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Residence Permits and Permanent Residence in Serbia
AskMe Legal Agency can help you obtain a residence permit in Serbia, guiding you through the entire process!
BASIS
How to Obtain a Residence Permit
You can apply for a residence permit based on:
Residence Permit
Marriage
Residence Permit
Employment
Residence Permit
Studing
Residence Permit
Asylum
Residence Permit
Real estate
Residence Permit
Medical treatment
Residence Permit
Sole Proprietorship/LLC
Residence Permit
Investment
Typically, if you are applying with your family, one family member applies based on the chosen ground, and the rest join under family reunification. Applications can be submitted together.
However, it should be noted that spouses/partners can always join, but children only up to 18 years of age.
Each basis has its nuances and required documents. We are ready to help you choose the most suitable basis for your situation during our free 30-minute consultation!
The most popular ways are the first two (opening a company and real estate). With these, you can get a residence permit for one year, renew it every year, and after three years obtain permanent residence in Serbia, and then apply for citizenship, although you will have to renounce your Russian citizenship.
However, through marriage to a Serbian citizen, you can obtain Serbian citizenship while retaining your Russian citizenship.
You can get a residence permit within 1-2 months.
You can order our residence permit service, and we will help you gather the necessary documents and accompany you to all required institutions.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Documents for Residence Permit in Serbia
The application for a residence permit must be submitted in person, online, or by mail.
The processing time for the application is usually 15 days.
Residence permits are currently issued for 1 to 3 years, but if your passport expires earlier, the residence permit will be issued for three months less than the passport's validity.
You can apply for a residence permit renewal in Serbia no earlier than three months and no later than the expiration of the residence permit.
A residence permit does not provide visa-free access to other countries but allows you to obtain Schengen visas and simplifies opening bank accounts.
The following documents are required to apply for a residence permit:
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Passport
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Completed application form
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White card (not a hostel or hotel)
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Bank statement from a Serbian bank (or an employment contract if applying based on employment)
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Health insurance
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Brief resume
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Receipt of state fee payment
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Two color photographs
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Copy of a long-term lease agreement with a copy of the owner's ID card
This set is basic, but depending on the chosen basis for residence, other documents may be needed.
The documents are submitted in person at the MUP (Department for Foreigners), and we provide accompaniment services, but your personal presence is mandatory.
Documents not issued by Serbian authorities must be translated by an official translator (court translator) into Serbian (usually birth or marriage certificates).
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Why do FAQs matter?FAQs are a great way to help site visitors find quick answers to common questions about your business and create a better navigation experience.
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What is an FAQ section?An FAQ section can be used to quickly answer common questions about your business like "Where do you ship to?", "What are your opening hours?", or "How can I book a service?".
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Where can I add my FAQs?FAQs can be added to any page on your site or to your Wix mobile app, giving access to members on the go.
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What is the Paushal tax system (simplified tax system)?The Paushal tax system, also known as the simplified tax system, allows entrepreneurs and small companies to pay taxes based on a fixed rate without the need for complex bookkeeping and financial reporting. It is available for entrepreneurs with a turnover of up to 6,000,000 dinars per calendar year. However, it requires maintaining a KPO book, which is a simple table form for recording all company receipts for each calendar year.
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When is an accountant needed in Serbia?An accountant is mandatory for both LLCs and Sole Proprietorships, except for Sole Proprietorships under the flat-rate tax system. Accountants need a license to work in Serbia, so our accounting services are provided in collaboration with the licensed Serbian accounting company Business Book.
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What tax rates apply to LLC profits in Serbia?LLCs are required to pay a 15% corporate income tax, a 20% value-added tax (VAT) with exceptions depending on the type of activities, as well as personal income tax and social contributions for their employees.
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What are the tax systems for Sole Proprietorships in Serbia?In Serbia, there are two tax systems for Sole Proprietorships: Knjigash(with an accountant) - This system has a 10% income tax. An accountant is mandatory. Bookkeeping can be with or without payroll. Paushal (simplified tax system) - This is a fixed-rate tax system. An accountant is not mandatory. It is available for entrepreneurs with a turnover of up to 6,000,000 dinars per calendar year.
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What are the usual tax obligations for an LLC?Generally, an LLC is required to pay corporate income tax and dividends, VAT if registered, personal income tax and social contributions for employees, and property or rental tax if applicable.
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How do you support clients with accounting services?We partner with experienced licensed Serbian accountants to provide accounting services, including bookkeeping, financial report preparation, and tax compliance.
