Serbia · Business / Startup
Serbia Startup founder residence
Income needed: RSD 1M+ ≈ $9,530
Temporary residence — foreign founder of an innovative startup
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Startup founder residence is a business / startup route for Serbia. Applicants need income of RSD 1M+ ≈ $9,530. You can stay 1 yr, renewable. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Money needed
- RSD 1M+ ≈ $9,530
- Government fees
- RSD 430 ≈ $4 · RSD 23k ≈ $220
- Processing
- Up to 30 days
- First stay
- 1 yr
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fees RSD 24k ≈ $230 in total (2 fees); income to show RSD 1M+ ≈ $9,530; decision: up to 30 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesRSD 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.
Shown, not spentRSD 1M+ ≈ $9,530
- RSD 1,000,000 (≈ $9,530)Business income earned by the innovation company during the previous temporary residence; alternative to employing Serbian citizens or a science park confirmation.
RenewalRenewable
The first permit is for one year, with extensions up to three years under the general rule.
Permanent residenceAfter 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 SerbiaMinistry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia
CitizenshipAfter 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.
ProcessingUp to 30 days
A decision on temporary residence is due within 30 days of the application.
Presence rulesAbsence limits
Absences of up to ten months in total or six months at a time over the three years do not break continuity.
What you'll need
What you must show2
- For the extension, the company's business income earned during the previous temporary residence is at least RSD 1,000,000 (≈ $9,530).
- Alternatively, the extension proof is employing Serbian citizens or a science park confirmation.
Documents2
- A document from a registered Science and Technology Park confirms the company activity as innovative.
- The standard application documents are submitted.
What happens at day 183
How Serbia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
1 year at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in 12-month period beginning or ending in the tax yearPresence 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 Tax records checked
Full official text
Foreign founder of a Serbian company whose innovative activity is recognised by a registered science and technology park. First permit for one year; extension on proof of employment of Serbian citizens, company business income of at least RSD 1,000,000 (≈ $9,530) during the previous permit, or the park confirming active innovation. 1 2 3 4
What you must show and pay
- Income of at least RSD 1,000,000 (≈ $9,530) · Business income earned by the innovation company during the previous temporary residence; alternative to employing Serbian citizens or a science park confirmation. 1
- A fee of RSD 430 (≈ $4) · Application submission fee (citizens of North Macedonia, Mongolia, Cyprus and Belarus pay only this fee). 4
- A fee of RSD 23,450 (≈ $220) · Fee for approval of temporary residence. 4
Requirements
- For the extension, the company's business income earned during the previous temporary residence is at least RSD 1,000,000 (≈ $9,530). 1
- Alternatively, the extension proof is employing Serbian citizens or a science park confirmation. 1
- A document from a registered Science and Technology Park confirms the company activity as innovative. 1
- The standard application documents are submitted. 1
Stay
- First permit one year; extensions up to three years under the general rule.
- Initial permitted stay: 12 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
entry visa depends on nationality, and a D visa grounds must match the permit grounds.
Work
Work in the founded company.
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.
Official sources
- Temporary residence: grounds, single permit to reside and work, required documents · Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia · checked 2026-10-10
- Law on Foreigners (Sl. glasnik RS 24/2018, 31/2019, 62/2023), Serbian text · Paragraf (reprint of the Official Gazette text) · checked 2026-10-10
- Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of the RS, as amended 2023) · Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia · checked 2026-10-11
- Frequently asked questions: temporary residence and single permit fees · Government of the Republic of Serbia (Welcome to Serbia portal) · checked 2026-10-11
- Citizenship: acquiring citizenship by admission · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia · checked 2026-10-11
Startup founder residence and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup founder residence | Needs income of RSD 1M+ ≈ $9,530 | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Independent professional | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Self-employed permit | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Portugal | Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Entrepreneur visa Spain | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Startup founder residence?
Income of at least RSD 1,000,000 (≈ $9,530). Business income earned by the innovation company during the previous temporary residence; alternative to employing Serbian citizens or a science park confirmation. 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 Startup founder residence?
First permit one year; extensions up to three years under the general rule.
How long does the Startup founder residence take to process?
A decision on temporary residence is due within 30 days of the application.
Can I work on the Startup founder residence?
Work in the founded company.
Can I bring my family on the Startup founder residence?
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 Startup founder residence lead to permanent residence in Serbia?
Time on the Startup founder residence counts toward permanent residence in Serbia, which the rules allow after 3 years of residence. Time on the Startup founder residence counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 3 years as a permanent resident.
How are Startup founder residence holders taxed in Serbia?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Startup founder residence. 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
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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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.
- Temporary residence: grounds, single permit to reside and work, required documents · Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia · checked 2026-10-10
- Law on Foreigners (Sl. glasnik RS 24/2018, 31/2019, 62/2023), Serbian text · Paragraf (reprint of the Official Gazette text) · checked 2026-10-10
- Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of the RS, as amended 2023) · Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia · checked 2026-10-11
- Frequently asked questions: temporary residence and single permit fees · Government of the Republic of Serbia (Welcome to Serbia portal) · checked 2026-10-11
- Citizenship: acquiring citizenship by admission · 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, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.