Updated 17.09.2026 · 3 min read
Relocation is easier when housing, income, documents and residence procedures form a single plan. Before buying tickets, establish how your family will live, the basis for applying for status and which documents are easier to obtain in advance. The steps below provide a useful starting point.
In this articleFirst check the basis for residence and each family member’s route
Write down what you will do in Serbia: work as an employee, run a business, study or live with family. These plans determine the immigration basis. Employment may require a single residence and work permit; registering a company does not, by itself, replace it.
Establish each family member’s route separately: who applies first, who moves with you and who needs their own right to work. Entry dates and permitted stay are checked against citizenship and current documents.
Prepare documents before departure
- Check passport validity, blank pages and the spelling of names.
- Collect marriage certificates, children’s birth certificates and name-change documents.
- Prepare diplomas with supplements if they are needed for work, study or the chosen procedure.
- Keep evidence of income and the source of funds for a future bank application file.
- Make legible copies and list the original documents you will take with you.
Translation and legalisation requirements depend on the country of issue and where the document will be presented. Check the package first, then pay for apostilles and translations: extra certification does not make a document more useful.
Choose housing suitable for the residence process
Before renting long term, discuss the contract, address registration, deposit, utilities and termination with the owner. For a family, check the school journey, transport and everyday living conditions, rather than relying only on apartment photographs.
On arrival, the host must register a foreign national’s stay within 24 hours. Find out in advance who will do this and what confirmation you will receive. Address registration, a residence permit and a tenancy agreement serve different purposes.
Budget for the move and the first few months
Separate one-off and recurring expenses. One-off costs include relocation, the deposit, documents, government payments and professional support. Recurring costs include rent, utilities, food, transport and insurance, plus taxes and accounting if you run a business.
Do not rely on a single advertised amount ‘for a comfortable life’: the budget depends on family size, the city and your usual level of spending. RICS can help link housing, business, documents and status in a step-by-step plan, with allocated tasks and indicative timescales.
Comment from RICS ConsultingA good relocation plan answers practical questions: where to live, what makes up the budget, what to prepare at home and what to do in Serbia. Check these connections before incurring irreversible costs.
Get a plan for your situation
We will review your starting information, identify the sequence of actions and prepare a cost estimate. You will receive the scope of services, indicative timescales and a clear next step.
Get a residence application planOfficial sources and review dateInformation checked on 17 September 2026. Before applying, confirm the current fees and requirements for your category.