--- title: "Serbia Spouse of a resident requirements 2026: 3-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/serbia/family-reunification/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- Serbia · Spouse visas # Serbia Spouse of a resident **First stay:** 3 yrs Temporary residence on the grounds of family reunification (spouse of a foreigner with residence in Serbia) First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 3 yrs (Valid until the sponsor's temporary residence or single permit expires; up to three years at a time where the sponsor is a permanent resident.) - **Who can apply:** Any passport - **Work:** Limited (Adults with an approved family reunification residence permit with an adult foreign citizen automatically have the right to work.) ## Key facts Spouse of a resident is a spouse visas route for Serbia. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source. - **Government fees:** RSD 430 ≈ $4 · RSD 23k ≈ $220 - **Processing:** Up to 30 days - **First stay:** 3 yrs ## Cost, time and long term To apply: government fees RSD 24k ≈ $230 in total (2 fees); decision: up to 30 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included. **Government fees: RSD 430 ≈ $4 · RSD 23k ≈ $220** - RSD 430 (≈ $4) Application submission fee (citizens of North Macedonia, Mongolia, Cyprus and Belarus pay only this fee). - RSD 23,450 (≈ $220) Fee for approval of temporary residence. **Renewal: Renewable** Valid until the sponsor's temporary residence or single permit expires; up to three years at a time where the sponsor is a permanent resident. [Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia](https://www.mup.gov.rs/wps/portal/en/information/temporary+residence/temporary+residence) **Permanent residence: After 3 years of residence** Permanent residence after 3 years of continuous residence on temporary residence or a single permit; a decision is due within 60 days. [Government of the Republic of Serbia](https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/help) [Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia](https://www.mup.gov.rs/wps/wcm/connect/9e10bf1d-79ad-4a50-a8c1-76b6afb0d6e9/Law+on+Foreigners+2023.pdf?CVID=pdNziNy&MOD=AJPERES) **Citizenship: After 3 years as a permanent resident** Citizenship needs 3 years of uninterrupted registered permanent residence before applying (a spouse married 3 years can also qualify), plus release from other citizenship. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia](https://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/citizens/services/citizenship) **Processing: Up to 30 days** A decision on temporary residence is due within 30 days of the application. [Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia](https://www.mup.gov.rs/wps/wcm/connect/9e10bf1d-79ad-4a50-a8c1-76b6afb0d6e9/Law+on+Foreigners+2023.pdf?CVID=pdNziNy&MOD=AJPERES) **Presence rules: Absence limits** Absences of up to ten months in total or six months at a time over the three years do not break continuity. [Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia](https://www.mup.gov.rs/wps/wcm/connect/9e10bf1d-79ad-4a50-a8c1-76b6afb0d6e9/Law+on+Foreigners+2023.pdf?CVID=pdNziNy&MOD=AJPERES) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Work rights are limited ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - Applicant is the spouse or common-law partner of a foreigner with temporary or permanent residence, or asylum, in Serbia. - The marriage or union is not a marriage of convenience, and in a polygamous marriage only one spouse is admitted. #### What you must show - Evidence of means of subsistence for the planned stay is required, along with health insurance, where the sponsor holds permanent residence or non-employment temporary residence. - The prescribed administrative fee must be paid when applying. #### Documents - Application form, valid personal document, two 35x45 mm photos and proof of fee payment. - Document proving the marital union under the law of the country where it was entered into. - Landlord's statement agreeing to the registered residential address. #### Steps 1. Apply at the Police Directorate for the City of Belgrade or a regional police directorate, or electronically on welcometoserbia.gov.rs; a D visa, where required, must match these grounds. #### After you arrive - Where the sponsor holds temporary residence, the spouse is granted residence until the sponsor's permit expires. - After four consecutive years on this basis the spouse may request autonomous stay. ## What happens at day 183 How Serbia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **Up to 3 years at first, renewable** - **Tax residence:** - **At least 183 days in 12-month period beginning or ending in the tax year** Presence in Serbia for 183 or more days, continuous or interrupted. - **Foreign-source income:** **Worldwide, foreign tax credit** Residents are taxed on income earned in Serbia and in another state; salary and self-employment income are taxed at 10%, capital income and capital gains at 15%, royalties and property income at 20%, with a tax credit for income tax paid abroad up to the Serbian tax on that income. [All tax rules for Serbia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/serbia/tax/) Tax records checked 11 Oct 2026 **Full official text** Temporary residence for the spouse or common-law partner of a foreigner with temporary or permanent residence or asylum in Serbia, valid until the sponsor's own permit expires where the sponsor holds temporary residence. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4) #### What you must show and pay - A fee of RSD 430 (≈ $4) · Application submission fee (citizens of North Macedonia, Mongolia, Cyprus and Belarus pay only this fee). (source 4) - A fee of RSD 23,450 (≈ $220) · Fee for approval of temporary residence. (source 4) #### Requirements - Applicant is the spouse or common-law partner of a foreigner with temporary or permanent residence, or asylum, in Serbia. (sources 2, 3) - The marriage or union is not a marriage of convenience, and in a polygamous marriage only one spouse is admitted. (source 2) - Evidence of means of subsistence for the planned stay is required, along with health insurance, where the sponsor holds permanent residence or non-employment temporary residence. (sources 1, 2) - The prescribed administrative fee must be paid when applying. (source 1) - Application form, valid personal document, two 35x45 mm photos and proof of fee payment. (source 1) - Document proving the marital union under the law of the country where it was entered into. (source 1) - Landlord's statement agreeing to the registered residential address. (source 1) - Apply at the Police Directorate for the City of Belgrade or a regional police directorate, or electronically on welcometoserbia.gov.rs; a D visa, where required, must match these grounds. (source 