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Foreigners Act (Zakon o strancima) in brief: stay, permits, deadlines

Zakon o strancima, Serbia's Foreigners Act: current citation, 90-day visa-free stay, temporary residence, single permit for residence and work, permanent residence, registration, fines.

INFO
Short answer. The Foreigners Act (Zakon o strancima) governs entry, movement, stay and return of foreign nationals in Serbia: short stays of up to 90 days, visas, temporary residence, the single permit for residence and work, permanent residence, address registration and fines. The current text is published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia (Sl. glasnik RS), Nos. 24/2018, 31/2019 and 62/2023. The 2023 reform, applied since 1 February 2024, introduced the single permit, permits of up to three years and electronic applications. This page explains the Act in plain language and does not replace the official text.

What the Foreigners Act (Zakon o strancima) covers and whom it applies to

Zakon o strancima, the Foreigners Act, is the basic statute governing the entry, movement, stay and return of foreign nationals in Serbia, and the powers of the state bodies involved (Art. 1). A foreigner is anyone without Serbian citizenship (Art. 3(1)). If you are moving to Serbia, working here, joining a spouse, studying or buying a home, this is the law that decides how long you may stay and on what basis.

The Act does not apply to asylum seekers and people granted asylum or temporary protection, to people with diplomatic privileges in the part covered by those privileges, or to people with refugee status (Art. 2). Separate laws govern them.

The official citation is: Zakon o strancima (Sl. glasnik RS Nos. 24/2018, 31/2019 and 62/2023). The 2018 text replaced the old 2008 act. It was amended in 2019 and 2023; the July 2023 amendments (No. 62/2023) brought the reform widely called the "new Foreigners Act": its key provisions apply from 1 February 2024 (Art. 54 of the amending act). The Act works together with the Employment of Foreigners Act (Zakon o zapošljavanju stranaca, Sl. glasnik RS Nos. 128/2014, 113/2017, 50/2018, 31/2019 and 62/2023), which sets the conditions for work. Since 2024 residence and work are approved in one procedure.

How the Act is structured

The Act has around 130 articles in 14 chapters. For practical questions the most important are:

  • I Basic provisions (definitions, the single permit, the single portal)
  • II Entry and exit (conditions of entry, refusal of entry, unlawful entry)
  • III Visas (short-stay visa C, long-stay visa D, electronic visa)
  • IV Stay of foreigners (short stay, temporary residence by ground, single permit, permanent residence)
  • V Unlawful stay and return procedure (return decision, entry ban)
  • VI Detention and forced removal
  • VII and VIII Travel documents and identity documents (identity card for foreigners, the temporary residence permit as a document)
  • IX Place of stay and domicile (registration within 24 hours)
  • XIII Penalties

The most searched provisions of the Foreigners Act

Short stay (Art. 39). A foreigner may stay without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period counted from the first entry, unless an international agreement says otherwise. The same applies to a short-stay visa. If a ground for a ban arises during the stay, the authority may cancel the stay and set a deadline of up to 30 days to leave.

Long-stay visa (Art. 22). Nationals who need a visa and intend to apply for temporary residence or a single permit first obtain a visa D, which allows a stay of 90 to 180 days. The ground of the residence application must match the ground of the visa (Art. 41(5)).

Grounds for temporary residence (Art. 40). The Act lists 14 grounds: employment, schooling or learning Serbian, university studies, exchange programmes, professional specialisation and traineeships, research, family reunification, religious service, medical treatment or care, ownership of real estate, humanitarian stay, victim of human trafficking status and other justified reasons. Employment and traineeships lead to a single permit; the other grounds lead to a temporary residence permit (Art. 40(2)). The foreigner must stay in line with the ground on which residence was granted (Art. 40(3)).

General conditions (Art. 43). The application includes a passport valid at least three months beyond the requested period, proof of means of subsistence, a registered place of stay or address, health insurance, evidence supporting the ground, and the fee. Close family members of Serbian citizens and foreigners taking up employment do not submit proof of means and insurance (Art. 43a).

Duration and extension (Art. 41 and 44). Temporary residence is granted for up to three years and extended for the same period. An extension is applied for at the earliest three months before expiry and at the latest on the expiry date. A late application is considered only on humanitarian grounds, force majeure or in the interest of Serbia, and only if less than three months have passed (Art. 41(8)).

Family reunification (Art. 55-60). Spouses, cohabiting partners, minor children and parents of minor children may apply. The family member's residence lasts as long as that of the person they are joining (Art. 57). After four years of continuous residence on this ground, independent residence may be requested (Art. 59). A marriage of convenience is a ground for refusal (Art. 60).

Real estate ownership (Art. 54). The ground is ownership of a residential building or apartment in which the foreigner lives.

Unlawful stay (Art. 74). A stay is unlawful, among other cases, after unlawful entry, after more than 90 days in a 180-day period, after the visa or permit expires, or after permanent residence ends. A return decision follows, with 7 to 30 days for voluntary departure (Art. 77), and an entry ban may be imposed (Art. 78). Whoever does not leave is removed by force.