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What topics are most popular among our clients?How to choose the legal form of a company in Serbia and the tax system Which tax system suits my Sole Proprietorship better: flat-rate or bookkeeping How to optimize the tax burden How much will monthly accounting services cost When can I do without an accountant When does my Serbian company need a cash register How to connect a cash register in Serbia How to order a terminal for card payments in Serbia How to correctly fill out a receipt in a Serbian bank Can I be an unemployed director What are the minimum social contributions I need to pay Can I be employed without a work permit Can I legally work without a residence permit or permanent residence How to get acquiring services in Serbia When does my company need to pay VAT
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What organizations regulate accounting activities in Serbia?Supervision of accounting activities is carried out by the Ministry of Finance and the Tax Administration (Poreska uprava), and the license (dozvola) for activities is issued by the Chamber of Authorized Auditors of Serbia.
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How do I add a new question & answer?To add a new FAQ follow these steps: 1. Manage FAQs from your site dashboard or in the Editor 2. Add a new question & answer 3. Assign your FAQ to a category 4. Save and publish. You can always come back and edit your FAQs.
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How do I edit or remove the 'Frequently Asked Questions' title?You can edit the title from the FAQ 'Settings' tab in the Editor. To remove the title from your mobile app go to the 'Site & App' tab in your Owner's app and customize.
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Can I insert an image, video, or GIF in my FAQ?Yes. To add media follow these steps: 1. Manage FAQs from your site dashboard or in the Editor 2. Create a new FAQ or edit an existing one 3. From the answer text box click on the video, image or GIF icon 4. Add media from your library and save.
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When can you apply for permanent residence in Serbia?You can apply for permanent residence after three years of continuous temporary residence. The processing time for a permanent residence application is up to 6 months.
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What are the grounds for revoking permanent residence?Grounds for revoking permanent residence include: ▶ If a person poses a real and serious threat to public order or their continued stay in the country poses an unacceptable risk to the security of the Republic of Serbia and its citizens ▶ If a measure of expulsion or a measure of expulsion of a foreigner has been applied to them ▶ If they provided false information about their identity or concealed circumstances that were significant for making a decision on rights in a previous procedure ▶If it is established that they left the Republic of Serbia or resided abroad for more than one year ▶ If they renounced their right to permanent residence
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On what basis can you get a three-year residence permit in Serbia?A three-year temporary residence permit is most often granted based on real estate, marriage to a Serbian citizen, and employment in a large company. The final decision always depends on the inspector, so there is no guarantee in this matter.
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How long do you need to stay in Serbia to maintain your residence permit and permanent residence?To obtain permanent residence, you must not leave Serbia for more than 10 months in total over three years, with no more than 6 months in a row. You may lose your permanent residence if it is established that you left the Republic of Serbia or resided abroad for more than one year.
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What to do if you are denied a residence permit in Serbia?If you are denied the initial residence permit, the reason for the denial is crucial: If the denial is due to incomplete documents, you can reapply for a residence permit after some time on the same or a different basis. If the inspector considers you a threat to the Republic of Serbia, you will not be able to obtain a residence permit after such a remark. If you are denied the renewal of your residence permit, for example, if you applied for a residence permit as a Sole Proprietor but did not obtain a work permit, you can apply for a residence permit on another basis but not as a renewal, but as a new application.
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How long is a residence permit in Serbia granted for?The duration of the residence permit primarily depends on the chosen basis and the inspector's decision. Currently, a residence permit in Serbia can be obtained for up to three years.
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On what grounds can permanent residence not be obtained in Serbia?If your residence permit in Serbia was based on study, treatment, talent, or volunteering, you will need to change the basis in the last year before applying for permanent residence, as the aforementioned are not grounds for permanent residence in Serbia.
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What legal services are related to obtaining a residence permit in Serbia?We provide a full range of legal services for obtaining residence permits and permanent residence, including selecting the appropriate basis for a residence permit, gathering necessary documents, translations, and support in dealing with government institutions.
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What benefits do clients receive when they seek your legal support?We ensure a delicate individual approach, professional consultations, and legal support in solving legal issues in Serbia. Our team consists of experienced specialists with extensive experience in the Balkans from various fields (business, HR, law, taxes, accounting), who have successfully launched their own projects in the Balkan countries. Our practical experience allows us to optimize costs for our clients and find the best solutions. We keep track of new laws and regulations, provide up-to-date and reliable information, and conduct seminars and webinars as well as training for our clients!
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How can you assist clients in opening a company in Serbia?Our lawyers will help you with every step of opening a company in Serbia, including company registration, assistance with opening a bank account, preparation of founding documents, and informing you about the tax and legal aspects of doing business in Serbia.
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What legal services does your agency provide?Our legal agency in Serbia specializes in offering a wide range of legal services, including legal support for company formation, obtaining residence permits, work permits, labor and tax consulting, and accounting services (in collaboration with the licensed accounting company Business Book).
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What is the cost of your legal services?The cost of our legal services is publicly available on our website. We offer individual and corporate services, as well as convenient package deals for sole proprietors and LLCs in Serbia. Special discounts are available for corporate clients, which can be found in the Corporate Clients section!
