Analysis of legal framework on social and economic rights of vulnerable foreigners in Serbia
Analysis of legal framework on social and economic rights of vulnerable foreigners in Serbia

Author(s): Miroslava Jelačić Kojić, Gordana Grujičić
Subject(s): Politics, Sociology, Migration Studies, Asylum, Refugees, Migration as Policy-fields
Published by: Grupa 484
Keywords: Serbia migration profile; transit country dynamics; asylum procedures; labor-driven legal migration; family reunification trends; migrant integration policy; rights of third-country nationals
Summary/Abstract: Serbia, situated along the so-called Balkan Route, has traditionally functioned as a transit country for migrants journeying toward the European Union. The majority of these migrants, particularly those who are irregular, tend not to stay in Serbia long-term. This tendency is evident in the relatively low percentage of irregular migrants who engage in Serbia’s asylum procedure, which is widely regarded as the main legal pathway for those in irregular situations seeking to establish lawful residence. The asylum process represents one of the few avenues for migrants without legal status to regularize their stay. In 2022, for instance, 4,179 migrants expressed their intention to seek asylum in Serbia, yet only 319 individuals (7.63%) proceeded to submit a formal asylum application. In 2023, this trend continued, with 1,645 expressions of interest in asylum but only 196 actual applications. These numbers illustrate that, although many migrants initially signal their intent to seek protection, few proceed with the full asylum process, suggesting that the majority see Serbia as a temporary rather than a permanent destination.

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