Registration of stay (Art. 110 and 111). Your place of stay is the address where you stay longer than 24 hours. A hotel, landlord or private host registers you with the police within 24 hours. If you stay with none of them, you register yourself within 24 hours of entry or of changing address. Registration can be done online where the technical conditions exist.

Fines (Art. 120-123). A foreigner who fails to register within 24 hours is fined RSD 5,000 to 150,000 (Art. 120(4)). Unlawful stay and stay contrary to the approved ground are fined RSD 50,000 to 150,000, with possible removal (Art. 122). Failing to apply for a single permit or residence when required, or failing to report a change of address, is fined RSD 20,000 to 150,000 (Art. 123). A private host who does not register a guest pays RSD 5,000 to 150,000, a company RSD 50,000 to 2,000,000 (Art. 120(1)).

The single permit: residence and work in one procedure

Until 2024 a foreigner who wanted to work in Serbia ran two procedures: temporary residence with the Ministry of the Interior and a work permit with the National Employment Service. The 2023 reform merged them into the single permit, which is at the same time a temporary residence permit and a work permit (Art. 3(13a) and Art. 46a).

  • The application is filed by the foreigner, by the employer on the foreigner's behalf or by an authorised person, only online through the single portal (Art. 46b(1)). The state portal for these applications is the Portal for Foreigners (welcometoserbia.gov.rs).
  • Nationals who need a visa apply after entry, while a visa D for employment is valid (Art. 46b(2)). Visa-exempt nationals apply during a lawful stay, or from abroad (Art. 46b(4)).
  • The application includes a passport valid at least three months beyond the requested period, evidence required under the employment rules, and a home address, all in electronic form (Art. 46v).
  • The authority obtains a security assessment and an assessment from the National Employment Service; both are due within 10 days, and the decision within 15 days of a complete application (Art. 46g). Part of that assessment is a labour market test, on which the Service reports within four days (Art. 16a of the Employment of Foreigners Act).
  • The permit is issued for up to three years and extended for the same period (Art. 46e). An extension is applied for at the earliest three months before expiry, and an applicant who applies on time may keep working until the procedure ends (Art. 46b(5) and (6)).
  • Changing employer, changing the basis of work or working for several employers requires the Service's consent, issued within 10 days through the same portal (Art. 11 of the Employment of Foreigners Act).
  • If the employment contract ends, the foreigner has 30 days to conclude a new one; otherwise the residence rules apply (Art. 9(5) of the Employment of Foreigners Act).
  • A foreigner with temporary residence on another ground, or with permanent residence, works without a single permit (Art. 46a(3) and Art. 3 of the Employment of Foreigners Act).

For employers the consequences are serious: employing a foreigner without a single permit or an appropriate residence is fined RSD 800,000 to 2,000,000 for a company, and the foreigner RSD 15,000 to 150,000 (Art. 34 and 35 of the Employment of Foreigners Act). The employer must then pay all outstanding wages with taxes and contributions, and the work is presumed to have lasted at least three months (Art. 15).

EU citizens should note that the rules on free access to the labour market exist in the Act, but apply only from the day Serbia joins the European Union (Art. 41 of the Employment of Foreigners Act). Until then EU nationals go through the same procedure as everyone else.

Many foreigners handle a residence or single permit application themselves through the portal. An immigration lawyer is typically engaged when the ground is unclear, when a deadline has been missed, when an application has been refused and an appeal is due within 15 days, or when a return decision or entry ban is involved. Fees for that work are agreed under the Serbian Bar Association tariff and depend on the scope of the work.

Is there a new Foreigners Act in 2025 or 2026?

No. The most recent amendments date from 2023 and apply from 1 February 2024. These are the changes usually meant by "new Foreigners Act":

  • a single permit for residence and work instead of two separate procedures (Art. 46a-46ž);
  • temporary residence of up to three years instead of one (Art. 44);
  • online applications through the single portal, including from abroad (Art. 41(3) and Art. 46b);
  • permanent residence after three years of continuous stay instead of five (Art. 67), with the option of applying online (Art. 69(5));
  • the temporary residence permit as a card, instead of a sticker in the passport (Art. 3(13b));
  • the Government may define special categories of foreigners, including investors, talents, people of Serbian origin and digital nomads (Art. 40(4)).

As of September 2026 no further amendments have been passed. If you are searching for "zakon o strancima 2026", check the Legal Information System for anything published after that date.

Where to read the official text

The official text is available in the Legal Information System of the Republic of Serbia: Zakon o strancima at pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs (Serbian only). Practical instructions, forms and online applications are on the Portal for Foreigners, and the visa regime is published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Before relying on any article, check the implementing regulations: the rulebooks on temporary residence and on the single permit, and the Government decree on categories of foreigners, because they prescribe the evidence and the forms.

