Published: 04.09.2026
According to the source, foreigners may apply for permanent residence after three years of residence in Serbia with a temporary residence permit on most grounds. Time spent on a student residence permit does not lead to permanent residence; listed grounds include employment, business, family reunification, investment, property ownership and other categories.
For people planning a move, the choice of residence basis remains central: employment, business, family and several other grounds may lead to permanent residence after three years, while student status does not provide that route. The source also describes the national D visa as a step before long-term residence and a residence application. This matters most to applicants planning a long-term route to permanent residence and citizenship rather than a short stay. Students should pay particular attention because they would need to change their residence basis later.