Moving to Serbia · Who is coming · Updated November 2026
Who is moving to Serbia heading into 2027: the official numbers behind the new arrivals
Short answer
At the end of 2025, 115,093 foreigners held a valid temporary residence permit in Serbia and 19,612 held permanent residence (Commissariat for Refugees and Migration, Migration Profile 2025, based on Ministry of Interior data). Russians are by far the largest group, with almost half of all valid permits, followed by citizens of China, India and Turkey. Most new permits are issued for work, then for family reunification, property ownership and study, and the Ministry of Interior (MUP) decides every application.
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Facts checked 1 November 2026.
How many foreigners are moving to Serbia?
Serbia has about 6.6 million people (Statistical Office, RZS, 2025), yet the number of foreigners living here has grown fast. Two offices count them. The Statistical Office counts people who move in and out. The Ministry of Interior counts residence permits. Each year the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration brings both together in the Migration Profile.
Valid temporary residence permits rose from 93,642 at the end of 2024 to 115,093 at the end of 2025, an increase of about 23 %. Permanent residents rose from 14,609 to 19,612 in the same year (Migration Profile 2025).
First-time temporary permits were 32,922 in 2025, slightly fewer than 34,131 in 2024. So slightly fewer people arrived for the first time, but more of those already here stayed, renewed and moved up to permanent residence.
The Statistical Office counted 34,155 foreign citizens who moved to Serbia in 2024, 17.2 % fewer than the year before, while 17,331 left (RZS, April 2026). The 2022 census found that 14.2 % of residents were born abroad. Most of them, though, came from the former Yugoslav republics, often decades ago.
Belgrade hosts Expo 2027 from 15 May to 15 August 2027 (Expo 2027 organisers), which is expected to bring more visitors and short-term workers. Rules for foreigners can change in 2027.
Which nationalities move to Serbia the most?
One nationality dominates. Almost every second foreigner with a valid temporary residence permit is a Russian citizen.
| Citizenship | Valid temporary residence, end of 2025 | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | 54,917 | 47.7 % |
| China | 15,160 | 13.2 % |
| India | 7,523 | 6.5 % |
| Turkey | 6,575 | 5.7 % |
| Nepal | 2,741 | 2.4 % |
| All other countries | 28,177 | 24.5 % |
Source: Migration Profile 2025, Ministry of Interior data. Among first-time permits in 2025, Russia led again with 9,003, then China with 5,520 and India with 3,210.
Each group tends to come for different reasons:
Russians. Many work in IT, design and online businesses, often for foreign clients or through their own small company. Russians made up 35.5 % of all foreigners employed in Serbia at the end of 2025 (Migration Profile 2025).
Chinese citizens. Chinese-funded factories, mines, roads and energy projects bring managers, engineers and workers. China made up 19.1 % of employed foreigners.
Indian, Turkish and Nepali workers. Many are hired by Serbian employers for construction, transport, hospitality and factory jobs. India made up 10.7 %, Turkey 9.1 % and Nepal 4.2 % of employed foreigners.
Western Europeans and North Americans. They are fewer and do not appear among the top five. They usually come for lifestyle, family ties or a lower cost of living, and most settle in Belgrade or Novi Sad.
Why do people choose Serbia?
The reasons differ by group, but the same few come up again and again:
- Cost of living. Housing and daily costs are lower than in most of Western Europe and North America, although prices are rising. In the first half of 2026, flats sold for an average of €3,219 per m² in Belgrade, €2,359 in Novi Sad and €1,918 across Serbia (Republic Geodetic Authority, RGZ).
- Tax rules. Salary tax is 10 % and company profit tax is 15 %. Residents are taxed on worldwide income, and higher earners also pay an annual income tax (PwC and KPMG, 2026).
- Easy entry. Citizens of the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and the EU can stay up to 90 days in any 180 days without a visa. Russian, Chinese and Turkish citizens can also enter without a visa, while Indian citizens need one (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
- Location. A base between the EU, the Balkans and Turkey, with English widely used in business in Belgrade and Novi Sad.
- Family roots. Many arrivals have Serbian parents or grandparents.
This guide is general information, not tax advice. Your situation is decided case by case — contact us or your home-country adviser.
On what grounds do foreigners live in Serbia?