Sources

What to do

  • Without a visa, or on a short-stay visa, a foreigner may stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period counted from the first entry, unless an international agreement provides otherwise (Art. 39).
  • Anyone planning to stay longer than 90 days applies for temporary residence, in person or online, and may apply from abroad; the decision is due within 30 days (Art. 41 and 42).
  • For employment, self-employment, traineeships and training there is no separate residence permit and work permit: the single permit is applied for online through the single portal and decided within 15 days of a complete application (Art. 46b and 46g).
  • Temporary residence and the single permit are granted for up to three years and can be extended for the same period (Art. 44 and 46e).
  • An extension is applied for at the earliest three months before expiry and at the latest on the expiry date; whoever applies on time may stay in Serbia until the procedure ends (Art. 41(6) and (7), Art. 46b(5) and (6)).
  • Permanent residence may be granted after three years of continuous temporary residence, with permitted absences of up to ten months in total or six months at once; the Ministry of the Interior decides within 60 days (Art. 67 and 69).
  • Your place of stay (boravište) is any address where you stay longer than 24 hours; the hotel, landlord or host registers you with the police within 24 hours, and if you stay with none of them you register yourself within the same period (Art. 110 and 111).
  • A change of home address during temporary residence is reported within three days, and a change of domicile by a permanent resident within eight days (Art. 110(3) and (7)).
  • Staying beyond 90 days, beyond the expiry of a permit, or working contrary to the basis of the permit makes the stay unlawful; a return decision follows, with 7 to 30 days for voluntary departure and a possible entry ban (Art. 74, 77 and 78).
  • An appeal against a refusal or termination of residence is filed within 15 days of receipt, in Serbian, with a fee; the Ministry of the Interior decides the appeal (Art. 45, 46đ and 66).

FAQ

Which Foreigners Act is in force in Serbia in 2025 and 2026? Is there a new law?

The Foreigners Act of 2018, as amended in 2019 and 2023 (Sl. glasnik RS Nos. 24/2018, 31/2019 and 62/2023). No new act has been passed since. What people call the "new Foreigners Act" is the July 2023 reform, whose key provisions apply from 1 February 2024 (Art. 54 of the amending act): a single permit for residence and work, temporary residence of up to three years instead of one, online applications through the single portal, and permanent residence after three years. Before relying on any article, check the Legal Information System for later amendments.

How long can I stay in Serbia without a visa?

A short stay is a stay without a visa of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted from the day of first entry, unless an international agreement provides otherwise (Art. 39(2)). Which nationalities are visa-exempt, and on what conditions, is set by the Government and published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Overstaying makes the stay unlawful (Art. 74(1)(2)) and can lead to a return decision, a fine of RSD 50,000 to 150,000 and an entry ban (Art. 77, 78 and 122).

What is the single permit (jedinstvena dozvola) and who applies for it?

The single permit is a permit for temporary residence and work in Serbia (Art. 3(13a)). It is issued for employment, self-employment and special cases of employment such as posted workers and independent professionals (Art. 46d). The application is filed by the foreigner, by the employer on the foreigner's behalf, or by an authorised person, only electronically through the single portal (Art. 46b(1)). Visa-exempt nationals may also apply from abroad (Art. 46b(4)). The authority obtains an assessment from the National Employment Service and a security assessment and decides within 15 days of a complete application (Art. 46g). The permit is valid for up to three years (Art. 46e) and is collected in person.

Can I get residence in Serbia if I buy an apartment?

Yes, ownership of real estate is one of the grounds for temporary residence (Art. 40(1)(10)). Real estate for this purpose means residential buildings and apartments a foreigner may own and in which the foreigner actually lives in Serbia (Art. 54(2)). The application includes proof of ownership and the general conditions of Art. 43: a passport valid at least three months beyond the requested period, proof of means of subsistence, a registered address, health insurance and the fee. A foreigner with residence on this basis may work without a single permit (Art. 3(1)(2) of the Employment of Foreigners Act).

When can I get permanent residence (stalno nastanjenje)?

After three years of continuous stay in Serbia on approved temporary residence or a single permit (Art. 67(2) and (9)). The stay counts as continuous if absences from Serbia total no more than ten months, or six months at once, within the three years (Art. 67(5)). Residence for studies does not qualify, and later only half of that time is counted (Art. 67(3) and (4)). The application is filed while temporary residence is still valid, and the Ministry of the Interior decides within 60 days (Art. 67(6) and Art. 69). A permanent resident receives an identity card for foreigners (Art. 70(2)) and loses the status after more than one year of continuous stay abroad (Art. 72(1)(4)).

Does the Act cover digital nomads?

Only as a category. The Act authorises the Government, in the interest of Serbia, to define categories of foreigners and detailed conditions for temporary residence, naming as examples investors, talents, people in innovation activities, foreigners of Serbian origin, digital nomads and highly qualified foreigners (Art. 40(4)). The actual conditions, evidence and duration for digital nomads depend on the Government decree in force, so check the Portal for Foreigners or the text of the decree before applying. The Act itself sets no separate ground or deadline for this category.

Does this Act apply in Kosovo?

Searches such as "zakon o strancima Kosovo" usually refer to the rules on foreigners applied by the authorities in Pristina. That is a separate regime with its own rules on entry, stay and work, and this page does not cover it. The Foreigners Act of the Republic of Serbia described here is applied by the Serbian Ministry of the Interior, the border police and Serbia's diplomatic and consular missions (Art. 3(2), (3) and (4)).