Visas and Work Permits for Foreigners in Serbia

Employers in Serbia are facing a labor shortage, while at the same time observing their competitors overcoming this issue by hiring foreign workers.
This raises the following questions:
Which foreigners can be legally employed in Serbia? What types of visas and work permits do they need? Who obtains them and where?

1. Is a visa required for a foreigner to enter Serbia?

We distinguish between two types of foreigners: those who do not need a special visa and those who do. This depends on the visa regime that the Republic of Serbia has with the foreigner’s home country.
Citizens of countries with which Serbia has a visa-free regime (e.g., EU, Russia, Turkey, USA…) can enter and stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa.
However, if they wish to stay longer or work, they must regulate temporary residence and then obtain a work permit.
Citizens of countries without a visa-free regime need a long-stay visa (Visa D), which allows them to enter Serbia to apply for temporary residence and work.
The most reliable way to check whether a specific foreigner needs a visa is to verify it HERE.

2. Types of Visas

If a foreigner is from a country that requires a visa to enter Serbia, there are three types of visas:

1. VISA A – Airport Transit Visa

This visa means that the foreigner does not enter the territory of the Republic of Serbia. It is issued for a period of up to six months for one or more transits through the international transit area of an airport. A foreigner who does not leave the international transit area of the airport or airplane during a layover between two flights does not need to obtain this type of visa.
The former transit Visa B has been abolished by amendments to the Law on Foreigners. It previously covered short-term transit stays, but now falls under Visa C.

2. VISA C – Short Stay Visa

Visa C is issued for transit through or stay on the territory of the Republic of Serbia for up to 90 days within any 180-day period from the day of first entry.
Short stay includes tourism, business, and other travel, and this visa is valid for one, two, or multiple entries into Serbia.
Visa C, i.e., the short stay visa, cannot be used as a basis for applying for temporary residence in Serbia.

3. VISA D – Long-Stay Visa

Visa D (long-stay visa) is issued for stays longer than 90 days, most often up to 180 days.
It is required for all citizens of countries with visa regimes, if they plan to apply for residence in Serbia for any reason:

·       Employment

·       Education

·       Family reunification, etc.
This visa is not a work permit in itself, but it serves as a basis for later regulating residence and work through the Single Permit for Residence and Work.
It is issued by the diplomatic-consular mission of the Republic of Serbia in the country of origin or online via the Welcome to Serbia portal.
With this visa, a foreigner may enter Serbia and apply for temporary residence and a work permit.
If, during the application for Visa D, the foreigner stated that the purpose of stay is employment in Serbia, they do not need to submit a new application for the Single Permit for Residence and Work (during the validity of Visa D).
Also, when a foreigner is already in Serbia and this visa is about to expire, they do not need to return to their country of origin to renew it — it can be done online.

3. General Requirements for Issuing a Visa

Regardless of the reason for applying, the applicant must submit the following:
• Completed visa application form
• Valid passport (must be valid for at least 90 days after the intended date of departure from Serbia, have at least two consecutive blank pages, and be issued in the last 10 years)
• Photograph (dimensions 3.5 x 4.5 cm)
• Visa fee
• Proof of purpose and reason for staying in Serbia
• Invitation letter:

·       For private visits – invitation letter certified by the competent authority in Serbia

·       For business visits – invitation letter from a company in Serbia

·       For employment – employment contract or job offer

·       For tourist visits – confirmation from the travel agency about a paid arrangement (voucher or other payment confirmation)
• Appropriate and valid travel health insurance

4. Approved Temporary Residence as a Precondition for Work

As stated, foreigners who stay in Serbia without a visa for up to 90 days or with Visa C for up to 90 days (tourist stay) cannot obtain a work permit.
Temporary residence approval in Serbia is required.
Temporary residence is granted for up to three years. This is the maximum period, and the authorities (Republic of Serbia) have the discretion to grant approval for a shorter period.

Temporary residence is most commonly requested for:
• Employment
• Starting a business (self-employment)
• Work on international projects
• Family reunification

Applications are submitted electronically via the eUprava or Welcome to Serbia portal.
A foreigner’s residence ends if the approved period expires, it is revoked, or if a protective removal or expulsion measure is imposed.
Since employment is the most common reason for requesting temporary residence, the procedures for residence and work permit are combined into one process – issuance of the Single Permit for Residence and Work.

