What are the reasons to get a Serbian residence permit? No, getting Serbian citizenship takes time and the service presented is not the same as any government-approved scheme for citizenship by investment. In order to live in a European country, you can get a local residence permit, renew it many times, get permanent residence and receive a Serbian passport in five years. Because Serbia will join the EU soon (sometime in 2025), you could get an EU passport if you choose that option! Being a tax resident is possible only if you spend most of the year in the country. Because local taxes are not high, this is a great way to lower the taxes you pay.
You are welcome to join us on our portal to get all the information you need about Serbian residency. You are free to access the portal to learn about international business, banking, asset protection, tax optimization, investment (including citizenship- and residence-by-investment offers) and other topics. Another option is to arrange a meeting with our specialist to go over your needs personally and get useful advice. We will assist you with everything needed to complete real estate transactions in Serbia and gain a residence permit for an affordable price.
What is Needed to Get a Residence Permit in Serbia
According to the laws in Serbia, foreigners who wish to live in the country or have important interests can apply for local residence permits. In case you remain in Serbia for 183 days a year, the government will grant you a Certificate of Existence for tax residency. You should apply to the local tax office and show that you meet the requirements in order to proceed.
You can confirm your “vital interests” by buying real estate in Serbia which is an easy method for getting a residence permit. Also, you can invest any amount in this type of purchase, since there is no minimum requirement. All the lowest items are priced at a minimum of 10,000 euros.
While the set procedure may take about one month, you should be ready for the whole process to take up to 8 weeks. At this stage, a visit to Serbia once or twice should be planned. You will first get a residence permit for six months and then you have the option to extend it for another year. The number of extensions can be as much as you need.
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You will need certain documents for tax and legal residence.
The process starts when you get a property by buying it. If you opt for a licensed immigration agent to help you find properties for sale, you will minimize your risks and end up with the best choice. Besides the purchase price, you need to pay some extra charges such as a 3% fee that goes to the real estate agent.
Afterward, you should hire a lawyer in Serbia and give him/her a limited power of attorney to successfully manage all issues in purchasing your property in the country. When the power of attorney is from another country, it should be translated into Serbian by professional sworn translators and then given the apostille by the relevant authority.
If you want to apply for a temporary residence permit with the White card, you will need to attend in person. You won’t have to spend much time here: it takes just one day to see Serbia’s highlights.
The documents you must provide to be granted a residence permit that gets stamped in your passport are the following:
- A photocopy of the passport is all that is required (notarization is not necessary).
- Proof that you own a real estate property in Serbia by means of a certificate.
- A local bank account with at least 1,000 euros deposited is required for proof subsistence (the usual way to get it).
- You must have a Health and Social Security certificate (which should be purchased earlier from any insurance company in Serbia or abroad)
- If your CV is in a language other than Serbian, please send a translation too.
- 2 photos that are passport-sized
It takes about 2 to 3 days to complete the application process which includes the interview. Soon after, you hand in the necessary papers and need to wait two weeks for the background check. At this time, your Serbian police department will hold your passport.
As long as you work with an investment migration agent, you don’t have to personally go to the country to get the certificate.
Getting the Legal/Tax Residence Status
At the beginning, choose the amount you want to spend on real estate in Serbia and look for a suitable lot whose starting price is 10,000 euros. Alternatively, you can decide to purchase an apartment to rent and for that, our expert can show you the best choices available.
The whole process will last a month or two and you must travel to Serbia only for up to 14 days.
These are the basic methods:
- You create an agreement with the local immigration agent and provide them with a power of attorney.
- You go ahead and purchase the property you have chosen.
- Look for your property deed and your current bank statement.
- Shoot two pictures that are 4 cm by 3 cm.
- Make a Serbian version of your CV.
- Purchase health insurance in your area.
- Get the White card from the local police station.
- You will need to have an interview at the Immigration office.
- Get a taxpayer identification number.
- Get certified to work by getting a work permit.
- After living in Serbia for 183 days or more, you will get a certificate of tax residency from the Tax Office.
Here are the costs you will have to cover:
- Paying for utilities costs about 300 euros every year.
- Personal health insurance costs about 300 euros every year
- You’ll have to deal with a property tax fee that’s not more than 0.4% of the market value of the property (generally it is less).
- Every year, you may have some occasional expenses adding up to a total of 600 euros.
Conclusion
Looking to discover the procedures for Serbian taxes or becoming a legal resident? A licensed agent in Serbia can help you save time and money by giving you a package of professional services (see the following link for more details). Don’t hesitate to contact us now to immediately start the process!