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How long does the company registration process in Serbia take?The registration process for a Sole Proprietorship takes up to 5 business days, and for an LLC up to 10 business days.
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What corporate services do you provide?We provide corporate services such as company formation, employee onboarding, accounting, business consulting and support, and interaction with government agencies. We offer convenient corporate packages and discounts for companies with 5 employees and more(5% discount) and 10 employees and more (10% discount).
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What types of residence permits do you help corporate clients obtain?We help obtain: Residence permits for employees based on employment, including market tests and work permits. Residence permits for Sole Proprietorships: in this case, we register a Sole Proprietorship for your employees, help open a bank account, and obtain a work permit. Residence permits for business owners (LLC founders) - for both working and non-working founders. We offer convenient package deals for all options.
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What is a market test?A market test is a procedure conducted when hiring a foreigner, where the employer plans to hire foreign citizens in Serbia. The purpose of the market test is to ensure that there are no suitable candidates among Serbian citizens for the position.
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What employee onboarding packages do you offer in Serbia?Specifically for relocating companies, we have created a convenient Employment package that includes obtaining a residence permit, market test, work permit, and employment contract template! We handle the collection of necessary documents, document translations, obtaining documents from government organizations, and support for submitting and obtaining residence permits for your company's employees.
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Can taxes be avoided if the company has no income?This depends on the chosen tax system. There may be no tax, but social contributions will still need to be paid. Additionally, lack of company income may result in a refusal to extend the residence permit.
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Sole Proprietorship or LLC?We always recommend starting with a Sole Proprietorship to see how your business progresses, as a Sole Proprietorship can always be converted to an LLC, but an LLC cannot be converted to a Sole Proprietorship. A Sole Proprietorship is simpler to open and close, with both procedures taking around 5 business days. However, a Sole Proprietorship can only have one activity type, whereas an LLC can have one primary and two secondary activities. Opening an LLC takes about 10 days, and closing it can take up to six months, with both procedures being quite complex and costly. Additionally, a Sole Proprietorship can only have one owner, while an LLC can have multiple owners. However, certain activities, such as foreign trade, are better suited to an LLC. Also, remember that an LLC is liable with its authorized capital, while a Sole Proprietorship is liable with all its assets.
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What are the minimum authorized capital requirements for LLCs in Serbia?The minimum authorized capital for an LLC is 100 dinars (RSD).
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What tax rates apply to LLC profits in Serbia?LLCs are required to pay a 15% corporate income tax, a 20% value-added tax (VAT) with exceptions depending on the type of activities, as well as personal income tax and social contributions for their employees.
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Is a work permit required for Sole Proprietorships?Yes, if the Sole Proprietorship owner is not a Serbian citizen, a work permit is mandatory to extend the residence permit.
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What are the tax systems for Sole Proprietorships in Serbia?In Serbia, there are two tax systems for Sole Proprietorships: Knjigash(with an accountant) - This system has a 10% income tax. An accountant is mandatory. Bookkeeping can be with or without payroll. Paushal (simplified tax system) - This is a fixed-rate tax system. An accountant is not mandatory. It is available for entrepreneurs with a turnover of up to 6,000,000 dinars per calendar year.
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What are the benefits of opening a company in Serbia for foreign entrepreneurs?Opening a company in Serbia offers access to the country's attractive investment climate, favorable tax rates, strategic location in Europe, and access to a large international market. Serbia also has several programs for startups and other types of businesses that offer tax benefits.
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What are the minimum requirements for opening an LLC in Serbia?To open an LLC in Serbia, you need a valid passport, a legal address, and notarized founding documents. If you are a foreigner and do not speak Serbian, you will need a court translator for the notary visit.
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What employee onboarding packages do you offer in Serbia?Specifically for relocating companies, we have created a convenient Employment package that includes obtaining a residence permit, market test, work permit, and employment contract template! We handle the collection of necessary documents, document translations, obtaining documents from government organizations, and support for submitting and obtaining residence permits for your company's employees.
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What types of residence permits do you help corporate clients obtain?We help obtain: Residence permits for employees based on employment, including market tests and work permits. Residence permits for Sole Proprietorships: in this case, we register a Sole Proprietorship for your employees, help open a bank account, and obtain a work permit. Residence permits for business owners (LLC founders) - for both working and non-working founders. We offer convenient package deals for both options.
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How long does the company registration process in Serbia take?The registration process for a Sole Proprietorship takes up to 5 business days, and for an LLC up to 10 business days.
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What is a market test?A market test is a procedure conducted when hiring a foreigner, where the employer plans to hire foreign citizens in Serbia. The purpose of the market test is to ensure that there are no suitable candidates among Serbian citizens for the position.
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What corporate services do you provide?We provide corporate services such as company formation, employee onboarding, accounting, business consulting and support, and interaction with government agencies. We offer convenient corporate packages and discounts for companies with 5 employees (5% discount) and 10 employees (10% discount).
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