Temporary Protection in Serbia

On March 17th, 2022, the Government of Serbia adopted a Decision to grant temporary protection to all persons fleeing from Ukraine, which became effective on March 18th, 2022 in case you opt for this status.

This applies to:

  • citizens of Ukraine and members of their families residing in Ukraine,
  • asylum seekers, stateless persons, and foreign nationals who have been granted asylum or equivalent national protection and their family members who had legal residence in Ukraine,
  • foreign nationals with granted permanent or temporary stay in Ukraine, who cannot return safely to their country of origin.

    1. AS A PERSON FLEEING FROM UKRAINE, WHAT SHALL I DO ONCE I ARRIVE TO SERBIA?

On March 17th, 2022, the Government of Serbia adopted a Decision to grant temporary protection to all persons fleeing from Ukraine, which became effective on March 18th, 2022 in case you opt for this status.

This applies to:

  • citizens of Ukraine and members of their families residing in Ukraine,
  • asylum seekers, stateless persons, and foreign nationals who have been granted asylum or equivalent national protection and their family members who had legal residence in Ukraine,
  • foreign nationals with granted permanent or temporary stay in Ukraine, who cannot return safely to their country of origin.

Upon your arrival, you can seek information about available protection and assistance at the border crossing points, from the Border police and /or employees of the Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migration. 

In case you have problems with personal documents, Border police will issue a decision on allowing access to territory. In case you are not a Ukrainian citizen, but you had a legal residence in Ukraine, and you cannot return to your country of origin, you will be allowed entry and issued a decision on allowed entry to territory.

Upon arrival to your place of residence in Serbia you can get information from the trustee for refugees in the local municipality (Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migration).

2. WHERE SHOULD I APPLY FOR TEMPORARY PROTECTION?

Temporary protection is a form of international protection offered to all people fleeing from Ukraine, in line with the Law on Asylum and Temporary Protection in Serbia.

To get temporary protection, and exercise rights attached to it, please follow these steps:

  1. apply for temporary protection in the local police station (local branch offices) in the place of your residence in Serbia. You will need to state that you wish to seek protection and leave your personal data including the address at which you reside,
  • local police officer will register your intention and you will receive a decision on granting temporary protection at the address that you indicated to the police officer.  

You can find the address of the nearest police stations at the following link: https://bit.ly/3LxJ4fn.

The application is individual, which means that every family member has to come to the police station to be registered.

Please bring with you all the identity documents that you have and/or decision on allowing access to the territory issued to you at the border crossing, to facilitate the application process. 

With the decision on granting temporary protection and temporary protection ID, you will have the right to reside in Serbia and exercise other rights as envisaged by the Law on Asylum and Temporary Protection.   

3. WHAT WILL BE MY RIGHTS WITH THE TEMPORARY PROTECTION IN SERBIA?

As per the Law on Asylum and Temporary Protection, a person with temporary protection has the following rights:

  1. the right to legally reside for a period of one year since March 18th 2022 (please see below question 4),
  2. the right to have a personal document confirming his/her status,
  3. the right to health protection as other foreigners, in line with Law on Health Protection,
  4. the right to access labor market (in accordance with the Law on Employment of Foreigners),
  5. the right to primary and secondary education free of charge,
  6. the right to free legal aid,
  7. the right to freedom of religion,
  8. the right to stay in collective accommodation in designated facilities,
  9. the right to special support for persons with specific needs, like children, unaccompanied or separated children, persons with disabilities, elderly persons, pregnant women, single parents with children, victims of  human trafficking, persons with serious medical conditions including  mental health  issues, victims of torture, rape,  or exposed to any form of serious psychological, physical, or sexual violence,
  10. the right to submit an asylum claim and in justified cases the right to family reunification. 

To access any of these rights, you have to contact relevant institutions in Serbia. Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migration will provide you with relevant information.  

Should you have any problem in exercising rights, please contact Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migration, Ministry of Interior or UNHCR Office in Serbia.

Organizations of civil society provide legal aid free of charge in regard to asylum and temporary protection and accessing rights.

4. HOW LONG DOES THE TEMPORARY PROTECTION LAST?

Temporary protection is limited to one year, with a possibility to be extended for an additional period of one year. Temporary protection could be extended maximum up to March 19th, 2024, in case Government adopts such a decision.

5. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I DON’T APPLY FOR TEMPORARY PROTECTION? 

Like in any other country, you need to register your residence in Serbia, if you want to reside legally in the country and have access to rights. If you decide not to apply for temporary protection, you may consider registering your residence in Serbia with the police, as you can legally stay under visa regime for a period up to 90 days.

In this case, you will have to pay daily tourist tax (from 1 to 1,5 euros per person per day) in the municipality where you reside. In this case, you will not have additional rights which are granted under temporary protection, such as right to work, education, health,  etc.

You also have the option of seeking asylum in Serbia as a more long term protection (please see question 9 for more details).

6. WHAT SHALL I DO IF I DON’T HAVE VALID IDENTITY DOCUMENTS?

If you do not have identity documents, or they have expired, border police will allow you to enter the territory after they issue you the Decision on allowed entry. You will be asked to report to the local police station to get advice how to regulate your status through seeking protection. 

7. WHAT IF I GOT THE TEMPORARY PROTECTION IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT AND DECIDE TO RETURN TO UKRAINE OR MOVE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY?

If your temporary protection is valid, your freedom of movement in Serbia is guaranteed. If you decide to return to Ukraine, no one will prevent you to leave Serbia. Therefore, your temporary protection in Serbia will be annulled. Also, you are allowed to go to other countries, for personal reasons.

However, in order to avoid losing temporary protection in Serbia, it is recommended that you inform the police station regarding your travel to other countries, reasons for traveling, and the length of stay before you depart.

8. WHAT IF I CAME TO SERBIA BEFORE  FEBRUARY 24th 2022 AND MY RESIDENCE PERMIT IN SERBIA EXPIRED?

Temporary protection is granted for all Ukrainian citizens,  and members of their families who have been residing in Serbia before the adoption of this Decision on granting Temporary protection, and whose right to stay expired before the temporary protection decision ceased.

If you need accommodation, the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia can provide it in the centers designated for Ukrainian refugees.

At these centers, you will be provided with information, food, health care, clothing, footwear, hygiene packs, educational and occupational activities, education for your children, Internet connection, psychological support and access to other rights and services.

If you already have a place to stay, contact a trustee for refugees and migrations in the territory of the municipality where you register. The trustee will give you all the relevant information.

9. HOW DOES SEEKING ASYLUM DIFFER FROM TEMPORARY PROTECTION?

Throughout the duration of temporary protection, you also have the right to seek asylum (international protection), which offers long-term protection in Serbia. In this case you have to undergo the asylum procedure and competent authorities (Asylum office/ Ministry of Interior) will decide upon your claim.

Find out more details on seeking asylum at this link: https://help.unhcr.org/serbia/applying-for-asylum-in-serbia/.

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

MINISTRY OF INTERIOR

At the following link, you can find addresses of the local police stations: https://bit.ly/3LxJ4fn

SERBIAN COMISSARIAT FOR REFUGEES AND MIGRATION

The Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migration (SCRM) manages asylum and reception centres in various locations across Serbia: https://kirs.gov.rs/eng/asylum/about-asylum

Phone:   + 381 64 828 3171

Email: [email protected]

If you are in Belgrade, you can go to:

One-Stop Point Miksaliste

Address: Gavrila Principa Street 15, 11000 Belgrade

For legal counselling and representation in asylum procedures you can contact the following civil society organizations:

Belgrade Centre For Human Rights (BCHR)

Phone number +381 11 3085 328

Email [email protected]
Address Kneza Milosa 4, 11000 Belgrade

Website www.azil.rs
Working hours 09:00-17:00 (legal counselling, legal representation, extradition, detention and integration)

Center for Research and Social Development – IDEAS

Phone number +381 64 824 65 19

Email – [email protected][email protected]
Address: Tomaša Ježa 10/4, Belgrade

Website: www.ideje.rs

Social media: https://www.facebook.com/ideje.rshttps://www.instagram.com/ideascentar

UNHCR Representation in Serbia

HELP LINE working 24/7 – +381 63 432 499

Address: Bulevar Zorana Djindjica 64, 11070 Novi Beograd

Telephone: (+381)11 41 55 424

E-mail: [email protected]

If you’re looking for general information about UNHCR’s role and activities in Serbia, please visit the UNHCR Serbia website, or find us on FacebookTwitter or Instagram.