Residency · Temporary permit · Serbia · Updated October 2026

Serbia Residency Permit

Handled end to end: your documents, the filing, your card, and the renewal.

A Serbian temporary residence permit lets you live legally in Serbia. It is issued for up to three years and is renewable. Most foreigners qualify through a company, property, employment, or family already in Serbia. We manage the documents, translations, submission, and the single required appointment — start to approval. The Serbian authorities make the decision.

If your passport needs a visa to enter Serbia, check with us first. We ask which passport you'll use before any booking form opens.

Book the €49 Roadmap Check your basis

€49 for 60 minutes, credited in full toward your package within 90 days. We tell you honestly how your case looks before you spend anything.

  • Passport
  • Birth certificate, apostilled
  • Proof of address
  • Proof of funds or income
  • White card (address registration)
  • Three recognised pathwayscompany, property, or employment — family reunification is a separate basis
  • No date promisedthe Serbian authorities set the timing — it depends on your documents and their workload
  • One in-person appointmentwe schedule it and accompany you
  • Family members includedsimultaneous applications on one file
  • No Serbian requiredour bilingual team handles all authorities
Chapter 1 · Route check

Which basis fits you?

Your permit needs a legal reason to be in Serbia — your "basis". Most foreigners qualify through one of three pathways; family reunification is a fourth, separate route. The right choice depends on your situation, timeline and long-term plans. Pick the one closest to you and the seven steps below change to match. We confirm which fits on the Roadmap call.

Pathway 01 · Company

Company Formation (DOO)

Register a Serbian limited liability company and apply for residency as the director. Usually the fastest setup-to-permit route.

Company registration
Recently about 5 business days · APR sets the timing, no date promised
Permit decision
Set by the authority
Minimum capital
RSD 100 (about one euro) — legal minimum; we don't recommend it
Work authorisation
Included

That is the legal minimum. We don't recommend starting with it — we suggest an amount on the Roadmap call.

Ideal for entrepreneurs, remote workers, and freelancers.

Learn about company setup
Pathway 02 · Property

Property Ownership

Purchase residential property in Serbia and use ownership as the legal basis for residency. Investment and residency in one coordinated process.

Property purchase
Recently 1–8 weeks · the land registry sets the timing, no date promised
Permit decision
Set by the authority
Minimum investment
No threshold
Work authorisation
Separate permit

Ideal for long-term settlers, retirees, and property investors.

Learn about real estateResidency through property
Pathway 03 · Employment

Employment

Take up employment with a Serbian employer and apply for residency on that basis. The standard route for transfers and local hires.

Work permit
Required first
Permit decision
Set by the authority
Employer required
Yes
Work authorisation
Included

Ideal for employees transferring to Serbia and intra-company moves.

Learn about EOR & hiring
Separate route · Family

Have family already living in Serbia?

If a close family member is a Serbian citizen or already holds legal residence, you may qualify on the basis of family reunification — a separate route from the three above, with its own requirements.

Who it is for
Spouse, children, close family
Permit decision
Set by the authorities
Our packages
from €1,495
Work authorisation
Depends on the case
Discuss your situation
First, check your passport: visa requirements for moving to Serbia → Still not sure? Find your route in about 2 minutes →
3years to permanent residency eligibility
TaxTax is case by case — the Tax Move Check (€395) looks at yours.
90days visa-free entry, most western nationals
Chapter 2 · The route

From route check to renewal: the 7 steps

Every client follows the same seven steps. For each one, here is what we handle and what we need from you. Tap a step on the path, or drag the path to turn it.

On Essential you file yourself with our guidance; on Managed and above we file and go with you.

Route check
Documents
Entry & white card
Filing & biometrics
Decision
Card, bank, address
Renewal & PR

Drag to turn · tap a step to open it

Step 1 · Day 1

Route check

We doConfirm your basis, documents, realistic timeline and total cost.
You doBook the call and show up.

Basis: pick one in Chapter 1

  1. Step 1 · Day 1 · 60 minutes

    Route check

    We assess your nationality, situation and goals on the €49 Relocation Roadmap, then confirm the right basis, the documents needed, the realistic timeline and the total cost. You leave with a clear plan in writing.

