The state of emergency was lifted on May 6, 2020. As a result of that, foreigners who stayed in Serbia during the state of emergency, but without a temporary residence permit, are required to leave the country until June 6, 2020. However, the circumstances are such that, although the Republic of Serbia has opened its borders , many other countries have not, and international traffic is still completely closed for most destinations. So, what can tourists, who simply have no way to leave Serbia and nowhere to go to until June 6, 2020, do?
The answer from the authorities has been long-awaited, but now we finally have a solution.
Foreigners, who found themselves in the Republic of Serbia as tourists and cannot leave the country due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic, and do not have legal grounds to apply for a temporary residence permit for one year, are allowed to request temporary residence” for other reasons”, with the obligation to submit such a request by June 6, 2020.
In addition to this standard request, foreigners should submit a request in which they should state the reasons why it is impossible to leave the country by June 6 or other circumstances that particularly bind them to Serbia in the current situation.
It is important to note that a temporary residence permit on these legal grounds can be issued for a period of up to 90 days from the submission of the request and that there is no possibility of extension, at least for now. A foreigner who submits a request may legally reside on the territory of the Republic of Serbia while his residence is being decided, without any worries, all under the Law on Foreigners.
