A foreign citizen who has been granted permanent residence in the Republic of Serbia may apply for citizenship of the Republic of Serbia.

The request for the approval of permanent residence is submitted in person to the territorially competent police department of the Ministry of the Interior, as the competent authority for foreign citizen’s affairs, according to the place of registration of your address of residence or residence in the Republic of Serbia, with a prior scheduling of the appointment for submitting the request.

The list of addresses and telephone numbers as well as e-mail addresses of the regional police departments of the Ministry of the Interior responsible for the affairs of foreign citizens can be found here.

The request for the approval of permanent residence is submitted to the competent authority according to the place of registration of the foreign citizen’s residential address, at the earliest 60 days before the expiration of the approved temporary residence, which meets the prescribed condition of three years, i.e. no later than the date of expiration of the approved temporary residence or issued single permit.

As an exception to the general conditions for the approval of permanent residence, permanent approval may also be granted in special cases to a foreign citizen, namely:

• a minor foreign citizen on temporary residence in the Republic of Serbia, if one of the parents is a citizen of the Republic of Serbia or a foreign citizen who has been granted permanent residence;
• who originates from the Republic of Serbia;
• who is of Serbian origin;
• another foreign citizen if it is in the interest of the Republic of Serbia.

The request for the approval of permanent residence in special cases is submitted during the legal stay of foreign citizens in the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

Documentation for the approval of permanent residence:

1. request for the approval of permanent residence;
2. photograph of a foreign citizen;
3. valid foreign personal passport (the passport is attached for inspection, and a photocopy of the passport is attached with the request);
4. proof of possession of means of subsistence;
5. proof of health insurance;
6. proof of the justification of the request for the approval of permanent residence in accordance with the basis on which the foreign citizen resides in the territory of the Republic of Serbia;
7. registration of residential address in the Republic of Serbia (registration of address is the residential address where the foreign citizen has an approved temporary residence);
8. proof of paid administrative fees.

If the request is submitted under the general condition that immediately before submitting the request for permanent residence, the foreign citizen spent three continuous years on temporary residence, i.e. who was issued a permit for temporary residence and work, depending on the basis on which the foreign citizen was granted temporary residence, submit one of the following documents in original or as a certified copy:

1. proof of ownership of real estate (excerpt from the real estate deed, etc.);
2. proof of employment in the Republic of Serbia;
3. proof of the existence of kinship with a citizen of the Republic of Serbia or a foreign citizen who has been granted permanent residence (excerpt from the register of civil records);
4. excerpt from the marriage register and excerpt from the register of citizens’ records for the spouse, if the spouse is a citizen of the Republic of Serbia;
5. document on the existence of a marriage union with a foreign citizen who has been granted permanent residence, in accordance with the national legislation of the country where the marriage union was established;
6. proof of free marital status for both partners as well as other evidence of the existence of an extramarital union, such as: a statement of the extramarital partners, a statement certified by two witnesses by the competent authority for certification of the Republic of Serbia, which confirms the permanence of the extramarital union between the extramarital partners, proof of common residential address, excerpt from the register of extramarital unions if it is kept in the country where the extramarital union existed, etc.;
7. other evidence, which in accordance with the law and by-laws are prescribed as evidence for the basis on which the foreign citizen was previously granted temporary residence, i.e. a single permit;

If the request is submitted for special cases of approval of permanent residence, the following evidence shall be submitted:

1. for a minor, one of whose parents is a citizen of the Republic of Serbia or a foreign citizen who has been granted permanent residence, proof of kinship with a citizen of the Republic of Serbia or a foreign citizen who has been granted permanent residence must be attached or obtained (birth certificate).
2. proof that the origin is from the Republic of Serbia (birth certificate of the applicant, birth certificate for one or both parents of the applicant submitted by a foreign citizen originating from the territory of the Republic of Serbia in the original or as a certified copy);
3. proof of Serbian origin (excerpt from the register of civil records for the applicant's ancestors that they are of Serbian origin, baptismal certificates, etc.)

If the request is submitted for a minor, the request must be signed by both parents. If it is not possible to ensure the presence of both parents, in addition to the child's birth certificate, a certified consent of the other parent or proof that one parent exercises parental rights independently must be attached.

If the request for permanent residence is submitted by a foreign citizen who has been granted the right to asylum in the Republic of Serbia, a decision granting the foreign citizen the right to asylum in the Republic of Serbia, in accordance with the law, is submitted, as well as a copy of the identity card of the person who has been granted the right to asylum.

Administrative fees and charges

The amounts of fees for the approval of permanent residence as well as fees for issuing identity cards for foreign citizens are prescribed by the Law on Republic Administrative Fees ("Official Gazette of the RS", nos. 43/2003...98/2020) tariff number 37.

The amount of the fee is prescribed by Article 4, paragraph 1, point 40) of the Regulation on the types of services provided by the Ministry of the Interior and the amount of fees for the services provided ("Official Gazette of the RS", Nos. 51 of July 19, 2019, 86 of December 6, 2019 - other Law, 80 of July 15, 2022).

The following is considered proof that a foreign citizen has secured means of subsistence:

1. confirmation of the amount of salary (salary calculation or similar);
2. employment contract, temporary work contract or other contract proving employment of a foreign citizen in the Republic of Serbia in accordance with labour regulations;
3. proof of payments from pension insurance;
4. proof of registration in the Register of Agricultural Holdings;
5. confirmation or statement of the possession of funds in the bank account in the amount of the minimum salary prescribed in the Republic of Serbia;
6. certified guarantee from the employer or a natural person who is a member of the foreign citizen’s household who submitted a request for the approval of permanent residence that they will bear the costs of supporting the foreign citizen with proof that the guarantor has sufficient funds.

Proof of health insurance for foreign citizens with whose countries the Republic of Serbia has an international agreement on social insurance is considered to be the European health insurance card, i.e. another document proving that they are insured in their country, in accordance with the regulations of the Republic of Serbia on health insurance. Proof of health insurance for foreign citizens with whose countries the Republic of Serbia has not concluded an international agreement on social insurance is considered to be the foreign citizen’s health insurance policy, proof of possession of sufficient funds that can cover the costs of providing emergency medical assistance, i.e. treatment of chronic diseases, a certified guarantee from the employer or a natural person that they will cover the aforementioned costs with proof that the guarantor has sufficient funds, as well as a valid health insurance card of the Republic of Serbia.

Identity card for foreign citizens

Foreign citizen who has been granted permanent residence has his/her biometric data taken and a biometric document is issued: identity card for foreign citizens.

Foreign citizen who has been granted permanent residence in the Republic of Serbia can submit a request for admission to the citizenship of the Republic of Serbia, which is submitted to the organizational unit for administrative affairs within the competent police station.

Termination of the right to permanent residence

Foreign citizen's right to permanent residence in the Republic of Serbia ceases if he/she:

1. represents a real and serious threat to public order or their continued stay on the territory of the country represents an unacceptable risk to the security of the Republic of Serbia and its citizens;
2. was issued a protective measure of removal or security measure of expulsion;
3. gave false information about their identity or concealed circumstances that were important for deciding on rights in the previous procedure;
4. was determined to have moved out of the Republic of Serbia or that he/she has continuously resided abroad for more than one year;
5. waived the right to permanent residence.

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: 18.01.2025.