When applying for a residence permit in Serbia, many questions arise concerning registration, travel, and legal status. One of the most common is the necessity of obtaining a 'beli karton' (registration of stay).
Moving to Serbia raises the important issue of legalizing your stay in the country. There are several ways to obtain a residence permit (ВНЖ), which differ in cost, requirements, and complexity. It's important to understand each of them to choose the most suitable one for yourself and your family.
In 2025, the key change in the process of obtaining Serbian citizenship for Russians was a new interpretation of existing legislation. The law itself has not changed, but it has begun to be 'read differently.' This has led to a de facto tightening of requirements for those applying for citizenship through the general naturalization procedure.
The main flow of people arriving in Serbia consists of specialists being relocated by their companies. This most often applies to the information technology sector. Companies are moving their developers, analysts, product managers, and other IT-related employees here.
The main flow of people moving to Serbia consists of specialists relocated by their companies. This primarily concerns the information technology sector, as many firms are moving their employees here to continue their work.
The first and most important task when buying real estate in Serbia is opening a bank account. This process can be a real challenge, as many banks are reluctant to work with foreigners without a residence permit. Even on streets with 10-12 bank branches, you can face numerous rejections.
In Serbia, there are several dozen different grounds for obtaining a residence permit. However, among them is one option that, despite its apparent simplicity, is the most unpromising for those aiming for long-term residency in the country — a residence permit based on study.
A common misconception is that buying real estate in Serbia automatically leads to citizenship. In reality, purchasing a property is only the first necessary step to begin a long legalization process. Owning real estate grants the right to obtain a temporary residence permit (TRP), but not a passport.
The process of buying real estate in Serbia begins with finding a suitable property. There are two main ways to do this: searching independently on specialized websites or contacting a real estate agency. Each has its own specifics.