Temporary residence permit

Law on Foreigners

The provisions of the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 24/2018, 31/2019, and 62/2023) regulate the conditions and procedure for issuing a temporary residence permit, the extension of the validity of temporary residence, as well as the grounds for the termination of temporary residence in Serbia.

A temporary residence shall be the authorisation for stay of a foreign national in the Republic of Serbia and it may be granted to a foreigner who intends to stay in the Republic of Serbia longer than 90 days for a period of 180 days, longer than the period of residence laid down by an international treaty, i.e. longer than the period for which the long-stay visa is issued, on the grounds of:

  • Employment;
  • Education or learning Serbian language;
  • Enrolling a university;
  • Participation in programs of international exchange of pupils or students;
  • Professional specialization, training and internship;
  • Scientific and research work or some other scientific and educational activity;
  • Family reunification;
  • Performance of religious service;
  • Medical treatment or care;
  • Ownership of real estate;
  • Humanitarian stay;
  • Status of a presumed victim of human trafficking;
  • Status of a victim of human trafficking;
  • Other duly justified reasons in compliance with the law or an international treaty.

In cases where temporary residence is granted on the grounds of employment, professional specialisation, training and internships, a single permit for temporary residence and work is issued. In all other cases, as prescribed by the provisions of the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 24/2018, 31/2019, and 62/2023), a temporary residence permit is issued based on the grounds for granting temporary residence.

A foreign national who has been granted temporary residence on any of the grounds prescribed by the provisions of the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 24/2018, 31/2019, and 62/2023) is required to reside in the Republic of Serbia in accordance with the grounds on which the residence was granted.

By way of exception from the grounds for granting temporary residence prescribed by the provisions of the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 24/2018, 31/2019, and 62/2023), and in line with the interests of the Republic of Serbia, the Government of the Republic of Serbia may, by official act, determine categories of foreign nationals, criteria, methods, and more detailed conditions for granting temporary residence to foreigners, such as: foreign investors in the Republic of Serbia, talented individuals, foreigners engaged in innovative activities, foreigners of Serbian origin, digital nomads, highly qualified foreigners, and others.

Submission of Applications for Temporary Residence and Time Limits

A foreigner who has legally entered the Republic of Serbia and who did not need a visa for such entry, as well as the foreigner who entered the Republic of Serbia with a long-stay visa, and who resides legally in the Republic of Serbia, shall submit an application for temporary residence.

By way of exception, where there are humanitarian reasons or the force majeure reasons or where it is in the interest of the Republic of Serbia, a foreigner who has lawfully entered and lawfully stayed in the Republic of Serbia with a visa for a short stay may submit an application for granting authorisation for temporary residence, upon providing proofs of existence of the above listed reasons.

A request for the approval or extension of temporary residence must be submitted by the foreign national either in person or electronically, by completing the online application form on the Foreigners’ Portal, to the competent authority using the prescribed form. A foreigner may submit the application for temporary residence in the Republic of Serbia by electronic means from abroad as well.

The grounds for submission of an application for temporary residence must be the same as the grounds for issuing of the long-stay visa.

The application for extension of temporary residence shall be submitted three months at the earliest and the latest until the expiry of the validity period of the temporary residence.

A foreigner who has timely submitted an application for authorisation of a temporary residence, i.e. for the extension of the temporary residence, can remain in the Republic of Serbia until the conclusion of the first instance procedure, i.e. until the conclusion of the second instance procedure in case of filing of an appeal against the decision on rejection of the application.

Where this is in the interest of the Republic of Serbia, if it is determined that there are humanitarian reasons or due to the existence of force majeure, the competent authority may consider an application for extension of temporary residence of a foreigner which has been submitted following the expiry of the current temporary residence, providing that the period of time in between the expiry of the previous temporary residence and the submission of application for extension of temporary residence is shorter than three months. If the competent authority approves the extension of temporary residence based on a request submitted after the expiry of the valid temporary residence permit, the period between the expiry of the previously approved temporary residence permit and the submission of the request for its extension shall be considered a lawful and continuous period of residence.

More detailed conditions for submission of the application for granting temporary residence by electronic means shall be prescribed by the Minister in charge of the interior.

Competence for Decision Making

The competent authority shall decide on an application for granting, i.e. extension of temporary residence within 30 days from the application submission date. According to the provisions of the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 24/2018, 31/2019, and 62/2023), the competent authority is the organisational unit of the Ministry of the Interior, Police Directorate – outside the headquarters, which handles matters related to the movement and residence of foreigners.

On the occasion of deciding on an application submitted for granting temporary residence, in addition to the assessment of whether the general conditions prescribed by the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 24/2018, 31/2019, and 62/2023) have been fulfilled, the competent authority shall additionally acquire the assessment of the state authority in charge of protection of security of the Republic of Serbia on whether the foreigner’s stay in the territory of the Republic of Serbia presents an unacceptable security risk. The time limit for delivery of the assessment shall be 25 days from the date of delivery of request for consideration.

