READE HADE in Serbia

Pros: visa -free entry, affordable ways to get a residence permit and a large Russian -speaking diaspora

Since the beginning of the war, Serbia has become a country with one of the largest and most active Russian -speaking diasporas. Verce entry, simple methods of legalization and the warm attitude of the Serbs are some of the reasons for the massive influx of Russians to the country. “Cold” tells how grounds you can get a residence permit, how much it costs, what initiatives Russian relayers launch and not only.

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Rules of stay, residence permit and citizenship

Citizens of Russia can enter Serbia on a passport without a visa. Within 24 hours after arrival, all foreigners are required to register at the place of residence. This can be done on the Euprava website or in the police station; If you live in a hotel, employees will send your data on their own. After that, you will receive a registration document - “White cardboard”.

Citizens of the Russian Federation can be in Serbia as tourists for 30 days, then they need to go abroad to reset the deadline, and again enter Serbia for 30 days. And for those who want to stay in the country for a long time, there are more than 10 grounds for a residence permit - for example, study and purchase of real estate ( translation of the "Law on Foreigners").

Studies

You can get a residence permit in Serbia on the basis of studying at a school, an accredited university or in Serbian courses. Language courses seem to be especially convenient, because in Serbia:

a) the minimum number of hours of study per week has not been installed - you can study only three hours;

b) affordable prices: for example, a 14-week language course at the University of Novi-Sad with four classes per week for 45 minutes will cost only 224 euros;

c) the law does not indicate the minimum amount to confirm financial viability during studies. Unlike Spain, where you need at least 7200 euros in the account to receive a training visa, you can also apply in Serbia with 500 euros. But the optimal amount, according to the trains, is from 1,500 to 3000 euros.

To obtain a residence permit on your studies, you must enter the country without a visa, show a document on enrollment and a certificate that the educational institution has accreditation in the Republic of Serbia. But in practice, this may be a little more complicated. In addition to the school, a university or Serbian language courses, a residence permit on the basis of education can receive those who decided to undergo vocational training in Serbia or come for research work.

Buying real estate

The main advantage is that the minimum cost of real estate has not been set. It is important to add that real estate means "residential buildings and apartments in the Republic of Serbia, in which a foreigner lives." If you decide to buy an apartment in order to get a residence permit, you will need to live in it. The average prices per square meter in the secondary market depend on the village and vary from 600 euros (butdos) to 1700 euros (Belgrade).

To obtain a residence permit, you need to present a statement from the real estate register, where the applicant is indicated as the owner.

Mnogue "Talent"

The term “talent” in the immigration legislation of many countries is a highly qualified specialist. That is why in order to obtain this type of residence permit to countries such as Great Britain or the USA, you need to collect an impressive professional portfolio. In Serbia, everything is much easier: “talent” is recognized as one who has only a diploma of higher education and a document on recognizing this diploma in Serbia. The latter can be issued, for example, by some Serbian universities ( Belgrade University , University of Novi Sad ) or the Enic/Naric Center organization.

The first residence permit of "talent" is issued for a year. To extend it, in a year it will be necessary to show an employment contract with a company registered in Serbia, or an extract on registering its own company in the country.

Among other grounds for obtaining a residence permit - employment, volunteering (for example, at the UN representative office in Serbia or Refugeees Foundation ), startup, treatment and others.

Citizenship

According to the new bill already approved by parliament, Serbia citizenship can be requested after three years of permanent residence on a residence permit. For those who received a residence permit on the basis of marriage with a citizen of Serbia, the minimum residence time is also three years.

Accounts and cards

Banks in which even non -residents can open an account - Alta, Peshtansk Stedionitsa and API. True, there is a nuance: accounts are opened with limited functionality. For example, you cannot transfer money from them to someone else's expense, and you can accept payments only through SWIFT. These restrictions are removed after a year from receiving a residence permit.

Standard package of documents for opening an account: “White cardboard”, copies of Russian and foreign passports, an employment contract and/or a certificate of movement of funds in the Russian account for the last six months. You can find out the relevant information about the opening of the account in the telegram-chat "Ark-Serbia" .

Job

The unemployment rate in the country is approximately 10%, and the average salary after taxes for taxes for May 2023 is 86,220 dinars ($ 798). The minimum salary in Serbia is about 40 thousand dinars ($ 386).

In Serbia, you can find work in Russian, English and Serbian. From the beginning of the war, almost five thousand Russian companies were registered in the country-among them, for example, Yandex with many vacancies for IT specialists and not only.

To search for work in Russian, you can monitor the telegram channel "Work in Serbia" , where vacancies are published from Russian companies that have been rejected to Serbia and from the locals who need Russian-speaking specialists.

