SerbiaHumanitarian protection
Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.
This is the asylum procedure, a protection mechanism for a person or family fearing persecution or danger in the country of origin.
Asylum is a form of protection which allows an individual/family fearing persecution or danger in the country of origin to remain in the Republic of Serbia and enjoy related rights.
It covers individuals or families who flee their countries because they fear persecution or danger in their country of origin.
people who flee their countries because they fear persecution or danger
Asylum can be requested in-country or at the border: a person may apply immediately at first contact with the Border Police, or express the intention to seek asylum to police officers inside Serbia (at local police stations) or at any border crossing, including international airports. The police register the intention and issue a certificate in Serbian; the person is referred to a designated asylum accommodation centre, where they must show up within 72 hours of registration, and must then submit the asylum application to the Asylum Office no later than 3 weeks from arrival at the centre.
You may apply for asylum immediately at your first contact with the Border Police.
You may express the intention to seek asylum in Serbia by addressing the police officers inside the Serbian territory (at the local police stations) or at any border crossin g (including at international airports) and inform ing them that you would like to seek asylum);
The p olice will register your intention (this will include taking your biodata and fingerprints – if you are older than 16) and you will be issued a certificate in the Serbian language; You will then be referred to the designated asylum accom m odation centre where you need to show up within 72 hours following registration ;
After you reach the designated accommodation facility, you should take the next step in the asylum procedure – submit an application for asylum to the Asylum Office no later than 3 weeks from your arrival at the center.
After expressing the intention, police register it (biodata and fingerprints if over 16) and issue a certificate; the person must report to the designated asylum accommodation centre within 72 hours and submit the asylum application to the Asylum Office within 3 weeks of arrival. The Asylum Office interviews the applicant (right to an interpreter) and usually decides within 3-6 months. Applicants are entitled to safe residence and free movement, accommodation and food in government centres, social assistance, healthcare, primary and secondary education, free information and legal aid, freedom of religion, labour market access six months after applying, and an asylum-seeker ID card.
The p olice will register your intention (this will include taking your biodata and fingerprints – if you are older than 16) and you will be issued a certificate in the Serbian language; You will then be referred to the designated asylum accom m odation centre where you need to show up within 72 hours following registration ;
submit an application for asylum to the Asylum Office no later than 3 weeks from your arrival at the center.
You have the right to an interpreter
It usually takes 3-6 months for the Asylum Office to reach a decision (sometimes longer if there are special reasons).
A person who has submitted an asylum application to the Asylum Office is entitled to: reside safely in and move freely within the territory of the Republic of Serbia; accommodation and food in government centres; social assistance; healthcare; primary and secondary education; information and legal aid (free of charge); freedom of religion; labour market access six months after submitting asylum application; personal documents – asylum-seeker’s ID card.
Express the intention to seek asylum to police (local police stations or any border crossing, including airports); the asylum application is submitted to the Asylum Office. Free legal aid is available from UNHCR partner IDEAS; the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration (KIRS) or UNHCR staff in accommodation facilities can provide the form. The Asylum Office decides whether and what protection is granted; a negative decision can be appealed.
You may express the intention to seek asylum in Serbia by addressing the police officers inside the Serbian territory (at the local police stations) or at any border crossin g (including at international airports)
Legal assistance provided by UNHCR partner IDEAS is FREE OF CHARGE
After you reach the designated accommodation facility, you should take the next step in the asylum procedure – submit an application for asylum to the Asylum Office
You can also ask the Serbian Commissariat for Refugee s and Migration (KIRS ) or UNHCR staff in the accommodation facility to give you a form in a language you understand
the Asylum Office will decide whether you can get protection and what kind of protection you can receive in Serbia.
In case you receive a negative decision on your asylum application, you have the right to appeal.
These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.
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Not legal advice. No eligibility verdict or ranking. Check the linked sources before applying.