Hungary or Serbia for Russians: where is it easier to get a residence permit in 2026

Short

Serbia is easier and cheaper to enter: a company is registered in a few days, a residence permit is issued in about 6-8 weeks, there is no minimum investment threshold. But this is not the EU or Schengen. Hungary is the opposite: entry is stricter and more expensive, but it immediately gives you the status of a resident of the European Union, freedom of movement within Schengen and a clear path to an EU passport.

Conclusion in one line: Serbia - for a quick and inexpensive move “here and now”, Hungary - for those who need European status and a horizon for EU citizenship.

Why compare EU and non-EU at all?

Hungary and Serbia are neighbors and both say “welcome” to Russian-speaking travelers, but they play in different leagues. Hungary has been in the European Union and in the Schengen area since 2004: its residence permit is the status of an EU resident, banking access to the European system and freedom of movement. Serbia is an official candidate for joining the EU, but is still outside both the Union and Schengen.

For a Russian, the difference is felt on three levels. The first is the speed and cost of entry: here Serbia wins by a noticeable margin. The second is the quality of status: a Hungarian residence permit opens Europe, a Serbian one opens Serbia and a visa-free corridor around the world. The third is the horizon: where does this residence permit lead in 5-10 years.

Therefore, a comparison is not “what is better in general,” but “what is better for your task.” Below we analyze both options separately, then put them in a table and help you choose. If you are initially aiming for an EU passport, it is more logical to look at Hungarian citizenship as the final goal, and the residence permit as the first step towards it.

Hungarian residence permit - pros and cons

A Hungarian residence permit is issued for several reasons: employment, starting a business, studying, family reunification and a separate investment line - the guest-investor program (golden visa). Each has its own requirements, but the common denominator is one: you receive legal resident status in an EU member state.

Strengths:

• EU resident status and the right to stay in Schengen without visas - up to 90 days in each half-year in other countries of the zone;
• after 3 years of legal residence (according to the rule, about 183 days a year), the road to permanent residence opens;
• after 8 years of permanent residence status - the right to apply for EU citizenship; Hungary allows dual citizenship; the law does not require renouncing a Russian passport;
• low business taxes by EU standards: corporate 9%, personal income tax 15% (more details below);
• access to European banks, medicine and education.

Weaknesses:

• entry is more expensive and stricter: a golden visa starts from 250,000 euros for a real estate investment fund, business and work reasons require real activity and documents;
• to get permanent residence and a passport, you need to actually live in the country - 183 days a year cannot be “drawn”;
• exam on constitutional principles in Hungarian for naturalization - the language is not easy;
• The time frame for citizenship is long: 8 years of permanent residence plus consideration.

We discuss the investment route in detail in the guide about Hungarian residence permit for investment (golden visa), and the usual grounds are in the material about Hungarian residence permit. Official requirements are published by the migration service Hungarian Office for Foreigners (OIF).

Serbian residence permit - pros and cons

Serbia has relied on simplicity, and for the Russians it works. The most common way is to open a company (LLC or individual entrepreneur) and obtain a residence permit on the basis of doing business. Registration of a company takes several working days, there is essentially no minimum capital, you can be your only employee. The second popular way is to purchase real estate: there is no legal price threshold, an object of any value is suitable, and you can apply for a residence permit immediately after the notarization of the transaction.

Strengths:

• very simple and quick entry: the entire cycle of “company + residence permit” - approximately 6-8 weeks;
• low cost: state fee for a residence permit is about 220 euros, company registration is tens of euros;
• there is no minimum investment threshold for either business or real estate;
• after 3 years, a residence permit - the right to permanent residence, and then the path to a Serbian passport (about 6 years in total);
• in practice, most Russians do not have to renounce Russian citizenship;
• close culture, absence of a language barrier at the everyday level, loyalty to Russian speakers.

Weaknesses:

• this is not the EU or Schengen - a Serbian residence permit does not provide freedom of movement throughout Europe;
• Serbian passport is weaker than Hungarian: visa-free access to about 135 countries and places (about 30th place in the index), while in Schengen - up to 90 days in half a year, but without the right to work and live in the EU;
• the horizon “through the EU” is closed until Serbia actually joins the Union, and this is a matter of an uncertain future;
• banking and tax infrastructure are weaker than European ones.

Conditions and fees are published by the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs - Temporary residence section.

Comparison table: Hungary vs Serbia

Let's summarize the key parameters into one picture. The numbers are a guideline for 2026; for a specific case we always clarify them individually.

If the final goal is a European passport, it is useful to compare Hungary with other EU golden visas: we did an analysis in the material Hungary, Greece or Portugal.

What to choose for your goal: EU or quick move

Comparison is meaningless in a vacuum - everything is decided by your task. Let's break it down into typical scenarios.

You need to legalize quickly and inexpensively and move this year. Serbia is an obvious choice. We opened a company, received a residence permit in one and a half to two months, and moved. Ideal for remote workers, entrepreneurs with Internet income, families for whom the change of jurisdiction without large investments is important.

