Online Application for a Residence Permit in Serbia: A Complete Guide

Key Questions about Residence Permits: Beli Karton, Visa Runs, and Travel

When applying for a residence permit in Serbia, many questions arise concerning registration of your address, the need to leave the country, and rules regarding absence. Understanding these nuances in advance helps to avoid common mistakes.

• For the first application, until approval is received, a "beli karton" must be obtained each time you enter the country after leaving.
• If you have applied for your first residence permit and have not left Serbia, a new "karton" is not required.
• When renewing a residence permit, a "beli karton" is not needed, even if the old one has expired, the new one has not yet been approved, and you have left the country in the meantime.

The need for a "visa run" (regular trips abroad to renew the legal stay period) is eliminated after the official acceptance of the documents. For in-person submission at the MUP (Ministry of Internal Affairs), this happens immediately. For online submission, it happens after the application status changes to "Request submitted" or upon receiving a PDF confirmation in your personal "eSanduče" (e-Mailbox) account.

Leaving the country while your residence permit application is being processed is not prohibited. Upon returning to Serbia after a trip, you must obtain a new "beli karton" (only for the first application). To confirm the legality of your stay at the border, it is recommended to have the application submission document with you: a paper confirmation for offline submission or the "Confirmation of request receipt" PDF file for online submission.

Absence Restrictions and Application Methods

For residence permit renewal, there are no strict limits on the number of days spent outside Serbia. However, if you plan to obtain permanent residence (PMŽ) and citizenship in the future, it is important to adhere to certain limits. In the three years preceding the application for permanent residence, the total absence from the country should not exceed 10 months, and any single absence should not exceed 6 months.

• Online: The most convenient and modern method, allowing you to submit an application from anywhere in the world if you have all the documents.
• Offline: In-person submission of documents at a MUP office by prior appointment via email.
• By mail: The least reliable option due to lack of control over delivery, document accuracy, and difficulties with subsequent steps, such as biometrics submission.

The key difference between online and offline submission lies in convenience and the applicant's age requirements. Applications for children under 16 must be submitted exclusively offline by their parents. Teenagers aged 16 to 18, like adults, can submit their documents online. A spouse applying for reunification can choose either method. It is possible to submit documents for the whole family simultaneously: adults online and children offline. It is not necessary to bring a child under 14 to the MUP.

Issuance Times, Costs, and General Rules

The duration for which a residence permit is issued depends on the grounds for application. The maximum term of three years is granted for property ownership, an indefinite-term employment contract, or registration as a sole proprietor (IP). For study purposes, the permit is issued for the duration of the studies, and on the grounds of "talent," it is for one year.

An application for residence permit renewal can be submitted no earlier than three months before and no later than the expiration date of the current permit. It is important to note that a family reunification application can only be submitted after or simultaneously with the main applicant's submission.

The cost of obtaining a residence permit consists of two parts: the main fee (around 22,700 RSD) and the biometrics fees (around 3,900 RSD). Regarding the notification of Russian authorities about the residence permit, according to Russian Federation law, a Serbian residence permit is equivalent to a temporary residence permit (RVP), and notification is not required.

An important nuance concerns replacing the old residence permit format (a sticker in the passport, "nalepnica") with the new plastic ID card. It cannot be replaced upon request. The new card will only be issued after the next renewal. If the passport with the sticker is lost or damaged, a new "nalepnica" will be placed in the new passport.

Initial Application: General List of Documents

For the first residence permit application in Serbia, a basic set of documents is required, which is common for all grounds. It is important to prepare all papers in advance to ensure a smooth process.

• Proof of state fee payment: Paid at the final step of the online application.
• Photograph: Digital, color, on a white background, with an open face.
• Scan of international passport: Only the main page with the photograph.
• Proof of financial means: This can be a Serbian health insurance policy for one year or a personal bank statement from a Serbian bank showing a balance of about 1700 euros per person.
• "Beli karton": Must be registered at the same address you are using for the residence permit application. This document is not required when applying from abroad.

Citizens of some countries, such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, need to obtain a D visa before applying for a residence permit. Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Israel do not need this visa. In rare cases, the inspector may request a birth certificate translation done by a court-appointed translator.

Documents for 'Self-Employment' (Sole Proprietor)

Obtaining a residence permit based on registration as a sole proprietor (IP) is one of the most popular methods. In addition to the general set of documents, you need to provide papers confirming your business activities.

It is important to note that the sole proprietorship must be active (not "frozen") at the time of application. Also, for a successful residence permit renewal in the future, you need to show account turnover for the last 6 months. In Belgrade, there is a specific requirement: inspectors ask to register the sole proprietorship at the residential address or use a coworking space while listing the home address as an additional one.

Documents for 'Family Reunification'

The procedure for obtaining a residence permit for family reunification requires proof of family ties and financial stability. The list of documents differs slightly for officially married spouses and for partners in a common-law marriage (cohabitation).