    We doConfirm your basis, documents, realistic timeline and total cost — honestly, before you spend more.
    You doBook the call and show up. Have your passport country and a rough landing month ready.
    • Company: we check whether a d.o.o. or another set-up fits your income, and what it costs to run.
    • Property: we check whether your passport lets you buy (reciprocity) and whether you already own or still need to find the property.
    • Employment: we check whether your employer can sponsor you and how the work permit comes first.
    • Family: we check your family member's status and the documents that prove the relationship.
    Book the €49 Roadmap →
  2. Step 2 · Typically weeks 1–2 (start early)

    Documents & apostilles

    We issue a personalised checklist and manage the full preparation — certified translations, apostilles, legalisation, and any company or lease documentation. You provide the source documents; we handle the rest.

    We doYour personal document list, the date to start each one, sworn translations in Serbia, and a check of every page before filing.
    You doRequest the source documents in your country (for example your birth certificate) and get the apostilles on them.

    Incorrect translations and expired apostilles are the single biggest cause of rejection. This step exists to prevent that.

    Showing funds from abroad? See moving money to Serbia for what banks ask when money arrives.

    • Company: add the company documents — registration decision, director appointment, registered address.
    • Property: add the purchase contract and proof of ownership.
    • Employment: add the employment contract and the work permit.
    • Family: add marriage or birth certificates proving the relationship, apostilled and translated.
    Landing in 3–12 months? Get your documents dated with the Pre-Departure File →
  3. Step 3 · Arrival · within 24 hours

    Entry & white card

    You enter Serbia with the passport you will apply with. Your address must be registered within 24 hours of arrival — this registration is the "white card", and the file needs it.

    We doTell you exactly what to carry, and check that your address registration is done and correct.
    You doEnter visa-free, stay at an address that can be registered, and keep the white card safe.
    • Company: company registration runs alongside; in recent cases about 5 business days has been typical. APR sets the timing and we don't promise a date.
    • Property: in recent cases 1–8 weeks has been typical for the purchase. The land registry sets the timing and we don't promise a date. The property becomes your address once it is yours.
    • Employment: your work permit comes first.
    • Family: the same 24-hour address registration applies to every family member.
    How white card registration works →
  4. Step 4 · Typically weeks 2–3 · one day in person

    Filing & biometrics

    We schedule your appointment with the police administration, accompany you on the day, and submit the complete file. This is the one day you need to be physically present — most clients fly in for it.

    We doBook the appointment, attend with you, submit the complete file, and handle all communication with the authorities.
    You doBe there on the day for your photo and fingerprints, and sign.
    • Company: you file as the director of your own company.
    • Property: you file on your ownership of the property.
    • Employment: you file on your employment with the Serbian employer.
    • Family: family members can file together on one coordinated file.
  5. Step 5 · Timing set by the authority

    Decision

    The Serbian authorities decide, and we don't promise a date. Timing varies by applicant, municipality, document status and workload.

    We doTrack the file and answer any request for more documents quickly.
    You doKeep your basis valid and ask us before you travel.
    • Company: keep the company active and its accounting up to date.
    • Property: keep the ownership in place.
    • Employment: keep the job — the permit depends on it.
    • Family: your family member's status must stay valid.
    Can I leave Serbia while I wait? →
  6. Step 6 · After approval

    Card, bank, address

    We notify you on approval and collect your permit. While the application processes, we run housing search, bank account opening and school placement at the same time — so when the permit is approved you're ready to move, not waiting on logistics.

    We doCollect the permit, prepare and attend the bank appointment with you, and keep your address registration current.
    You doSign at the bank and tell us if you move house. The bank makes its own decision.
    • Company: the company bank account and tax ID are set up too; accounting runs from month one.
    • Property: utilities and the move-in are next.
    • Employment: your employer handles payroll; you get your personal account.
    • Family: school placement for children can run in parallel.
    Banking & tax ID →
  7. Step 7 · Before expiry · after 3 years

    Renewal & permanent residence

    We brief you on your renewal date, your obligations, and what to maintain to keep the permit valid. We stay your point of contact for renewals and the upgrade to permanent residency, which you can apply for after three years of continuous temporary residence.