General Conditions for Issuing Authorisation for Temporary Residence

Enclosed to the application for authorisation, i.e. extension of temporary residence, the foreigner shall provide:

  • Valid personal or official passport;
  • Valid identity card of the state of his/her citizenship, if, according to applicable regulations, he/she can enter the Republic of Serbia with the identity card.
  • Proof of means for supporting himself during the planned stay;
  • Registration of residence or residential address in the Republic of Serbia;
  • Proof of medical insurance during the planned stay;
  • Proofs of justification of application for granting temporary residence in compliance with the grounds prescribed in Article 40 of the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 24/2018, 31/2019, and 62/2023), as well as other documents at the request of the competent authority;
  • Proof of payment of the prescribed administrative fee.

The validity of the personal document that is to be enclosed with the application must exceed the period for which the approval of temporary residence is applied for by at least three months.

Foreign nationals who are immediate family members of a citizen of the Republic of Serbia, as well as those who are being employed and the immediate family members of such employed foreigners, are not required to submit proof of means of subsistence and evidence of health insurance for the planned duration of their stay.

Any documents submitted that were not issued by the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia or that are not prepared in the Serbian language must be accompanied by a translation provided by a certified court interpreter.

If the application is submitted electronically via the Foreigners’ Portal, supporting documents must be attached either as original electronic documents or as digitised copies.

The Rulebook on Granting Temporary Residence (“Official Gazette of the RS”, No. 6/2024) prescribes the detailed conditions for granting temporary residence, the format of the application for temporary residence approval, and the format of the temporary residence permit form.

Duration of Temporary Residence

The temporary residence can be approved in the duration of up to three years and can be extended for the same period, depending on the existence of the reasons for which the temporary residence is approved. By way of exception, where there are humanitarian reasons, interest of the Republic of Serbia or force majeure, a foreigner who does not have a valid travel document, but who fulfils the general conditions prescribed by the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 24/2018, 31/2019, and 62/2023), shall be granted or extended the temporary residence by means of a decision.

Rejection of Applications for Temporary Residence

An application for temporary residence, i.e. application for extension of temporary residence shall be rejected where:

  • The validity period of the identity document submitted with the request for the approval or extension of temporary residence is shorter than the prescribed minimum period – at least three months longer than the requested period of temporary residence;
  • One or more general conditions prescribed by the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 24/2018, 31/2019, and 62/2023) are not fulfilled, except in cases where the foreign national is an immediate family member of a citizen of the Republic of Serbia, or is being employed, as well as in cases involving immediate family members of an employed foreign national, and where they have not submitted proof of means of subsistence or health insurance for the planned period of stay;
  • The protective measure of removal, security measure of expulsion is in force against the foreigner or the entry ban has been imposed against him;
  • This is called for by the reasons of protection of security of the Republic of Serbia and its citizens;
  • There is reasonable doubt that the foreigner will not use the temporary residence for its intended purpose;
  • The competent authority, in the procedure initiated upon a request for extension of temporary residence, determines that the foreigner has not used the previously approved temporary residence in accordance with the grounds on which the temporary residence has been approved;
  • The foreigner has enclosed a falsified travel document;
  • It is determined that proofs enclosed with the application for temporary residence are falsified or obtained unlawfully;
  • There are reasons to justifiably believe that he/she shall not act in compliance with the legal order of the Republic of Serbia.

A foreigner may file an appeal against the decision on rejection of application for granting temporary residence, i.e. for the extension of temporary residence, through the competent authority, within 15 days from the decision receipt date. The appeal shall be filed in writing, in Serbian language, upon payment of the prescribed fee. The Ministry of Interior shall decide on the appeal against the decision on rejection of application for granting temporary residence, i.e. for the extension of temporary residence. The appeal shall have suspensive effect on the enforcement of decision.

An administrative dispute can be initiated against the decision passed in the second instance procedure, and initiating of an administrative dispute shall not have a suspensive effect on enforcement of decision of the second instance authority.

Termination of Temporary Residence

Where it is subsequently learnt that there is one or multiple reasons prescribed for rejection of the application for temporary residence applicable to the foreigner to whom temporary residence is granted, the competent authority shall pass a decision on termination of the right to temporary residence. In the decision on termination of the right to temporary residence, a time limit can be set within which the foreigner shall be obliged to leave the Republic of Serbia, which may not exceed 30 days from the date of delivery of the decision, and a ban on entry can be imposed. Article 78 of the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 24/2018, 31/2019, and 62/2023) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the imposition of the ban.

On the occasion of passing of a decision on the termination of the right to temporary residence, particular circumstances of each case shall be assessed, and in particular the duration of the foreigner’s previous temporary stays and his/her personal, family, cultural, economic and other ties to the Republic of Serbia.

The temporary residence may also be terminated at the foreigner’s request and by operation of law. The temporary residence shall be terminated by operation of law in the event of a foreigner’s death, upon approval of permanent settlement in the Republic of Serbia, or upon the foreigner’s admission to citizenship of the Republic of Serbia.

Last update: 12. 9. 2025.

Read more:
Procedure for issuance, extension, revoaction and cessation of validity of work permit for foreigners in Serbia »
Types of work permits and conditions for issuing them in the Republic of Serbia »
Long stay visa (visa D) »

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