What documents do I need to move to Serbia as a Russia citizen?

Typical pathway: Temporary Residence

Last verified: September 22, 2026

Valid Russian international passport (заграничный паспорт) (before) — Source: https://www.mup.gov.rs/wps/portal/en/information/temporary+residence/temporary+residence
Original biometric travel passport. Must remain valid for at least three months longer than the temporary residence period being requested. Russian citizens enter Serbia visa-free for up to 30 days, so the passport is also the entry document.
Scanned colour copy of the passport biodata page (before) — Source: https://eforeigner.welcometoserbia.gov.rs
Digital scan of the photo/data page uploaded as an attachment in the eStranci online application (separate from presenting the physical passport at the police counter).
eID.gov.rs electronic identity account (before) — Source: https://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/citizens/travel-serbia/visa-requirements
Registered account on Serbia's Electronic Identification Portal, which is the mandatory login credential for submitting the temporary residence / single permit application on the welcometoserbia.gov.rs foreigners' portal. Single (residence + work) permit applications can only be filed electronically.
Document proving the legal ground of residence (before) — Source: https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/temporary-residence
One ground-specific document: employment contract with a Serbian employer, APR company registration extract (founder/director), notarized real-estate sale & purchase agreement, university enrolment confirmation, or marriage/family evidence. The chosen ground determines the rest of the file.
Russian-issued civil status certificates (birth / marriage / divorce) (before) — Source: https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/temporary-residence
Needed only for family-reunification or marriage-based grounds. Note: Serbia and Russia are bound by a bilateral legal-assistance treaty that in principle exempts public documents from legalisation, but many MUP offices still request an apostille — verify with the competent police administration before ordering documents.
Certified Serbian court-interpreter translation of all foreign documents (before) — Source: https://www.mup.gov.rs/wps/portal/en/information/temporary+residence/temporary+residence
Every Russian-language document in the file must be translated into Serbian by a sworn court interpreter (sudski tumač). Translations are a separate deliverable from the original/apostilled document itself.
Proof of sufficient means of subsistence (before) — Source: https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/detailed-information-on-the-visa-d-documentation
Bank confirmation/statement showing funds at least at the level of the prescribed Serbian minimum salary, or a certified guarantee from an employer or household member with proof of their funds. Not required from immediate family members of Serbian citizens or from applicants applying on the basis of employment.
Health insurance valid in Serbia (before) — Source: https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/detailed-information-on-the-visa-d-documentation
Private health insurance policy covering the whole requested stay, or a valid Serbian RFZO health card once insured locally. Russia has no social-insurance agreement applicable for this purpose in practice, so a policy or equivalent proof of funds for emergency treatment is normally needed — same exemptions apply as for means of subsistence.
Proof of payment of the administrative fee (before) — Source: https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/help
Receipt for the temporary residence approval fee (23,450.00 RSD; reduced to 11,725.00 RSD for marriage/extramarital union or kinship with a Serbian citizen). Payment must be made by card or by a payment order generated inside the portal, otherwise the application is not considered submitted. Russian citizens are not in the reduced-fee nationality group.
Long-stay visa D (before) — Source: https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/temporary-residence
Not applicable to most Russian applicants, who may enter visa-free for 30 days and apply for temporary residence from inside Serbia. Relevant only if the applicant chooses to obtain visa D at a Serbian diplomatic-consular mission first; in that case temporary residence must later be requested on the same ground as the visa D.
White card — registration of address of stay (prijava boravišta) (during) — Source: Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia (MUP), Department for Foreigners
Address registration issued by the local police station, to be done within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels and licensed accommodation register the guest automatically; in a private flat the applicant must attend the police station with the landlord. Must exist before the residence application is decided.
Lease agreement or landlord's notarized accommodation statement (during) — Source: https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/temporary-residence
Document evidencing the Serbian residential address used for the application and for the white card. Distinct from the white card itself: this is the underlying private-law contract or owner's consent, not the police confirmation.
Certificate of initiated procedure with foreigner registration number (during) — Source: https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/temporary-residence
Confirmation issued after the application is accepted, showing the applicant's foreigner registration number (evidencijski broj stranca), which is needed by the applicant and employer to exercise rights and obligations in Serbia while the case is pending.
In-person biometric data enrolment record (during) — Source: https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/temporary-residence
Fingerprints, signature and facial image taken at the scheduled appointment at the police administration/office for foreigners. This replaces printed photographs for the card itself; minors under twelve are not fingerprinted.
Serbian bank account opening file (during)
Account opened with the passport, white card and the foreigner registration number / residence decision. Practically required to receive salary, pay fees and evidence funds at renewal; exact documents differ by bank — verify with the chosen bank.
Biometric temporary residence card or Single (residence and work) permit card (after) — Source: https://eforeigner.welcometoserbia.gov.rs/help
The issued permit in the form of a biometric ID-style card, collected at the police station after the approval decision. The Single Permit variant also authorises work for applicants on employment or founder/director grounds.
RFZO health insurance registration (M-A / employer registration) (after) — Source: Republic Fund for Health Insurance of Serbia (RFZO)
Enrolment into the Serbian Republic Health Insurance Fund once employed or self-employed, producing a Serbian health card that can later replace private insurance in the renewal file.
Renewal application for temporary residence / single permit (after) — Source: https://www.mup.gov.rs/wps/portal/en/information/temporary+residence/temporary+residence
Filed through the foreigners' portal no earlier than three months before, and no later than the expiry date of, the current permit, with refreshed proof of ground, funds and insurance.
Exchange of Russian driving licence for a Serbian one (after) — Source: Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia (MUP)
Available to holders of approved residence; typically requires the original licence, certified translation and a medical certificate. Deadlines and exact conditions vary — verify with the competent MUP traffic police department.
Permanent residence application file (after) — Source: https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/permanent-residence
Submitted after three years of uninterrupted approved temporary residence; requires a registered residential address, proof of means and health insurance, and results in a five-year biometric foreigner ID card after new biometric enrolment.

Not legal advice. Based on cached research — verify with official sources before making decisions.

Want a personalized plan? Start free →