{"id":2201,"date":"2022-10-06T08:57:51","date_gmt":"2022-10-06T08:57:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/milic.rs\/eng\/eng\/novisajt\/?page_id=2201"},"modified":"2026-10-10T20:50:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T20:50:58","slug":"residence-and-work-permit-for-foreigners","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.milic.rs\/eng\/services\/residence-and-work-permit-for-foreigners\/","title":{"rendered":"Residence and Work Permits in Serbia &#8211; Immigration Lawyer"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2201\" class=\"elementor elementor-2201\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4e2fca5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4e2fca5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0067c5a\" data-id=\"0067c5a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5549641 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5549641\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>RESIDENCE OF FOREIGN NATIONALS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA<\/h2><p>MILI\u0106 Legal provides legal assistance to employers and foreign nationals in matters relating to residence and employment in the Republic of Serbia. Our services cover applications for temporary residence and work permits, permit renewals, permanent residence and representation before the competent Serbian authorities.<\/p><p>Amendments to Serbian immigration and employment legislation introduced in 2023 and 2024 significantly changed the procedures and requirements applicable to foreign nationals wishing to reside and work in Serbia.<\/p><p>One of the most important developments was the introduction of a unified residence and work permit, together with the digitalisation of application procedures. Applications for single permits are now submitted electronically through the official Portal for Foreign Nationals, replacing the previous system of separate applications to different authorities.<\/p><p>The Law on Foreigners (&#8220;Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia&#8221;, Nos. 24\/2018, 31\/2019 and 62\/2023) establishes several legal grounds for the residence of foreign nationals in Serbia.<\/p><p>These include:<\/p><ul><li><p><em>Short-term stay<\/em> \u2013 a foreign national may stay in Serbia without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, unless an international agreement provides otherwise. Short-term stays may also be authorised on the basis of a short-stay visa (Visa C).<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Temporary residence<\/em> \u2013 authorisation granted to a foreign national to reside in Serbia beyond the period permitted for a short-term stay or under a long-stay visa (Visa D), on one of the grounds prescribed by law.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p>Temporary residence may be granted for various purposes, including:<\/p><ul><li><p>employment;<\/p><\/li><li><p>education or foreign language studies;<\/p><\/li><li><p>university studies;<\/p><\/li><li><p>participation in international student exchange programmes;<\/p><\/li><li><p>professional specialisation, training or internships;<\/p><\/li><li><p>scientific research or other academic activities;<\/p><\/li><li><p>family reunification;<\/p><\/li><li><p>religious activities;<\/p><\/li><li><p>medical treatment or care;<\/p><\/li><li><p>ownership of real estate;<\/p><\/li><li><p>humanitarian grounds;<\/p><\/li><li><p>status as a presumed victim of human trafficking;<\/p><\/li><li><p>status as a victim of human trafficking;<\/p><\/li><li><p>other justified grounds recognised by law or an applicable international agreement.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p>Depending on the purpose of residence and the applicable legal requirements, a foreign national may need a temporary residence permit or a single residence and work permit.<\/p><p>Certain categories of foreign nationals may also be entitled to work on the basis of an approved temporary residence permit or another legally recognised ground, without obtaining a separate single permit.<\/p><p>Applications are examined by the competent authorities of the Ministry of the Interior. The applicable procedure and supporting documentation depend on the purpose of residence and the applicant&#8217;s individual circumstances.<\/p><p>It is therefore important to establish the appropriate legal ground before submitting an application and to ensure that the required documents and supporting evidence are properly prepared.<\/p><p>Foreign nationals must also comply with the purpose for which their residence has been approved and with any conditions attached to their permit.<\/p><p>One of the most significant developments in Serbian immigration legislation is the <em>single permit<\/em>, which combines temporary residence and authorisation to work in one permit. This has replaced the previous requirement to conduct separate residence and employment authorisation procedures in cases covered by the new system.<\/p><h3>Permanent Residence in Serbia<\/h3><p>Permanent residence allows foreign nationals who meet the statutory requirements to reside in Serbia on a permanent basis.<\/p><p>Applications for permanent residence are submitted to the competent authority of the Ministry of the Interior. The detailed requirements and application procedure are governed by the Law on Foreigners and the Rulebook on Approval of Permanent Residence (&#8220;Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia&#8221;, No. 118\/2023).<\/p><p>As a general rule, foreign nationals may apply for permanent residence after at least three years of continuous lawful residence in Serbia on the basis of approved temporary residence or a single residence and work permit, provided that the other statutory requirements are met.<\/p><p>Periods of residence based on education or university studies are subject to specific rules. Where a foreign national subsequently changes the legal ground of residence, part of the period spent in Serbia for educational purposes may be counted towards the required period for permanent residence.<\/p><p>Continuous residence does not necessarily require an uninterrupted physical presence in Serbia. Within the relevant three-year period, the law allows multiple absences totalling up to ten months or a single absence of up to six months.<\/p><p>Permanent residence may also be granted under special conditions to certain categories of foreign nationals, including:<\/p><ul><li><p>foreign minors whose parent is a Serbian citizen or a foreign national holding permanent residence in Serbia;<\/p><\/li><li><p>foreign nationals originating from the Republic of Serbia;<\/p><\/li><li><p>persons of Serbian descent;<\/p><\/li><li><p>other foreign nationals where granting permanent residence is considered to be in the interest of the Republic of Serbia.