5. Procedure for Issuing Temporary Residence Permits for Foreigners in Serbia

When applying for temporary residence, foreigners must submit a valid travel document – passport – and the following:
• Registered address in Serbia
• Proof of sufficient financial means for staying in Serbia
• Health insurance (private or recognized from the country of origin)
• Administrative fees
The application for temporary residence is submitted through the eUprava portal and may be submitted from abroad.
The foreigner will receive a notification of approval via the eInbox (eSanduče), but the residence sticker is issued in person at the Ministry of Interior (MUP).

6. Single Permit for Residence and Work – Issuance

Every foreigner staying in Serbia for the purpose of employment must have a Single Permit for Residence and Work.
Before explaining the issuance procedure, it should be noted that this permit is not required for foreigners with Visa D. If their Visa D is issued for employment in Serbia up to 180 days, it also serves as a permit for residence and work during that period.
Foreigners from visa-free countries must obtain a Single Permit for Residence and Work.
The application is submitted exclusively online through the Foreigners Portal.
It can be submitted from abroad, before the applicant is physically present in Serbia.

Who issues the Single Permit for Residence and Work?

The Single Permit for Residence and Work is issued in coordination by the Ministry of Interior (MUP), which checks the conditions for residence, and the National Employment Service (NES), which gives consent for a foreigner to be employed for a specific job in Serbia.
Issuance of the permit is governed by the Rulebook on Issuance of Single Permits for Temporary Residence and Work of Foreigners.

The application may be submitted by:

·       The foreigner

·       The employer on behalf of the foreigner

·       An authorized representative (lawyer, agency)
If the applicant is the foreigner, they must register on the unified web portal for foreigners.
If the applicant is the employer, they must register on the eUprava portal (as a legal entity, entrepreneur, branch office, institution, etc.), after which an authorized person may submit the application and perform other actions via the Foreigners Portal.
After registration, the applicant receives a unified electronic inbox (eInbox) for all instructions and notifications.

What documentation is submitted?

When applying for the Single Permit for Residence and Work, the following must be submitted:

1.     Valid passport / valid ID card

2.     Color photo (35 x 45 mm)

3.     Employment contract (or other contract for work engagement) or job offer

4.     Address of residence/stay or a statement of intended address (if the foreigner is applying from abroad), proven by a lease agreement or landlord’s statement
All documents are submitted as original electronic or digitized documents.
Documents not issued by Serbian authorities or not in Serbian must be submitted with a certified translation by a court interpreter.

Labor Market Test

If the employer submits the application for the Single Permit for Residence and Work, they must initiate a labor market test. The NES will issue a decision within 4 days as to whether the employer is allowed to hire such a worker. Each employer who initiates the test receives an ID number.
If the foreigner is applying for the permit, they must enter the employer’s ID number in the application.

Collecting the Single Permit for Residence and Work

The legal deadline for deciding on the application is 15 days from submission.
As mentioned, the Single Permit for Residence and Work can be applied for even before the foreigner arrives in Serbia. However, once the application is approved, the Ministry of Interior issues the permit in the form of a biometric ID card, which must be collected in person by the foreigner.

7. Registration of the Employed Foreigner

Obtaining the permit is not the end of the process.
The employer must register the worker in the Central Registry of Compulsory Social Insurance (CROSO). Amendments to the law now allow the registration of foreigners in CROSO based on confirmation that the Single Permit for Residence and Work card issuance process has started. So, the foreigner does not need to physically have the permit — confirmation is enough for legal employment.

8. Renewal of Permits

Neither Visa D nor the Single Permit for Residence and Work are permanent. They are issued for a limited period and must be renewed before they expire.
If the renewal application is submitted before expiration, the confirmation of application is sufficient for legal residence and work until a final decision is made.

9. Employment of Foreigners in Practice

From our legal practice, we highlight a few critical mistakes employers often make:

1.     Starting work before the permit is issued is the most expensive mistake – fines can reach 2,000,000 RSD for the employer and 150,000 RSD for the responsible person.

2.     The most common reason for delays is incomplete documentation. Foreign diplomas are particularly problematic if not properly certified or translated by an authorized interpreter.

3.     Lastly, some foreigners can be legally employed in Serbia without a work permit — read more HERE.

Conclusion

Hiring foreigners in Serbia is not overly simple, but with proper preparation and knowledge of the steps, it can be done efficiently. It’s important to understand that this is a process requiring time, attention, and precise documentation.
We recommend starting preparations at least three months before the planned start of work. This time allows for proper document collection and resolving any issues.
Consulting a lawyer at the start of the process can save time and money. Each case has its specific circumstances requiring an individual approach.

Law Firm Petrović Mojsić & Partners