If you are planning on working in Serbia or hiring talent with foreign citizenship, you will have to apply for a residence and work permit. This guide will help you with the necessities and types of work permits available in Serbia.
Visa
Before traveling to the Republic of Serbia, please check here whether you need a visa.
Visa applications should be submitted to the Embassy or Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia abroad.
Holders of foreign national passports having a valid Schengen, UK, EU, or visa of the United States of America, and holders of foreign national passports having residence permits in the countries of the Schengen area, EU, or USA are entitled to “Visa-free” entry and stay without prior visa application for up to 90 days during a six-month period, and within the validity of granted visas or residence permits.
Visa Types
- short stay visa (visa C)
- long-stay visa (visa D)
VISA C (visa for a stay of up to 90 days)
A visa for a short stay is issued for tourists, business, and other travel, for one, two, or more entries into the Republic of Serbia. Continuous residence of a foreigner with a short stay visa, or a total length of consecutive stays, can not exceed 90 days within a period of six months from the date of first entry. A visa for a short stay with multiple entries shall be issued with a validity period of up to one year.
VISA D (Long-term visa)
A long-term visa is permission to enter and stay in the territory of the Republic of Serbia between 90 and 180 days.
Visa D is issued to a foreigner who, in accordance with the visa regime for entry into the Republic of Serbia requires a visa, and who in the Republic of Serbia intends to apply for a temporary stay.
A foreigner who enters the Republic of Serbia without a visa, on the basis of visa-free entry to the Republic of Serbia, should apply for a D visa (long-term visa) which enables the regulation of temporary stay upon arrival in Serbia.
Employment Type/Offer
The reason and type of employment within a company registered in Serbia will determine the residence purpose and work permit type. The legislation in Serbia differentiates several work permits and is aligned with the European Union standards.
Work permits in Serbia are divided into two groups 1. work eligibility with free access to the labor market known as “personal” or 2. related to specific employment with one employer – the legal entity registered in Serbia.
Application for a residence permit and work permit can be requested at the same time or separately. However, the residence approval will be the condition for the work permit.
Personal Work Permit
A personal work permit is a work permit that enables a foreigner in the Republic of Serbia to freely enter into employment, be self-employed, and exercise their rights in case of unemployment.
A “Personal” work permit is issued to the person that
- has a permanent residence permit
- has refugee status
- belongs to a special category of foreigner
Work Permit for Specific Employment Purpose
- work permit for standard employment
- work permit for special employment cases
- work permit for self-employment
The request for the extension of the temporary residence and work permit should be submitted at the earliest three months and no later than 30 days before the expiration of the approved residence and work permits.
The Residence Permit
The request for approval of temporary residence should be submitted to the Police Department for Foreigners, regional police jurisdictions, or electronically.
Documents for Temporary Residence Request
a. Main documents (mandatory documentation)
- Valid passport – The validity period of the travel document must be at least three months longer than the period for which the temporary stay is granted. The passport must contain the border police stamp with an exact date and place of entrance in Serbia.
- Proof of means of subsistence during the planned stay.
- Residence in the Republic of Serbia – “The White Card” issued: a. at the police department b. within 24h of crossing the border c. by the accommodation owner. This doc should always be carried along with the passport while staying in Serbia.
- Health insurance during the planned stay.
- The proof of payment of the prescribed administrative fee (amounts and payments are available via the government portal).
- Two photos (35x45mm, in color, headshot/full face).
- Completed request form.
b. Additional documents (special documentation) that vary depending on the residence purpose, the following are a few most common sets for employment:
Standard Employment
- Registration certificate of a legal entity or entrepreneur in the Republic of Serbia;
- Employment contract (by the employer company)
- When the employment relationship is established for the first time “The report on the fulfillment of the conditions for employment from the organization responsible for employment”, and later, during the procedure of the temporary residence extension, only a work permit will be required.
Business Owner
- Registration certificate of a legal entity or entrepreneur in the Republic of Serbia;
- Employment contract (must contain the applicant’s personal details);
- Work permit – for the procedure of the temporary residence extension;
Contract on business and technical cooperation between domestic and foreign legal entities
- Registration certificate of a legal entity in the Republic of Serbia;
- Contract on business and technical cooperation between domestic and a foreign legal entity;
- The decision of a foreign legal entity on the assignment or delegation of workers to a legal entity registered in the Republic of Serbia, if this is not regulated by a contract on business and technical cooperation;
- Confirmation about the employment of a foreign citizen (Acceptance Letter) issued by the legal entity registered in the Republic of Serbia;
- Work permit – for the procedure of the temporary residence extension;
Temporary assignment purpose
- Registration certificate of a legal entity in the Republic of Serbia;
- The decision (Temporary Assignment Letter) of a foreign legal entity on the assignment or delegation of workers to a legal entity registered in the Republic of Serbia;
- Confirmation about the employment of a foreign citizen (Acceptance Letter) issued by the legal entity registered in the Republic of Serbia;
- Work permit – for the procedure of the temporary residence extension;
Accredited foreign journalist
- Accreditation of the ministry responsible for culture and information affairs in the Republic of Serbia
“Startup”
Relevant for the foreigners who founded a company in the Republic of Serbia whose innovative activity has been confirmed by a Serbian science and technology park.
First residence
- a document issued by a registered science and technology park, which confirms that the activity of a company founded by a foreigner in the Republic of Serbia is recognized as an innovative activity.
Extension
- proof that, during the period of validity of the previously approved temporary residence, an employment relationship with one or more citizens of the Republic of Serbia was established for a period that is longer than the period to which the extension of the temporary residence is requested, or
- proof that during the period of validity of the previously valid temporary residence, the business company that is the basis for the innovative activity achieved business income in the minimum amount of 1,000,000.00 RSD or
- a document issued by Science and Technology Park, which confirms that the company is still actively engaged in innovative activities.
The Work Permit
The documents needed for work permit requests are mostly similar to those collected for the residence approval but with a few additional docs required. Specific procedures will follow depending on the requested work permit type, i.e. labour market test will be performed or not.
National Employment Agency will perform a labour market test when a standard employment work permit is needed. The labour market test is for the market assessment purpose, it is related to the vacant job described in the work permit application form. The NEA will search for the unemployed talent that is at the time of application available in the market, if the right talent for the job is not available the work permit will be granted, given that other necessities are fulfilled. The labour market test application must be submitted 60 to 30 days before the deadline for a work permit or i.e.employment contract start date.
Documents for Temporary Residence Request
- National Employment Agency application form;
- Registration certificate of a legal entity in the Republic of Serbia;
- Passport or certified copy of the passport’s first page and the page along with a page with approved residence;
- The confirmation document of the approved temporary residence issued by the Department for Foreigners;
- NEA’s report about the labour market test (not required for all work permit types);
- An employment contract or other contract depending;
- Certificate on the redundancy contract terminations from the Social Security Central Register (CROSO);
- Report from the employer’s rulebook on jobs organization and systematization;
- A diploma of the relevant education along with a copy of the diploma with the certified translation by the authorized interpreter.
- The proof of other qualifications and work experience along with a copy of the docs with the certified translation by the authorized interpreter.
- Administrative tax payment slip.
Although an employment contract can be concluded with an indefinite term for permanent employment, the temporary residence together with a work permit can be approved for foreign citizens for a duration of up to one year and can be extended.
