How does the new law "On Foreigners" work in Serbia: a step-by-step instruction for immigration through obtaining a property

About the author: Dmitry Efuni
CEO of Iconinvest

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In July 2023, the Serbian Parliament has finally adopted amendments to the laws “On Foreigners” and “On the Employment of Foreigners”. The discussions on the exact reading of the text of the amendments to the legislative framework were conducted in several stages, starting from March 2023.

European Commission tried to prevent the decision to simplify the acquisition of Serbian citizenship and promised to cancel the visa-free regime with Serbia because of the risks to EU national security.

However, the Ministry of European Integration officially admitted that the visa-free regime with Serbia could not be threatened by the proposed law.

Eventually, the proposed amendments, aimed to simplify the procedures for legalizing foreigners, were adopted.

The key changes to the Serbian immigration laws:

• Serbian visas will be issued electronically in order to facilitate the arrival of citizens of those countries where Serbia does not have consular representations.
• The residence permit will now be issued for three years instead of one year.
• The amendment to the law “On Foreigners” has made it possible to simplify the procedure for obtaining a residence permit and a work permit in the Ministry of the Interior. Both documents will be combined into a single permit - jedinstvena dozvola - which will be issued for up to three years with an extension for another three years. Previously, a work permit was valid for only one year.
• A foreigner has the right to obtain permanent residence after three years of residence in the country with a residence permit, and not after five, as was provided by the previous regulations.
• After obtaining permanent residence, foreigners would be able to apply for Serbian citizenship right away. And this means that a Serbian passport can be issued after three years of residence in the country.

A step-by-step manual for property buyers who want to get a residence permit

It is still possible to purchase any property in Serbia and apply for a residence permit the basis of the property holder status. The price of the real estate object is of no importance and is not regarded by the authorities.

Instructions:

1. It is necessary to issue a temporary registration of place of stay (Beli Karton) within one day after arrival in Serbia. Upon check-in at the hotel, this service is free and obligatory for all guests. In the case of rental housing, the hosts also take care of this formality and do not charge additional fees.

2. Next, you need to open a bank account. You should provide a passport and temporary registration form.

3. Then you need to purchase a property and register the title for the new owner. The term of state registration takes about 7 working days. You can follow the process on the official website of the Cadaster.

4. After the completion of the transaction, it is necessary to obtain an extract from the Cadaster identifying the new owner (List Nepokretnosti).

5. The new should register his place of stay at the address of the acquired property.

6. The applicant should obtain a health insurance for the whole duration of stay in the country.

Please read our helpful articles:

• Expenses and Features of Buying Procedure in Serbia
• Buying Serbian Real Estate in 6 Steps

Important! If you own real estate in Serbia and have  received a residence permit on this basis, you will have to obtain a work permit separately.

The list of documents to apply for a residence permit

• International Passport (valid for at least six months after the expiration of the residence permit)
• Bank statement identifying available funds to support the stay in the country (more than €2500 per person per year)
• "Beli Karton" or registered address of stay in Serbia
• Medical insurance valid for the duration of the planned stay
• Confirmation of payment of the established administrative fee
• Two color photographs 35×45 mm;
• Copies of birth and marriage certificates certified by a court interpreter (if necessary)
• Autobiography

! A court interpreter should translate all applications and documents into Serbian.

Are the relatives of the property owner eligible to obtain a residence permit?

The family members of the main applicant - spouse, parents and children may also apply for a residence permit.

How long does it take to obtain a residence permit?

Examination of all the documents for a residence permit in Serbia lasts about one month.

In the case of a positive decision, the permit will be inserted into the applicant's passport. However, in the near future the authorities plan to modify the document and issue resident plastic cards.

How to renew Serbian residence permit?

Starting from February 2024 it will be possible to apply for an extension of a residence permit until the day before the expiration of the current permit. Now the deadline is 30 days before the expiration date of the residence permit.

How to get permanent residence permit in Serbia?

According to the new rules, after three years in the status of resident, a foreigner has the right to apply for permanent residence permit.

Important! The holder of a residence permit should permanently reside in Serbia for three years and not be absent from the country for more than six months in a row.

How to get Serbian citizenship?

Innovations in the legislative framework allow applicants to apply for citizenship immediately after receiving permanent residence, and this is after three years of residence in the country.

In addition to staying in Serbia for a specified period, the applicant should:

• Have a legal employment
• Prove the receipt of secondary or higher education in Serbia or pass the Nostrification procedure for recognition of the documents on higher and postgraduate professional education.
• make a statement that the center of his vital interests is precisely in Serbia

Important! Spouses of Serbian citizens who do NOT live in the country may also apply for citizenship, but they have to be officially married for at least 10 years.

Photo by Fred Romero on wikimedia

Quoting conditions of Prian.info materials