A foreigner who stays in Serbia longer than 90 days must have approved temporary residence. It is granted by the police on a specific ground. Since 1 February 2024, residence and work are granted, where needed, by a single permit.
Grounds for temporary residence
- employment or work
- education, studies, exchange, professional training
- scientific research
- family reunification
- religious service
- medical treatment or care
- ownership of real estate
- humanitarian reasons
- other justified reasons
The law also provides for special categories, such as investors, talents, innovators, digital nomads and foreigners of Serbian origin, for whom the Government sets detailed conditions.
General conditions
- a valid travel document
- means of subsistence
- registration of the place of stay or residential address
- health insurance
- proof of the ground for residence
- paid administrative fee
Residence based on real estate
A foreigner who owns a flat or residential building in Serbia and lives in it can obtain temporary residence on that ground, if the general conditions are also met. Ownership alone does not give residence automatically; an application must be filed. A foreigner with this residence has the right to work without a single permit.
Single permit for residence and work
The single permit for residence and work is issued for employment, self-employment and special cases of employment. The application is filed electronically through the single portal, by the foreigner, by the employer on the foreigner's behalf, or by a person they authorise. It is decided within 15 days of a complete application, with an assessment by the employment service and a security check, and the foreigner collects the permit in person.
Duration, extension and permanent residence
Temporary residence can be granted for up to three years, depending on the ground. An application for temporary residence is decided within 30 days. An application for extension is filed no earlier than three months before expiry and no later than the expiry of the current residence. A person who files in time can stay in Serbia until the procedure ends and, with a single permit, can also work. After three years of continuous temporary residence a foreigner can apply for permanent residence. Absences of up to ten months in total or up to six months at a time are allowed, and time spent studying counts only by half. Special rules apply to minor children of Serbian citizens and to persons originating from Serbia or of Serbian origin.
Refusal of an application
An application may be refused if the foreigner does not meet the conditions or for security reasons. An appeal against the decision can be filed within 15 days of receipt, through the authority that issued it. The appeal suspends enforcement and is decided by the Ministry of Interior. After that, an administrative dispute can be brought.
What to prepare
- a passport valid longer than the requested residence
- proof of the ground: employment contract, property title extract, marriage certificate
- proof of means of subsistence
- a health insurance policy
- confirmation of registration of the place of stay
- translations of foreign documents, with an apostille where required
Common questions
Note: This text is general information and is not legal advice for a specific case. It reflects the regulations at the time of the page's last update (October 2026). Assessing a particular situation requires reviewing the documents and circumstances of the case.
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Contact
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