If you are thinking about getting a permanent residency in Serbia, this article will help you get the picture of the procedure and rules.

You can apply for permanent residence after three years of continuous residence in the Republic of Serbia on the grounds of approved temporary residence or approved temporary residence and work (single permit). You are eligible to apply if you have lawfully temporarily resided in Serbia for at least three consecutive years before applying, while living in the Republic of Serbia during that period, with the possibility of multiple absences from Serbia for up to ten months or a one-time absence for up to six months.

If you had lawfully temporarily resided on the territory of the Republic of Serbia on the grounds of study or schooling, and then decided to stay in Serbia and changed the grounds, only half of the time spent in the Republic of Serbia on on the grounds of study or schooling can be counted in the three-year requirement for approval of permanent residence.

You apply for permanent residence while your approved temporary residence or issued single permit is still valid. In case you apply during the approved temporary residence or issued single permit meeting the requirement of continuous three-year residence, you can apply at the earliest 60 days before and at the latest by the expiration date of the approved temporary residence or issued single permit.

If you timely apply for permanent residence, you can stay in the territory of the Republic of Serbia until the end of the administrative procedure.

You can also apply for permanent residence if you have resided in the Republic of Serbia for more than three consecutive years on the grounds of a decision approving right to asylum while effectively residing in the territory of the Republic of Serbia and holding a valid ID card for person granted asylum issued by the competent authorities of the Republic Serbia.

Application for permanent residence can also be approved in special cases, when it is not necessary to meet the above requirements, namely:

• to a minor foreigner, if one of the parents is a citizen of the Republic of Serbia or a foreigner granted permanent residence;
• to a foreigner with origin in the Republic of Serbia, i.e. who was born on the territory of Serbia and was granted Serbian citizenship or whose parents are Serbian citizens;
• to a foreigner of Serbian descent who can prove their Serbian heritage.

In special cases, you can apply for permanent residence even when you are not approved temporary residence during your lawful residing in the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

You apply for permanent residence in the Republic of Serbia on the prescribed form, in person to the competent authority. You apply according to the place of registered residential address or temporary residence address. Here you can see the competent authority address list.

Attach the following to the application for permanent residence:

1. personal or official passport or valid ID card of the country whose citizens can enter the Republic of Serbia with an ID card under applicable regulations;
2. applicant’s photograph;
3. proof of sufficient means of subsistence;
4. proof of health insurance;
5. proof of justification of application for permanent residence;
6. registered residential address in the Republic of Serbia (registered address is the residential address at which the foreigner has an approved temporary residence);
7. proof of payment of the prescribed fee.

More information about the required documentation and the prescribed fees you can read here.

If you are eligible, permanent residence is approved by a decision, after which you visit the official premises of the competent authority in person to provide your biometric data and get a foreigner ID card. A foreigner ID card is issued with a validity period of five years and can be extended at your request.

Upon providing your biometric data, you will be issued a certificate — proof of initiated foreigner ID card issuance process.

Minor foreigners under twelve years of age are not fingerprinted and required to provide a signature, and applicants for a foreigner ID card who are minors are required to be accompanied by any of their parents, guardian, or legal representative.

A foreigner ID card is issued to a minor foreigner with a validity period of two years.

Important note: The information provided on this website is solely informative and as such have been tailored to the citizenship, intention of stay in the Republic of Serbia and all other parameters that you have selected through the My Entry / Visa / Residence Guide. It is not legal advice or instruction nor applies to individual situations. For more detailed information on applicable laws and by-laws, as well as on your rights and obligations, we recommend that you visit Law on Foreigners and Law on Employment of Foreigners.

Last updated: 15.11.2024.