1) - Where the sponsor holds temporary residence, the spouse is granted residence until the sponsor's permit expires. (source 2) - After four consecutive years on this basis the spouse may request autonomous stay. (source 2) #### Stay - Valid until the sponsor's temporary residence or single permit expires; up to three years at a time where the sponsor is a permanent resident. - First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case. - Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal. #### Work Adults with an approved family reunification residence permit with an adult foreign citizen automatically have the right to work. #### Family Spouse or common-law partner, unmarried children under 18 (including adopted and stepchildren) and parents of such children can get temporary residence on family reunification; dependent relatives and adult children unable to care for themselves only exceptionally. Checked 2026-10-11 ## Official sources 1. [Temporary residence: grounds, single permit to reside and work, required documents](https://www.mup.gov.rs/wps/portal/en/information/temporary+residence/temporary+residence) · Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of the RS, as amended 2023)](https://www.mup.gov.rs/wps/wcm/connect/9e10bf1d-79ad-4a50-a8c1-76b6afb0d6e9/Law+on+Foreigners+2023.pdf?CVID=pdNziNy&MOD=AJPERES) · Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Family reunification](https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/family-reunification) · Welcome to Serbia (Government of the Republic of Serbia) · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Frequently asked questions: temporary residence and single permit fees](https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/help) · Government of the Republic of Serbia (Welcome to Serbia portal) · checked 2026-10-11 5. [Citizenship: acquiring citizenship by admission](https://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/citizens/services/citizenship) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia · checked 2026-10-11 ## Spouse of a resident and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Spouse of a resident | – | 3 yr, renewable | Limited | | [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/serbia/spouse-of-citizen/) | – | 3 yr, renewable | – | | [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/spouse-of-citizen/) Portugal | – | – | – | | [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/family-reunification/) Spain | Needs income of €900+ a month ≈ $1,010 | – | Yes | | [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Spouse of a resident? A fee of RSD 430 (≈ $4). Application submission fee (citizens of North Macedonia, Mongolia, Cyprus and Belarus pay only this fee). A fee of RSD 23,450 (≈ $220). Fee for approval of temporary residence. ### How long can I stay on the Spouse of a resident? Valid until the sponsor's temporary residence or single permit expires; up to three years at a time where the sponsor is a permanent resident. ### How long does the Spouse of a resident take to process? A decision on temporary residence is due within 30 days of the application. ### Can I work on the Spouse of a resident? Limited. Adults with an approved family reunification residence permit with an adult foreign citizen automatically have the right to work. ### Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a resident? Spouse or common-law partner, unmarried children under 18 (including adopted and stepchildren) and parents of such children can get temporary residence on family reunification; dependent relatives and adult children unable to care for themselves only exceptionally. ### Does the Spouse of a resident lead to permanent residence in Serbia? Time on the Spouse of a resident counts toward permanent residence in Serbia, which the rules allow after 3 years of residence. Time on the Spouse of a resident counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 3 years as a permanent resident. ### How are Spouse of a resident holders taxed in Serbia? No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a resident. The standard rules apply: Residents are taxed on income earned in Serbia and in another state; salary and self-employment income are taxed at 10%, capital income and capital gains at 15%, royalties and property income at 20%, with a tax credit for income tax paid abroad up to the Serbian tax on that income. ## More in Serbia [Property owner residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/serbia/property-ownership-residence/) [Company investor residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/serbia/investor-residence/) [Independent professional](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/serbia/independent-professional/) [Self-employed permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/serbia/single-permit-self-employment/) [Startup founder residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/serbia/startup-residence/) [Intra-company transfer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/serbia/intra-corporate-transfer/) [Work permit (single permit)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/serbia/single-permit-employment/) [Talent residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/serbia/talent-residence/) ## Spouse and partner visas elsewhere [🇮🇹 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) [🇬🇷 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/spouse-of-citizen/) [🇫🇷 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) [🇬🇧 Fiancé visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/fiance-visa/) [🇳🇱 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/spouse-of-citizen/) [🇨🇾 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-11 against 5 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Temporary residence: grounds, single permit to reside and work, required documents](https://www.mup.gov.rs/wps/portal/en/information/temporary+residence/temporary+residence) · Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of the RS, as amended 2023)](https://www.mup.gov.rs/wps/wcm/connect/9e10bf1d-79ad-4a50-a8c1-76b6afb0d6e9/Law+on+Foreigners+2023.pdf?CVID=pdNziNy&MOD=AJPERES) · Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Family reunification](https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/family-reunification) · Welcome to Serbia (Government of the Republic of Serbia) · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Frequently asked questions: temporary residence and single permit fees](https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/help) · Government of the Republic of Serbia (Welcome to Serbia portal) · checked 2026-10-11 5. [Citizenship: acquiring citizenship by admission](https://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/citizens/services/citizenship) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.