Short-Term Stay

A short-term stay in Serbia refers to a visit lasting up to 90 days, either with or without a visa. For this type of stay, foreigners do not require special approval from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP), which is responsible for matters related to foreigners' stay in Serbia. However, regardless of the need for approval, it is mandatory for foreigners to register their stay with the competent police station within 24 hours of arrival if foreigner provides own accommodation. On the other hand, entrepreneurs and legal entities that provide accommodation services with or without compensation are obliged to register foreigner within 24 hours from the moment the accommodation service is provided. So here it is very important to understand that it is not the responsibility of foreigners to report themselves to the competent police station, but that obligation is the responsibility of the owner of the accommodation.

Where and how foreigner can register short-term stay?

A foreigner's stay is reported at the police station responsible for the territory where the apartment/hotel or some other type of accommodation is located. When registering your residence, you need to fill out a form that you can get at the police department. In it, it is necessary to specify data related to the identity of the foreigner and the time of entry of the foreigner to the territory of the Republic of Serbia, as well as information related to the owner of the accommodation.

A person registering a foreign national’s short-term residence address shall provide the following listed below to a police officer for inspection purposes:

1. a foreign travel document or other document held by a foreign national and
2. other documents depending on who registers a short-term residence address, i.e.:

a) a legal entity or an entrepreneur:

• proof of real estate ownership in which a foreign national resides on a short-term basis
• extract on the Serbian Business Registers Agency (in Serbian abbrev. APR)
• a foreign national’s short-term residence address;

b) a natural person, if a foreign national resides at his/her residential address:

• identity card of a person visited by a foreign national;

c) a natural person, if a foreign national resides  at an address different to the residence address of the person registering a foreign national's short-term residence:

• identity card of a person visited by a foreign national
• proof of legal grounds for the use of the real estate in which a foreign national resides on a short-term basis (real estate purchase agreement, flat tenancy agreement, etc.);

A foreign national, who neither uses accommodation services nor resides at a private address of either a natural or legal person, shall register his/her short-term residence address by submitting the following documentation below for inspection purposes:

• a foreign travel document or another document held by a foreign national
• proof of legal grounds for the use of the real estate in which he/she resides on a short-term basis (real estate purchase agreement, flat tenancy agreement, etc.) or other proof of residence in a certain place.

Temporary Residence Permit

A temporary residence permit allows foreigners to stay in Serbia for a period longer than 90 days, up to three years, with the possibility of extension. To obtain a temporary residence permit, foreigners must submit an application, either in person to the Police Directorate for the City of Belgrade-Directorate for Foreign Nationals or regional Police directorates оr by e-Government portal, along with supporting documents. These documents include, a valid personal or official passport, proof of sufficient funds, registration of either short-term or residential address in the Republic of Serbia, evidence of health insurance coverage, proof of prescribed administrative fee payment and justification for the purpose of stay, such as employment, education, scientific research, family reunification, and more. The request for an extension of the temporary residence permit must be submitted to the competent authority no earlier than three months and no later than 30 days prior to expiry of an approved temporary residence permit. A foreign national shall reside in the Republic of Serbia in accordance with the purpose for which his/her temporary residence has been approved.

These documents include

1. a valid personal or official passport
2. proof of sufficient funds during the planned stay (A foreigner fulfills this requirement if they provide evidence of a minimum monetary amount in their non-resident account in Serbia. This amount entails the official minimum wage in Serbia for each month of stay, multiplied by the number of months of the planned stay)
3. registration of either short-term or residential address in the Republic of Serbia
4. proof of health insurance coverage (A foreigner is required to provide proof of private health insurance or health insurance from their country of origin, provided that this insurance can be applied in Serbia based on a bilateral agreement or government decision. There is one additional option available for foreigners: instead of the documents mentioned above, a foreigner can provide evidence of a sufficient amount of funds to cover potential medical expenses in the Republic of Serbia during their stay)
5. proof of prescribed administrative fee payment
6. justification for the purpose of stay, such as employment, education, scientific research, family reunification, etc.

The request for an extension of the temporary residence permit must be submitted to the competent authority no earlier than three months and no later than 30 days prior to expiry of an approved temporary residence permit. A foreign national shall reside in the Republic of Serbia in accordance with the purpose for which his/her temporary residence has been approved.

Permanent Residency

Permanent residency in Serbia can be granted by the Ministry of foreign affairs under certain conditions. These conditions include having resided in Serbia for more than five years based on a temporary residence permit, being married to a Serbian citizen or a foreigner with permanent residency for at least three years, being a minor on a temporary residence permit with one parent being a Serbian citizen or having permanent residency with the consent of the other parent, being of Serbian origin, or when granting permanent residency is deemed humanitarian or in the interest of Serbia.

Conclusion

As Serbia continues to attract people from all over the world, it's essential to understand the various types of residence available and the appropriate procedures for legal settlement. Whether you are planning a short-term visit, seeking temporary residence, or aiming for permanent residency with the professional legal support of our law firm, the process becomes easier. Our team specializes in providing the necessary services for immigration, employment, and stay of foreign nationals in Serbia. Whether you need guidance, assistance in filing applications, or help in gathering the required documentation, our law firm is here to support you every step of the way."