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p>Special rules also apply to foreign nationals who have resided in Serbia on the basis of granted asylum, as well as to certain members of their immediate families.<\/p><p>Given the differences between these grounds, eligibility for permanent residence should be assessed individually before an application is submitted.<\/p><h2>WORK PERMITS FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS IN SERBIA<\/h2><h3>Single Permit \u2013 Temporary Residence and Work Authorisation<\/h3><p>The single permit is one of the principal mechanisms through which foreign nationals may obtain authorisation to reside and work in the Republic of Serbia.<\/p><p>Under the current system, applications are submitted electronically through the Portal for Foreign Nationals.<\/p><p>Although the procedure involves two authorities, applicants no longer need to submit separate applications for residence and work authorisation where a single permit is required.<\/p><p>The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for the residence component of the application, while the National Employment Service examines the conditions relating to employment and other forms of work engagement within its competence.<\/p><p>The single permit is issued as a biometric residence card and serves as evidence of the foreign national&#8217;s approved temporary residence and right to work under the applicable conditions.<\/p><p>The amendments to the Law on Employment of Foreigners (&#8220;Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia&#8221;, No. 62\/2023) introduced a unified procedure designed to simplify the employment of foreign nationals and reduce administrative requirements.<\/p><p>Instead of obtaining separate authorisations through different procedures, eligible applicants can obtain temporary residence and permission to work through a single application.<\/p><p>The relevant requirements depend on the legal ground for the foreign national&#8217;s employment or professional engagement.<\/p><p>These grounds may include:<\/p><ol start=\"1\"><li><p><em>Employment under an employment contract or another legally recognised agreement<\/em> \u2013 where a foreign national is employed or otherwise engaged by an employer in the Republic of Serbia.<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Self-employment<\/em> \u2013 where a foreign national carries out business activities in Serbia in accordance with the applicable registration and employment requirements.<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Intra-company transfers<\/em> \u2013 where a foreign national is transferred from an overseas employer to a branch, subsidiary or other qualifying entity in Serbia.<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Professional specialisation, training and internships<\/em> \u2013 where the foreign national comes to Serbia for an eligible form of professional training or practical work experience.<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Other legally recognised forms of professional engagement<\/em> \u2013 including certain assignments or activities subject to specific statutory conditions.<\/p><\/li><\/ol><p>The applicable procedure and supporting documentation vary depending on the legal basis of the engagement.<\/p><p>Applications for single permits are submitted electronically, and the competent authorities assess whether the statutory conditions for residence and employment have been met.<\/p><p>The legislation also provides for the renewal of single permits, subject to the relevant requirements and deadlines.<\/p><h2>LEGAL ASSISTANCE WITH RESIDENCE AND WORK PERMITS<\/h2><p>MILI\u0106 Legal provides legal assistance to foreign nationals and employers seeking to arrange lawful residence and employment in the Republic of Serbia.<\/p><p>Depending on the circumstances of each case, our services may include:<\/p><ul><li><p><em>Assessment of the appropriate legal ground for residence and employment<\/em>, including whether a long-stay visa (Visa D) is required;<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Drafting employment contracts<\/em> or other agreements forming the legal basis for an individual&#8217;s engagement, in accordance with Serbian labour and immigration legislation;<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Preparation and review of supporting documentation<\/em> required for residence and work permit applications;<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Submission of applications<\/em> for temporary residence or single permits through the relevant electronic portal, where duly authorised;<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Responding to requests from the competent authorities<\/em> for additional documentation or information;<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Permit renewals and changes during the validity period<\/em>, including changes of employer or the legal ground for employment, subject to any required approvals;<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Preparation and submission of permanent residence applications<\/em>, where the statutory requirements are met;<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Representation in administrative appeal proceedings and administrative disputes<\/em> concerning decisions of the competent authorities.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p>We also advise companies employing multiple foreign nationals, including on monitoring employees&#8217; immigration status, permit expiry dates, renewal requirements and related legal obligations.<\/p><h2>EMPLOYERS&#8217; OBLIGATIONS WHEN HIRING FOREIGN NATIONALS<\/h2><p>Before employing a foreign national, an employer should verify that the individual meets the legal requirements for residence and employment in the Republic of Serbia.<\/p><p>As a rule, a foreign national may work in Serbia on the basis of a long-stay visa (Visa D) issued for employment purposes together with a single permit, unless the law provides otherwise.<\/p><p>Employing a foreign national who does not meet the applicable requirements may result in misdemeanour liability and other legal consequences.<\/p><p>Employers must comply with the regulations governing the employment of foreign nationals, retain the relevant evidence of compliance and monitor changes that may affect the lawfulness of the employment arrangement.<\/p><p>Particular attention should be paid to permit expiry dates, renewals, changes of employer and changes to the legal basis for employment.