Anyone who wants to stay longer than 90 days needs temporary residence on a legal ground set by the Law on Foreigners. The ground decides which documents count and how long the permit can last.
| Ground | Share of first-time permits, 2025 | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Work (employees, company owners, self-employed) | 67.0 % | 22,067 |
| Family reunification | 20.0 % | 6,587 |
| Owning property in Serbia | 5.8 % | 1,919 |
| Studies | 3.7 % | 1,224 |
| Other grounds | about 3.5 % | 1,125 |
Source: Migration Profile 2025. Since 2024 most workers get a single permit that covers both residence and work. Owning a home in Serbia is a ground of its own, and the Ministry of Interior still checks every file.
After three years of continuous temporary residence, most people can apply for permanent residence (Law on Foreigners). Of the 19,612 permanent residents at the end of 2025, about 31 % got it on the ground of work, 30 % through marriage and 22 % through a common-law partnership (Migration Profile 2025).
Our residence permit service prepares the file for the ground that fits you, from our offices in Belgrade and Novi Sad, and follows it with the Ministry of Interior. You deal with the people who do the work.
Are Americans, Britons, Canadians and Australians moving to Serbia?
Yes, but in small numbers compared with the groups above. The official tables do not list them among the top nationalities, so any exact figure you see online for these countries is an estimate.
People from these countries usually come for one of a few reasons: remote work or a business they can run from anywhere, retirement on a lower budget, owning a home that would be out of reach at home, or Serbian roots. Most arrive on the 90-day visa-free stay and later need a residence permit based on work, a company, property or family.
Moving does not end ties with the home country. Pensions, social security and home-country tax are decided under that country’s own rules and any tax treaty. See our guide to moving to Serbia from Canada and the US.
Is the Serbian diaspora moving back?
Serbia has a large diaspora in Europe, North America and Australia, and some of their children and grandchildren are moving back. The 2022 census counted 294,431 residents born abroad who were returnees (RZS).
In 2025, 13,929 people received Serbian citizenship, down from 15,559 in 2024. Almost half (47.97 %) came from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 230 came from Canada (Migration Profile 2025).
The Law on Citizenship has separate routes for people of Serbian origin, for spouses and for long-term residents. Which route applies often depends on old church, municipal or consular records, and that is where many files stall. More in our guides to Serbian citizenship pathways and permanent residency vs citizenship.
What do new arrivals need, and why does it have to be right?
Every ground has its own list, but most residence files are built from the same pieces, and each must match the others:
- a valid passport
- proof of the ground: a job contract, company records, a title deed or a marriage certificate
- proof of your address in Serbia
- health insurance
- foreign documents with an apostille and a sworn Serbian translation
- proof of income or funds where the ground asks for it
Why it has to be right: a name spelled two ways, an expired certificate or a missing translation can send a file back. That costs weeks, and near the end of a 90-day stay it can leave you without legal status.
Planning a move? Get the free Serbia Relocation Checklist.
What goes wrong most often?
The same problems come up again and again:
Days add up across all visits in any 180-day window. Overstaying can bring a fine and a ban on entry (Ministry of Interior).
Foreigners must register their address with the police within 24 hours of arrival, unless a hotel does it for them (Law on Foreigners).
A ground that does not match real life, such as a company with no real activity, can lead to a refusal or a cancelled permit.
Much of what is online was written before the single permit started in 2024. Fees, forms and rules keep changing.
Who decides residence permits and citizenship in Serbia?
The Ministry of Interior (MUP) decides temporary residence, permanent residence and citizenship applications. For the single permit, the National Employment Service also has a say on the work part. Processing times vary by ground and by office. The Ministry of Interior sets the timing and we don’t promise a date.
Relocation Serbia, with offices in Belgrade and Novi Sad, is one team for residence, company setup, property and accounting. We prepare and follow the files; the authorities decide.
A good first step is the €49 Relocation Roadmap (credited toward any package within 90 days — see pricing). It maps your route, papers and timing.
Frequently asked questions
Who is moving to Serbia in 2027?
The latest official data, for the end of 2025, shows Russians as the largest group of foreign residents, followed by citizens of China, India and Turkey. Trends and rules can change in 2027.
How many foreigners live in Serbia with a residence permit?
At the end of 2025, 115,093 foreigners held valid temporary residence and 19,612 held permanent residence (Migration Profile 2025).
Can Americans, Britons and Canadians stay in Serbia without a visa?
Yes, for up to 90 days in any 180 days. A longer stay needs a temporary residence permit.
When can a foreigner get permanent residence in Serbia?
Usually after three years of continuous temporary residence, under the Law on Foreigners.
Who decides residence permits and citizenship in Serbia?
The Ministry of Interior (MUP). Relocation Serbia prepares and follows the file; the ministry decides and sets the timing.
Updated November 2026 · Relocation Serbia. General information, not legal or tax advice. Your situation is decided case by case. Rules can change.