You need EU resident status - banks, Schengen, living and working in Europe. Serbia is no help here; we need Hungary. Yes, it’s more expensive and stricter, but you immediately get what Serbia does not provide in principle: European registration and freedom of movement.

You are aiming for a passport - but which one? If in the future you need an EU passport, consider Hungary: 8 years of permanent residence is a lot, but the result is Union citizenship. If you are satisfied with a strong second passport outside the EU and for a shorter period, Serbia gives it in about 6 years.

You optimize business taxes. Hungary has an attractive corporate rate of 9%, one of the lowest in the EU, while providing access to the single market. Serbia is also loyal to business, but without the EU umbrella.

A frequent strategy of our clients is a combination: enter through Serbia for quick legalization now, and at the same time prepare an application for the Hungarian route for a long-term goal. But this requires calculating the timing, otherwise the years of residence will not be counted either there or there.

What we at BRIDGES check before starting

Before recommending a country, we run a case through several filters so that you don’t lose money and a year of your life on an unsuitable route.

• Real goal. EU passport, tax base, quick move or “alternate airfield” - a different country is optimal for each purpose.
• Willingness to live in the country. The Hungarian path to permanent residence requires ~183 days a year physically. If you are not ready to move, some of the Hungarian scenarios disappear, and Serbia, with its flexibility, looks more .
• Sources of income and tax residence. Where you pay taxes now and where you will be - this affects both the choice of country and the structure of the company.
• Purity of history. No criminal record, transparency of funds for investment grounds, correctness of documents - this is where independent applicants stumble.
• Deadlines and status matching. If you are planning a connection between Serbia and Hungary, we will consider how not to reset the accumulated years of residence.

Based on the results of the check, we do not give a “selling” recommendation, but the country that actually solves your problem. If this is Hungary, we follow the line Residence and further to Hungarian citizenship; if by roots - look simplified naturalization based on Hungarian origin.

Taxes: where is it more profitable to run a business?

The tax side often outweighs the emotions. Hungary has one of the lowest corporate rates in the European Union - 9%. Personal income tax - flat 15%, VAT - 27% (high, but it falls on the end consumer, not on profit). The main value is all this within the EU tax and legal system: European counterparties, banks and payment systems perceive the Hungarian company as “one of their own”.

Serbia is also loyal to entrepreneurs and has moderate rates, and the regime for individual entrepreneurs can be very convenient for freelancers. But the Serbian company remains a company from a country outside the EU: for some European partners and banks this means additional questions and checks.

Therefore, if the business is tied to the European market and payments are made in euros, Hungary is preferable precisely because of its “registration” in the EU. If your business is global or digital and simplicity and low start-up costs are important to you, Serbia is getting its money’s worth. We always consider a specific tax model to suit your income profile - there is no universal answer here.

Recommendation and route selection

To briefly formulate our position for 2026:

• Serbia - the best choice when you need to legalize quickly, inexpensively and without moving the whole house. This is a working, tool, and not a compromise “for lack of fish.”
• Hungary - the choice of those for whom the EU status itself is important: Schengen, European banks, the prospect of a Union passport and low taxes on businesses within the single market.

It’s a mistake to compare them head-on based on the entry price. Serbia is cheaper, but also gives less; Hungary is more expensive, but the result is of a different order. The right question is not “where is it cheaper”, but “what do I want to get in 5-10 years.”

We at BRIDGES GLOBAL cover both directions and select the route to suit your purpose, and not the service that is convenient for us. It’s worth starting with a short consultation: we’ll lay out your case, calculate the timing and cost for both countries and give one clear answer - where exactly you should go.

Common mistakes when choosing

• They confuse Serbian residence permit with European status. A Serbian residence permit is Serbia, not Schengen and not the right to live in the EU. Freedom of movement throughout Europe appears only on the Hungarian (or other EU) route.
• They think that a Hungarian residence permit can be kept “on paper”. To achieve permanent residence and citizenship, you need to actually live in the country (~183 days a year). Without this, the years do not accumulate.
• The Hungarian exam is underestimated. When naturalizing, they take constitutional fundamentals in Hungarian - the language is difficult, they prepare for it in advance.
• They go to Serbia “for the sake of Schengen”. The logic breaks down: a Serbian passport gives visa-free 90 days in Schengen as a tourist, but not the right to live and work in the EU.
• They do not consider a bunch of statuses. Trying to save years in both Serbia and Hungary at the same time without calculating it results in neither counting.
• They take real estate in Serbia “for a residence permit” at random. There is no price threshold, but the object must be legally clean and correctly executed - otherwise the basis for a residence permit will be contested.

Bottom line

Hungary and Serbia are not competitors, but two different instruments for different purposes. Serbia wins in terms of speed, price and ease of entry, and is a fair route for quick relocation and inexpensive legalization. Hungary wins in terms of the quality of its status: EU, Schengen, low taxes on business and a real horizon for the Union passport.

The choice comes down to one question: do you want a quick move now - or European status for years to come. Answer it, and the country will almost determine itself. And we will help you calculate the time and cost for both options and bring the chosen route to the result - from Hungarian residence permit for investment to Hungarian citizenship.