    We doTrack the deadline, refresh the documents, and file the renewal or the permanent-residence application with you.
    You doKeep your basis valid and keep your time outside Serbia within the limits.
    • Company: the company must still be active at renewal.
    • Property: you must still own the property at renewal.
    • Employment: you must still be employed at renewal.
    • Family: the family relationship and your family member's status must still hold.
    Residence renewal in Serbia →
Chapter 3 · Where step 7 leads

Temporary vs permanent residency in Serbia

Most clients start with temporary residency and move to permanent residency after three years of continuous stay. Here's what each one gives you.

Entry point

Temporary Residency

Issued for up to three years under the 2023 reform, renewable while the qualifying basis remains in place.

  • Legal right to live in Serbia
  • Right to work, depending on permit basis
  • Access to private healthcare and banking
  • Ability to sign contracts and lease property
  • Children can enrol in Serbian schools
  • Renewable for as long as your basis holds
Long-term status

Permanent Residency

Eligible after three years of continuous temporary residence — a key improvement of the 2023 reform.

  • Indefinite right to remain in Serbia
  • Full right to work without restrictions
  • Access to public services on equal footing
  • No annual renewal required
  • A pathway toward citizenship by naturalisation
  • Significantly stronger legal status than temporary

Continuity matters: to qualify for permanent residency you generally must not be absent from Serbia for more than 10 months in total across the three years, or more than 6 consecutive months in any single stretch. Renewals and the permanent-residence upgrade →

Chapter 4 · The part most pages skip

What we will not promise

We prepare the strongest possible file. We don't pretend to control the outcome. Decisions rest with the relevant Serbian authorities, banks, or institutions. Timelines are averages based on case experience and can vary by applicant, municipality, document status, and institutional workload.

The decision

The Serbian authorities make the final decision on every permit.

The timing

We don't promise a date — timing depends on your documents and the authority.

Your basis

Your qualifying basis must remain valid for renewals to hold.

Time abroad

Permanent-residency continuity rules apply — absence limits matter.

The paperwork list

Document requirements can vary by municipality and case type.

Hard cases

Complex or borderline cases get an honest assessment before we take them on.

Chapter 5 · Packages & pricing

Company setup and Serbian residency, handled by one team.

Pick the level of help you want — from a done-with-you registration to full-family, done-for-you relocation. Prices are final amounts in euros; third-party costs (government fees, translations, notary) are always yours, at cost, with no markup. Every engagement is a fixed price agreed before we start.

Essential

€1,495

Done with you — registration & residence application. We prepare, you file with our guidance.

Most people choose this

Managed

€1,995

Done for you — we arrange, prepare, and track everything.

White Glove

€3,995

We go with you; spouse + up to 2 children included.

Concierge — by application (from €7,495), applied for on a Roadmap call

Have a written quote from another firm for the same work?
Show it to us on your Roadmap call — if it qualifies, we will look at matching or beating it.
What counts as a quote

Residence Permit Filing €795Already have a company, a property or a family member here? We prepare and file your residence permit — filing only. The authorities decide. See it on /pricing
Family add-on: spouse €595 · each child €395On Essential, Managed and Residence Permit Filing. White Glove includes spouse + up to 2 children. Concierge includes the family; we set the details on the Roadmap call.
Renewal Prepay €495Your first residence renewal, locked in at booking (€595 if booked later).
Start smaller: €49 or €495The €49 Roadmap is credited within 90 days. Landing in 3–12 months? The Pre-Departure File (€495) is credited in full within 12 months.

Residency through property has its own packages — see residency through property. Family reunification starts from €1,495 — see family reunification. We cannot promise permit, visa or bank outcomes — only our own work. Every price: /pricing · See full packages & pricing →

Get your exact quote on the €49 Roadmap See all prices
Chapter 6 · Client outcomes

Completed residency cases

Anonymised outcome snapshots from completed engagements. Real timelines, real results — every case is different, and the authorities decide each one.

American software engineer · Belgrade

Residency via company formation

32 days

DOO registered, Serbian bank account opened, and temporary residence permit approved. Working legally from Belgrade within three weeks of first arriving in Serbia.

Permit approved · DOO operational
British family of four · Novi Sad

Full family residency, housing & schools

8 weeks

Residency permits approved for all four members simultaneously. Apartment secured, two children enrolled in international school, and bank accounts opened within the first week.

