Considering relocating to Serbia? Explore the opportunities, residence permit options, and lifestyle as an expat in this European gem. Learn about the streamlined processes for obtaining a Serbian residence permit, including starting a business, finding local employment, marriage, or real estate investment.

How about relocating to Serbia? This is a rapidly developing European country where a residence permit is not so hard to get, and it will give you an opportunity to enjoy a European lifestyle, take advantage of prices that are lower than in Europe, and potentially get an EU passport as Serbia is planning to become a European Union member in 2025. However, this decision should be well thought-out, and in this post, we will take a brief look at the beautiful Balkan country to show what it is like when you are an expat.

If you want to discover more about Serbia, please click here to explore the portal that is entirely devoted to the country: business, lifestyle, banking, and so on. Do not hesitate to get in touch with our consultant (it’s free!) to discuss the prospects of your living or working in Serbia and get professional advice. And if you need any help with administrative issues, such as opening a personal bank account, for instance, we will be happy to provide the relevant service to you on a turnkey basis.

Your Stay in Serbia in 2023

In 2023, Serbia is open to any foreigners who enter the country – no matter where they come from, and it no longer has the PCR test requirement.

If you want to acquire a Serbian residence permit, you will need to start a business in the country, get a local job, marry a citizen of Serbia, or buy real estate. The good news is that the latter can be purchased at any price as there is no lower threshold set like in many other countries! If you have lived in Serbia for 5 years, you will have the right to apply for permanent residence and thus enter EU states without a visa.

Visa-Free Access to Serbia: List of Countries

Let’s look at the list of countries whose citizens will not need a visa to stay in Serbia for a certain period of time:

  1. USA, Canada, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay, Cuba, Costa Rica, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina.
  2. Switzerland, Monaco, Norway, Montenegro, Iceland, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Vatican, San Marino, Andorra, and Macedonia.
  3. EU member states.
  4. Asian countries: Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE, Macau, Israel, Turkey, and Japan.
  5. Tunisia and Seychelles.
  6. New Zealand and Australia
  7. Post-USSR countries: Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Republic of Belarus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova.

The citizens of these countries are allowed to stay in Serbia for a term from 30 to 90 days, and this period can be extended using a visa run: that is, you leave the country by crossing the border to a neighboring state and come back, thus re-entering Serbia to get another 30 to 90 days of stay. You can also use any of the existing immigration schemes which allow for long-term residence in the country.

Number of Visa-Free Days

Let’s look at some examples of how long you can stay in Serbia without obtaining a visa:

  1. The citizens of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia can stay in Serbia without a visa for no more than 30 days.
  2. The citizens of EU states and those who have valid US, Schengen, or UK visas can stay in Serbia for 90 days at the most.
  3. The citizens of Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and Armenia can stay in Serbia for 90 days within 6 months.

Long-Term and Short-Term Serbian Visas

Let’s take a look at different permits existing in Serbia that allow you to stay in the country for a term from 30 days to 1 year:

  1. As was said before, a foreign passport will make it possible for you to stay in Serbia from 30 to 90 days (depending on where you are from).
  2. Visa C is a document that gives you the right to stay for 90 days over a 180-day term.
  3. With visa D, you will be able to stay in Serbia for 90 to 180 days a year.
  4. If you are a passenger in transit, you will not need any special permit. However, you only have 24 hours to change the means of transport and leave the country.
  5. Residence permit holders can stay in Serbia for 1 year, and the document can be renewed annually.

Extending Your Stay in Serbia

Let’s take a look at the main opportunities to stay in Serbia for more than 30 days:

  1. Visa run is an opportunity used by many non-residents who wish to stay in the country for a long time: they cross the border to Bosnia or Montenegro and re-enter Serbia, thus resetting the term of their stay to zero. The good news is that this trick can be repeated many times!
  2. Short-term visa C. This document is issued for one year, and it allows you to stay in the country for 90 days within each half of the year. It can be theoretically extended, but you should provide enough reasons for the authorities to do so.
  3. Long-term visa D. This kind of visa is issued to those who wish to buy property in Serbia, sign a labor agreement and work there, or obtain a local residence permit. If you want to extend it, you will also need to provide documents to the relevant authority to substantiate it.
  4. Residence permit. This option will result in less hassle than the previous ones. You will also need a reason to apply for a residence permit, like studies, company incorporation, purchasing real estate, labor migration, and so on.

Our Assistance

Want to get a Serbian residence permit? Our experts will provide any assistance you need on this way – in particular, we can render the following services:

  1. Help you with opening a Serbian bank account and obtaining a bank card.
  2. Support the transaction related to the purchase of real estate in the best districts of Belgrade and in other cities.
  3. Help with renting an apartment in a comfortable district (it is important at the start when you don’t know the language but you need to negotiate with the owner and sign an agreement).
  4. Assist in obtaining a residence permit if you set up a company in Serbia or re-domicile the existing one.

Serbia is full of opportunities like any country that is actively developing, and no wonder it attracts a lot of investors from different parts of the globe. Belgrade is turning into an international business hub little by little. Want to be a part of this bustling community? Jump in! Click on the above link to talk to us.

 

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