country are: employment, schooling, studying, international exchange of pupils or students, professional specializations and educations, family reunification, medical treatment, ownership of real estate.

Regarding the possibility for foreign citizens to apply for temporary residence in Serbia, we make difference between two legal regimes. First, citizens of Schengen countries, as well as citizens of other countries with which Serbia has signed international agreements such as the United States, Canada, Australia, etc., can, without any additional conditions in the form of obtaining a visa, apply for temporary residence. Others, citizens of countries with which Serbia has a visa regime, such as a large number of African and Asian countries, must first obtain a D visa to enter Serbia, and only then they can submit a request for temporary residence.

In order to obtain a temporary residence, a foreigner must submit a request to the Directorate for Foreigners within the Police Administration for the City of Belgrade (if you are planning to live in Belgrade) or to the regional police administrations (for other cities in Serbia).

Appropriate supporting documentation must be submitted with the request, in order for it to be approved. The request for temporary stay of foreigners in Serbia must be solved within the legal deadline of 30 days.

Temporary residence is initially granted for a maximum period of one year and may be extended, several times, for the same period, if there is a justified reason, which is related to the basis on which the temporary residence was obtained.

If the request for temporary residence is rejected, foreigner or an attorney in law may submit a complaint against it within 15 days.

Please note that currently, starting from 31.07.2021., foreigners entering the territory of the Republic of Serbia must have one of the following documents:

1. Negative PCR test (or negative ANTIGEN FIA Rapit Test for US citizens)
2. Certificate of complete vaccination
3. Certificate of illness COVID 19 that has been cured (provided that not less than 14 days have passed since the first test, nor more than 6 months since it).

The restrictions mentioned above do not apply to citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Hungary, the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Northern Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria (when entering Serbiafrom those countries), as well as to citizens of other countries if they are in Serbia just for transit (no longer than 12 hours).

If you need any help with applying for a temporary residence of foreigners in Serbia, collecting documentation, filing a complaint or you simple need a legal advice, feel free to contact our office, which provides legal assistance to foreigners on a daily base, in with their stay in Serbia, getting work permit or starting a business.

Katarina Bozovic, attorney at law