<\/p><p>For businesses that regularly employ foreign nationals, we provide assistance with establishing internal procedures for monitoring these obligations, as well as drafting appropriate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.milic.rs\/eng\/services\/employment-agreement\/\">employment agreements<\/a>.<\/p><h2>HOW WE PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE<\/h2><ol start=\"1\"><li><p><em>Initial assessment:<\/em> We establish the foreign national&#8217;s citizenship, purpose of stay, intended type of employment or engagement, and expected duration of residence in Serbia.<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Assessment of the legal ground:<\/em> We identify the appropriate procedure and explain the relevant requirements and potential obstacles.<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Document preparation:<\/em> We draft the necessary contracts and other legal documents and review the supporting documentation before submission.<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Application procedure:<\/em> We assist with submitting applications, monitor the proceedings and respond to requests for additional documentation from the competent authorities.<\/p><\/li><li><p><em>Renewals and subsequent changes:<\/em> Where agreed, we provide legal assistance with permit renewals and changes affecting the foreign national&#8217;s residence or employment status.<\/p><\/li><\/ol><h2>FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS<\/h2><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3>Can a foreign national start working in Serbia while waiting for a permit?<\/h3><p>Submitting an initial application for a single permit does not automatically entitle a foreign national to start working in Serbia.<\/p><p>Yes, but only after obtaining the consent of the National Employment Service, which decides within 10 days of receiving a complete application. The same consent is required for certain other changes to the legal basis for employment. If a foreign national\u2019s employment ends, the law allows 30 days to conclude a contract with a new employer.<\/p><p>The individual&#8217;s immigration status and legal basis for employment should therefore be verified before work begins.<\/p><h3>Who can submit a single permit application \u2013 the employer or the foreign national?<\/h3><p>A single permit application may be submitted by the foreign national, by the employer on the foreign national&#8217;s behalf, or by another duly authorised person, subject to the applicable requirements.<\/p><p>Applications for the issuance and renewal of single permits must be submitted electronically through the Portal for Foreign Nationals.<\/p><h3>Can a foreign national change employers while holding a valid single permit?<\/h3><p>Yes. However, changing employers, and certain changes to the legal basis for employment, generally require prior approval from the National Employment Service, in accordance with Serbian law.<\/p><p>A proposed change of employer should therefore be planned in advance, with the relevant documentation and requirements reviewed before the new employment arrangement begins.<\/p><h3>What happens if a residence or single permit application is refused?<\/h3><p>Decisions refusing residence or single permit applications may be challenged through the legal remedies available under Serbian law.<\/p><p>Depending on the nature of the decision and the reasons for refusal, the appropriate course of action may involve filing an administrative appeal, initiating an administrative court proceeding, or submitting a new application supported by the necessary documentation.<\/p><p>The available options and applicable deadlines should be assessed in each individual case.<\/p><h3>Do special rules apply to nationals of certain countries?<\/h3><p>Yes. International agreements may establish specific conditions or simplified procedures for the residence and employment of nationals of certain countries.<\/p><p>For example, the Open Balkan initiative provides a framework facilitating access to the labour market for eligible nationals of Albania and North Macedonia, subject to the applicable requirements.<\/p><p>The relevant international agreements and eligibility conditions should be checked before submitting an application.<\/p><h2>LEGAL ASSISTANCE WITH RESIDENCE AND EMPLOYMENT IN SERBIA<\/h2><p>If you require legal assistance with obtaining or renewing a residence or work permit in the Republic of Serbia, you may contact our office with basic information about your circumstances.<\/p><p>Please provide the foreign national&#8217;s citizenship, purpose of stay, intended employment or professional engagement and, where relevant, information about the prospective employer.<\/p><p>Based on these details, we can assess the appropriate procedure, determine the scope of the legal assistance required and discuss the terms of our engagement.<\/p><p>Email: <a href=\"mailto:office@milic.rs\">office@milic.rs<\/a><\/p><p><em>Disclaimer: This text is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion concerning any particular case. The application of the rules described above depends on the specific facts and circumstances of each case and the legislation in force at the relevant time.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RESIDENCE OF FOREIGN NATIONALS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA MILI\u0106 Legal provides legal assistance to employers and foreign nationals in matters relating to residence and employment in the Republic of Serbia. Our services cover applications for temporary residence and work permits, permit renewals, permanent residence and representation before the competent&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4501,"parent":2273,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/template-fullwidth.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2201","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.milic.rs\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.milic.rs\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.milic.rs\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.milic.rs\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.milic.rs\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2201"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/www.milic.rs\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2201\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5839,"href":"https:\/\/www.milic.rs\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2201\/revisions\/5839"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.milic.rs\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2273"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.milic.rs\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.milic.rs\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}