Family Reunification in Serbia - one of the most sought-after ways of legal residence for foreigners. The country's legislation defines the circle of people eligible for reunification and sets clear requirements for documents, financial dependence, and the application procedure. In 2026, the rules remain stable, but it is essential to consider the nuances of document translation, apostilization, and income confirmation.
Who does Serbian legislation consider family
According to the Law on the Residence of Foreign Citizens (Zakon o boravku stranih državljana, "Službeni glasnik RS", br. 116/2022, 114/2023), family members for reunification purposes are recognized as:
- spouse/spouse (including same-sex marriages if registered outside of Serbia);
- minor children (up to 18 years) of both spouses, including adopted children;
- disabled adult children if their disability occurred before the age of 18;
- parents if they are dependent and have no other sources of income;
- adoptive parents and adopted children (with a court decision on adoption).
Brothers, sisters, grandparents, and grandchildren are not included in the family category under this law, even if they live together.
Documents from Russia and Ukraine: apostilization, translation, and validity
To submit an application, all documents from Russia and Ukraine must undergo apostilization and be translated into Serbian. The procedure depends on the country of issuance.
For Russian citizens
- Apostilization is carried out by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation (for notarial acts) or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (for other documents).
- The validity period of the apostilization is not limited, but documents must be valid at the time of submission.
- Translation is verified by a sworn translator registered in the registry of the Ministry of Justice of Serbia. The cost is 20-50 EUR per page.
For Ukrainian citizens
- Apostilization is carried out by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine or authorized bodies (e.g., in the Office of the Registrar).
- Since 2022, Ukraine has suspended the issuance of apostils for documents issued in uncontrolled territories (DPR, LPR, Crimea). In such cases, legalization through the Serbian consulate in Ukraine is required.
- Translation is verified in the same way as Russian documents. The cost is 25-60 EUR per page.
General list of required documents
- foreign passport (copy of all pages with data);
- document confirming family relationships (marriage certificate, birth certificate, court decision on adoption);
- documents on financial dependence (if applicable);
- health insurance (valid in Serbia, minimum 6 months);
- certificate of no criminal record (issued in the country of residence, apostilized and translated);
- document on the right to residence in Serbia of a family member (residence permit, permanent residence permit, or Serbian citizenship).
Financial dependence: how to confirm and what amounts are considered
Serbian legislation requires proof that the family member applying for reunification can provide financial support to the dependent.
Income
- the minimum threshold is 500 EUR (≈ 58,000 RSD) per dependent;
- for each additional family member, 200 EUR is added.
Confirmation of income:
- bank statement (last 3 months);
- employment contract (for employees);
- income statement (for self-employed or freelancers);
- pension certificate (for pensioners).
Housing conditions
- at least 7 m² per person (family of 2 people - 14 m²).
- confirmation of ownership or rental; rental agreement must be registered with the Republican Geodetic Administration.
Exceptions
- disabled family members (groups 1 or 2) are not required to confirm income;
- children under 18 years are considered dependent automatically if living with parents.
If income is below the threshold, a joint declaration can be submitted with a spouse if both live in Serbia.
Application procedure: step by step
Document submission takes place at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia (Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova) or regional police stations (policijske stanice).
1. Pre-registration
Registration can be done through the e-Uprava portal (https://euprava.gov.rs) or by phone 0800 100 100 (free). Police queues can take 2-4 weeks, so advance registration is mandatory.
2. Document submission
The applicant arrives in person with a complete package. The employee checks the completeness and issues a receipt for payment of the state fee. The fee in 2026:
- 6,400 RSD (≈ 55 EUR) for temporary residence permit (boravišna dozvola);
- 12,800 RSD (≈ 110 EUR) for permanent residence permit (boravišna dozvola za stalno prebivalište).
3. Processing time
The standard term is 30 days. For additional checks (e.g., verification of document authenticity), the term may increase to 60 days.
4. Obtaining permission
After approval, a temporary residence permit is issued for a term of 1 year, which can be extended. For extension, it is required:
- preservation of family relationships;
- financial solvency;
- valid health insurance.
Nuances for different categories of applicants
Ukrainian citizens
If a family member has temporary protection status in Serbia, income confirmation is not required. Documents are submitted to the Migration Office (Uprava za migracije) instead of the police.
Russian citizens
For documents issued in DPR/LPR territories, legalization through the Serbian consulate is required. If a family member already has Serbian citizenship, the processing time may be reduced to 15 days.
Children born in Serbia
A child born in Serbia to foreign citizens must be registered in the local registry office within 30 days. For reunification, a birth certificate with apostilization and translation is required.
Common reasons for refusal and how to avoid them
- Incomplete set of documents - lack of apostilization or translation.
Solution: check requirements in advance, prepare documents in duplicate.
- Insufficient income - below 500 EUR.
Solution: add spouse's income, provide certificates of additional sources or find a guarantor.
- Expired documents - certificate of no criminal record must be issued no earlier than 6 months before submission.
Solution: order the certificate in advance.
- Non-compliance with housing conditions - area less than the norm.
Solution: provide a rental agreement for a larger area or confirmation of purchase of more spacious housing.
- Suspicion of sham marriage - a check on site may be appointed.
Solution: collect additional evidence (photos, correspondence, joint accounts).
Alternative options for family reunification
- Obtaining Serbian citizenship - after 3 years of permanent residence, citizenship can be applied for, which simplifies further reunification.
- Work visa - if there is an offer from a Serbian employer, a work visa can be issued and then an application for reunification can be submitted.
- Student visa - for school-age children, it is often easier to obtain a student visa and then reunite the family.