• Scan of the main applicant's passport and residence permit.
• Documents for the apartment where the family will reside.
• Translation of the marriage certificate, done by a court-appointed translator. The translation must not be older than 6 months.
• Proof of funds: either your own bank statement or your spouse's statement along with a letter of financial support.

• Certificates from the registry office for both partners confirming they are not married. The certificates and their translations must not be older than 6 months.
• A notarized statement from two witnesses about the existence of the cohabitation ("Izjava dva svedoka o postojanju vanbračne zajednice"). The witnesses can be citizens of any country.

For reunification with children, a translation of the child's birth certificate, signed by both parents, is required. It is important to remember that all translations must be recent, as outdated documents can be a reason for the application to be returned or rejected.

The Online Application Algorithm: From Registration to Payment

The online application for a residence permit is done through the portal eforeigner.welcometoserbia.gov.rs. The process consists of several sequential steps. It is important to fill in all fields carefully and upload the correct documents.

First, you need to register on the e-government portal. If you receive an "Access denied!" error after registration when trying to start the application, you should wait 1-2 business days. When renewing, it's important to ensure your account is linked to your current residence permit number (EBS), otherwise the system will treat the application as an initial one.

1. Step 1 (Check): Specify your citizenship and the date of your last entry into Serbia.
2. Step 2 (Basic/personal data): Enter personal data, information about your parents, education, and your international passport details. You can also specify a new passport here when renewing.
3. Step 3 (Reasons for residence): Select the grounds for the residence permit and specify your residential address in Serbia.
4. Step 4 (Details of reasons): Fill in details depending on the grounds (information about the sole proprietorship, employer, family member for reunification, etc.).
5. Step 5 (Documentation): Upload all necessary documents in PDF or image format. Files must be no larger than 5 MB and have unique names.
6. Step 6 (Fees/Payment): Payment of the state fee. It is recommended to use a Serbian card or generate a payment slip to pay at a bank or "menjačnica" (exchange office).

After successful payment, the application will be sent for review.

Tracking Application Status and Making Revisions

After submitting the application, all notifications and documents will be sent to your personal account on the e-government portal — "eSanduče". It is recommended to enable email notifications so you don't miss important messages. You can track the application status on the page with the list of your applications.

• Within a week of submission, you will receive a PDF confirmation that your application has been received. From this moment on, you no longer need to do "visa runs".
• The status changes to "Request submitted," and then to "Request processing," which means the application is being worked on.
• If the status changes to "Request updating," it means the inspector requires additional documents or corrections. You will receive a letter in your "eSanduče" with a detailed description and a deadline (usually 8 days) for making the revisions.

To correct the application, you need to log in to it on the portal, find the tab with the error, upload the missing or corrected documents, and go through all the steps to the end to confirm the submission (re-payment is not required). After this, the status will change to "Sending data in progress". On average, it takes 3-4 months from submission to approval. Upon approval, the status changes to "Request approved," and you will receive an invitation for biometrics submission in your "eSanduče".

Biometrics: Paying Fees and Visiting the MUP

After receiving the invitation for biometrics, you need to pay the corresponding fees. In Novi Sad, this can be done directly at the MUP, while in Belgrade, the payment must be made in advance at a bank, post office, or "menjačnica". To pay, you need to fill out a special form (payment slip), specifying the correct details.

On the appointed day and time, you must go to the MUP with your passport and payment receipts. There is a dress code in the MUP building: shorts, skirts above the knee, sportswear, and flip-flops are prohibited. Both parents must attend for a child's biometrics appointment. During the procedure, they will take your fingerprints and a photograph. Afterwards, you will be given a confirmation ("potvrda") and told the date when you can pick up the finished ID card.

Each adult must collect their finished ID card in person. Children's cards can be collected by both parents together; the child's presence is not required. After receiving the residence permit card, you can travel freely without needing to get a "beli karton" every time you enter the country.

Life with a Residence Permit: Next Steps and Passport Replacement

Receiving the residence permit ID card is an important but not the final step. There are several optional but recommended actions that will simplify life in Serbia.

• Register with the Pension Fund (PIO) if you are a sole proprietor.
• Add your residence permit number (JMBG) to your sole proprietorship data in the APR register.
• Obtain a state health insurance card ("zdravstvena knjižica").
• Link your residence permit number to your SIM card.
• Exchange your Russian driver's license for a Serbian one.

The situation when your international passport is nearing its expiration date requires special attention. The replacement procedure must be planned in advance, especially if you have a business. First, you need to update your passport data in the APR register and with your banks (for both personal and business accounts), re-sign your housing lease agreement, and get an updated "izjava" from the owner. Only after this can you apply for a residence permit renewal, entering the new passport details in the online form.