Climate

The country is predominated by a continental climate with cold, dry winter and warm, wet summer. The average temperature in the day in winter is from 3 to 6 ° C, in the summer - from 27 to 30 ° C. In the south, a moderately continental climate with lower temperatures.

However, it should be borne in mind that in the fall and winter - during the heating season - in the capital the quality of the air can be very deteriorated. In October 2022, October 2021 and January 2019, Belgrade was even recognized as a city with the most polluted air in the world according to the IQAIR rating (by the way, local residents actively use this application to track the quality of air and, if necessary, include cleaners in their living quarters). This is due to the fact that most of the buildings in Belgrade are still heated by coal and fuel oil.

Safety

Serbia is considered a relatively safe country. In the ranking of the most peaceful countries in 2023, it takes 65th place, ahead of countries such as Georgia, France, Thailand. Nevertheless, the US government, for example, asks its citizens to be careful when visiting Serbia.

The most common crimes in the country include pocket thefts and various financial fraud. When renting an apartment, for example, always demand to conclude an official agreement, and when traveling by taxi, follow the counter or stipulate the price of the trip in advance.

Housing

Belgrade is the most expensive city for renting an apartment. The average cost of the apartment is 700 euros per month. But you can find a good apartment within 400 euros - of course, not in the very center. In other cities, average prices will be lower . In Novi-Sad there are 500 euros, in the niche-337, in Kragaevaca-265.

When renting an apartment under an agreement, you often need to provide confirmation of your financial viability (an employment contract or statement from an account). It is important that the lessor prepares the contract and present documents confirming his status of the owner. Without these documents, you will not be able to get either “white cardboard” or a residence permit.

Prices

You can call a taxi using the Yandex Go, Car: GO, Pink Taxi applications. The trip will cost 500-1500 dinars ($ 5-14). Buses tickets (both between cities and in neighboring countries) can be viewed on the Polazak website, trains - Srbija Voz .

Unlimited home Internet will cost 2000–3000 dinars per month ($ 18–28), however, in the first year, many operators (such as MTS or SBB) often offer prices almost twice as lower.

The mobile Internet package for 50 gigabytes per month has 999 dinars (9.2 dollars), a tariff with 10 GB of mobile Internet and unlimited calls - 1999 dinars (Yettel operator).

Food can be bought both in the markets (they are quite developed) and in supermarkets - such as Maxi , Lidl , IDEA . Breakfast from omelet and coffee will cost 800 dinars or ($ 7.4), an avocado toast - 650 dinars ($ 6), Caesar salad - 900 dinars ($ 8.3), 1150 dinars (about $ 10). And in Belgrade there are a lot of vegan cafes.

The main food delivery services are Glovo and Wolt.

Kindergartens and schools

State kindergartens, according to the reviews of the relayers, are now crowded, and it is extremely difficult to record a child there. In Serbia (especially in Belgrade and Novi-Sada) a wide selection of private kindergartens. The main language of communication in them can be Russian, English, Serbian and even German or French - it all depends on the institution and program. Among the popular private kindergartens, Little Sparrows and the “Support Point” are distinguished. The average price is 400-500 euros per month.

Education in public schools is free for everyone. The school is selected depending on the area of ​​residence. If you are interested in a particular institution (say, a Russian or German school), then, for example, the first step for entering the only German school in Belgrade (Deutsche Schule Belgrade) will be a personal conversation between the family with the director.

Medicine

If you are officially working in Serbia, including an individual entrepreneur, or you are a member of the family of employed, then compulsory medical insurance and a special card are available to you, which must be presented when visiting a doctor (“healthy picture”). Using compulsory medical insurance, you can record for free of receptions to the doctor you need.

Also in Serbia you can issue a VHI (voluntary medical insurance). Popular options for relayers are Dunav Osiguranje and Weiner Städtische. The average price of VHI per month is from 8 to 12 thousand dinars (73–110 dollars), but the cost of each insurance is calculated individually. For VHI you can visit private clinics - for example, Euromedik, Vizim, Medigroup.

Russian -speaking community

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia, by May of this year, about 30 thousand Russians had a Serbian residence permit, and local residents are very warm to the new diaspora.

Russians organize many local communities and events - from informal meetings of designers to family Quiz before the start of the school year. In addition, there are measures to bring Russians closer to the Serbs. For example, the Drugdrugu Kino project , the purpose of which is to introduce the cultural codes of their countries through cinema. Those who wish to participate in anti -war initiatives can monitor the activities of the Russian Democratic Society in Serbia - the project organizes demonstrations and meetings in support of Russian political prisoners.