All permits approved · Family settled
Australian retiree couple · Belgrade

Residency via property purchase

11 weeks

Property identified, purchased, and residency permits approved for both in a coordinated process. Both permits run concurrently from a single property-ownership basis.

Property purchased · Both permits approved

Rated 5.0 by the people we've moved

Verified Google reviews from clients we've helped through residency, company formation, and citizenship — in their own words.

★★★★★
"I never ever could have relocated to Serbia without the help of Andre and Jelena. As of today, I am officially a temporary resident, obtaining residence through property purchase… He and Jelena have been there every step of the way… making sure all processes happen without a glitch."
Nicholas K.Residency via property purchase · Google review
★★★★★
"I was applying for citizenship and had been down this road twice before on my own without any success. Andre was on top of everything… I finally have my citizenship and updated birth certificate. Couldn't have done it without him. Highly recommend Andre and his team."
George B.Serbian citizenship · Google Local Guide · Google review
★★★★★
"Since the first call, you immediately have the feeling that Andre cares about each single detail about the relocation. It's definitely not a 'one shoe fits all' — everything is discussed and studied based on the counterpart's needs…"
SimoneRelocation client · Google review

Quotes as published on relocationserbia.com. Results depend on each case; decisions are made by the Serbian authorities.

Not ready to book? Get the free Checklist

The Serbia Relocation Checklist lists the documents and steps for each residency basis, so you can see the size of the job before you spend anything.

Get the free Checklist

Find your route into Serbia in about 2 minutes.

We tell you which residency path fits your situation, what it costs in year one, and the first document to request. No call required — we email the result.

Find my route
Chapter 7 · Questions

Serbian residency — common questions

How long does it take to get a Serbian residence permit?

The Serbian authorities decide, and we don't promise a date: timing varies by applicant, municipality, document status and workload. The slow part is usually before filing — documents, apostilles and translations — so start those early.

Can I apply from abroad?

You can do most of the work from abroad: the route check, your document list, and requesting and apostilling your documents. The filing itself happens in Serbia: you enter, register your address (the white card) within 24 hours, and attend one in-person appointment with the police administration, which we schedule and attend with you. Most clients fly in for that day.

Which basis is best for me?

The one you can keep valid. A company (DOO) is usually the fastest setup-to-permit route and includes work authorisation as director. Property suits long-term settlers and retirees but generally needs a separate work permit. Employment needs a Serbian employer and a work permit first. Family reunification applies if a close family member is a Serbian citizen or legal resident. We confirm which fits on the €49 Roadmap.

Can my family apply with me?

Yes. Family members can apply at the same time on the same coordinated file. On Essential, Managed and Residence Permit Filing, a spouse is €595 and each child €395. White Glove includes a spouse and up to 2 children. Concierge includes the family; we set the details on the Roadmap call. If a close family member already lives in Serbia legally, family reunification may be your basis instead.

Can I leave Serbia while my application is processing?

It depends on your entry status and your case, so check with us before you book travel. Our guide explains the rules: leaving Serbia during your temporary residence application. We confirm what applies to you before you leave.

What can go wrong?

Mostly paperwork: incorrect translations and expired apostilles cause most rejections, by a wide margin. Other risks: your basis stops being valid (renewals depend on it), document requirements differ by municipality and case type, and the authorities can ask for more documents or refuse. We prepare the strongest possible file; we don't control the outcome.

Start your residency file

Ready to get your Serbian residency permit?

Book the €49 Roadmap. We'll confirm your basis, timeline and cost — and tell you exactly what needs to happen next. No obligation, and the €49 is credited in full toward your package within 90 days.

If your passport needs a visa to enter Serbia, check with us first. We ask which passport you'll use before any booking form opens.

Book the €49 Roadmap WhatsApp us

Prefer to pick a time slot straight away? Choose a slot directly · View all individual services · support@relocationserbia.com

This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. We do not promise any permit, visa, bank, school or timeline outcome — we control the preparation and the filing; the authorities control the decision and the timing. Relocation Serbia is a trade name of Helion Global Group LLC, a limited liability company registered in the State of Wyoming, USA. Services in Serbia are delivered by Globalna Poslovna Rešenja DOO, a company registered in Serbia, under agreement with Helion Global Group LLC. Read our privacy notice.