Guide on How to Apply for a Serbia Temporary Residence Permit

Are you looking for a guide on obtaining a Serbia Temporary Residence Permit? This blog post covers several aspects of getting the permit, including its eligibility criteria, requirements, processing time, validity period, and more.

A Serbian Temporary Residence Permit undoubtedly offers its holders a wide range of benefits. The permit allows you to reside legally in the country for up to one year. Serbian Temporary Residence Permit is ideal for foreign nationals whose stay in the country is for training, family reunification, study, employment, and healthcare purposes.

To get a Serbian temporary residence permit, you must possess certain documents, which include a valid passport, two passport-sized photographs, a white card, proof of funds, health insurance, an employment contract, and an NES report. You must also fulfill some requirements to be eligible for a residence permit.

Read on to find out more.

What is a Serbia Temporary Residence Permit?

A Serbian temporary residence visa is a document that authorizes foreign nationals to stay in the Republic of Serbia for a period longer than 90 days. They usually expire one year from their issuance date.

With a valid Serbia Temporary Residence Permit, you can prolong your stay in Serbia for family reunification, education, or employment. The permit is obtainable after you arrive in the country. Unfortunately, you can’t get a Serbian temporary residence permit while in your home country.

Furthermore, Serbia Temporary Residence Permits holders can work in the country without applying for a separate work permit.

Serbia Temporary Residence Permit Benefits

You need to obtain a temporary residence permit in the Republic of Serbia for many reasons. They are as follows:

Serbia temporary residence visa authorizes you to live legally in the country for up to one year. It also makes you eligible to rent an apartment in the country.
A valid Serbia temporary residence permit also qualifies you to sign agreements with any person or business within the country.
You must possess a Serbian temporary residence permit before opening a bank account or accessing a credit facility in Serbia.
Serbians’ close relatives such as spouses and dependent children can use their temporary residence permit to access healthcare services.
Foreign nationals with valid Serbian temporary residence permits have to pay a lower tax rate. Moreover, Serbia’s personal and corporate tax systems favor its residence permit holders.
Possessing a Serbian temporary residence permit provides you with vast opportunities and benefits even outside the country. The reason is that Serbia is very likely to become an EU Member State. Besides, the country is currently a member of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Foreigners with a valid Serbia temporary residence visa can apply for permanent residency after five years of maintaining their status.

Serbia Temporary Residence Permit Processing Time

It takes eight weeks for a Serbian embassy or consulate to process a foreign national’s temporary residence permit application. Hence, you can expect to get your permit precisely two months after applying to the diplomatic mission.

Eligibility Criteria for Serbia Temporary Residence Permit

Below are the conditions you must fulfill to obtain a Serbian Temporary Residence Permit.

You must be at least 18 years old.
Your criminal record must come out clean, i.e., you must be able to prove that you are not a threat to Serbians’ public security.
You have to be medically admissible to the Republic of Serbia. This means that your present medical condition must not pose any risk to the health of Serbians.
It is equally important to have a valid health insurance policy, which financially protects you in any personal health situation.
Lastly, you must not have a ban or be an offender of visa rules in any of the Schengen Area countries.

Serbia Temporary Residence Permit Requirements

Before obtaining a temporary residence permit from the Republic of Serbia, it is important to possess the following documents.

A valid passport or travel document
Two (2) passport photos with each of them bearing size of 35mm x 45mm
Proof of your reasons for extending your stay in the Republic of Serbia
A valid proof of medical insurance with a minimum coverage of €20,000
Proof of fund document(s) like a bank statement
Evidence of fee payment for Serbia Temporary Residence Permit
Your white card, which serves as your proof of residence registration
An employment contract that includes your job’s specific contract terms
A National Employment Standards (NES) report helps to indicate that your job’s terms and conditions have been met.

How to Get Serbia Temporary Residence Permit

Foreign nationals who want to obtain a Serbian temporary residence permit must take the steps stated below.

Assemble all necessary documents for your visa and residence permit application
Book an appointment with a Serbian embassy or consulate
Fill out the application form for a Serbian visa
Submit your supporting documents to the diplomatic mission
Pay your visa fee
Attend an interview with the immigration officers
Wait for the Serbian diplomatic mission’s decision
Travel to Serbia
Obtain your temporary residence permit from the authorities

Step 1: Assemble all necessary documents for your visa and residence permit application

The first step towards getting a Serbian temporary residence permit is to put together all required documents for your visa and permit application. You can check the above for a list of these documents.

Step 2: Book an appointment with a Serbian embassy or consulate

The second step involved getting a Serbian temporary residence visa. You have to fix an appointment with an embassy or consulate of Serbia in your home country.

This is a vital step because Serbian diplomatic missions do not attend to visitors who didn’t have an appointment with any of its officials.

Step 3: Fill out the application form for a Serbian visa

Next, you are required to complete the application form for a Serbian visa. By so doing, you have a purpose of entering the Republic of Serbia.

Step 4: Submit your supporting documents to the diplomatic mission

The fourth step requires you to visit the Serbian embassy or consulate to submit all supporting documents for your visa application.

Step 5: Pay your visa fee

At this time, you have to pay a visa fee, which varies depending on the Serbian visa you desire. Bear in mind that the diplomatic mission requires full payment of the fee.

Step 6: Attend an interview with the immigration officers

You must also go for a short interview with the officials at the diplomatic mission. Be sure to prepare yourself, as the officials will ask you a few questions.

Step 7: Wait for the Serbian diplomatic mission’s decision

Afterward, you should wait for the Serbian embassy to decide your visa application. This would take up to two months.

Step 8: Travel to Serbia

Once approved for a visa, this is the time to book a flight to the Republic of Serbia. You can then travel to the country.

Step 9: Obtain your temporary residence permit from the authorities

As soon as you arrive in Serbia, you must visit the Ministry of Internal Affairs to get your temporary residence permit.

Validity Period of a Serbia Temporary Residence Permit

A Serbian temporary residence permit is valid for a maximum period of one year. However, you can apply for its renewal every year until you are eligible for permanent residency after five years of staying in Serbia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Serbia a country in Schengen Area?

No, the Republic of Serbia is not one of the European countries in the Schengen Area.

How long does it take to get Serbia Temporary Residence Permit?

It typically takes about two months to get a Serbian Temporary Residence Permit. Moreover, you won’t find it hard to understand the permit’s application process.

Do Serbia citizens need a Schengen visa?

Serbians do not need a Schengen visa to enter any of the 26 European countries in the Schengen Area.

How long can I stay without a visa in Serbia?

Foreign nationals who travel to Serbia without a visa can stay there for a maximum of 90 days. However, they can stay longer by applying for a Serbian visa.

Do I need a lawyer to get a Serbian Temporary Residence Permit?

No, you don’t need a lawyer to assist you in getting a Serbian Temporary Residence Permit. You can apply for the permit yourself without hiring a representative.

Conclusion

To sum up, Serbia Temporary Residence Permit is an important document for foreigners who intend to stay in the country for up to one year. After that, it is renewable yearly until you qualify for a permanent residency permit. Above all, the Serbia Temporary Residence Permit application process is easy and its benefits are plentiful.

We believe reading this blog post will quickly guide you in getting your Serbian temporary residence permit.

Thanks for reading!