Frequently Asked Questions about Obtaining Work Permits and Temporary Residence for Hiring Foreigners in Serbia
Increasing inquiries about obtaining work permits and temporary residence for employing foreigners in Serbia have prompted us to compile all necessary information for employers in one place.
Prerequisites for Starting the Procedure
To start the employment process of a foreigner, the employer must define the need for hiring a foreigner with specific knowledge and skills in their general act. Additionally, the foreigner must have registered residence in Serbia.
You can check on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia’s website to see if and for how long a foreigner can legally stay in Serbia without a visa. During this period, the foreigner’s temporary residence can be regulated, and the work permit procedure can begin (see Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3).
If the foreigner comes from countries outside the EU or the Schengen area, a so-called “D visa” – a long-stay visa – will likely be required before regulating temporary residence and work permits in Serbia.
The “D visa” application can be submitted online via the e-consulate application, and the visa is stamped in the foreigner’s passport at the Serbian diplomatic-consular office in their home country. It is recommended to complete this procedure before the foreigner arrives in Serbia.
Check if there is an international agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the foreigner’s home country, which may provide additional facilitation for the foreigner’s residence and employment.
Remember that the foreigner must register their address with the police station within 24 hours of entering Serbia – the so-called “white card.”
Step 1: Registering the Need for Hiring a Foreigner
The National Employment Service receives the PPZ form, which contains information about the employer and the position for which the foreigner is planned to be hired. This way, the National Employment Service checks whether there is a domestic citizen on record who meets the required conditions. This report takes 10 working days.
The goal is to determine through a labor market test if there are Serbian citizens or foreigners already legally residing in Serbia who are suitable for the job the employer intends to hire the foreigner for. When submitting the application, be sure to specify all the position’s specifics and reasons for hiring the foreigner.
The procedure can be initiated by the employer at the competent branch of the NES according to the location of their headquarters, and it is recommended to take this step before the foreigner arrives in Serbia.
Step 2: Temporary Residence in Serbia
The request for temporary residence approval for employment purposes is submitted to the Directorate for Foreigners of the Republic of Serbia or the competent police station according to the foreigner’s place of residence. The decision takes 30 working days.
The documentation includes:
- Decision on the registration of the legal entity with which the foreigner is establishing employment;
- Employment contract (indicating that it will be effective from the date of obtaining the work permit);
- Foreigner’s personal document (passport) and two photographs;
- Foreigner’s address registration;
- Health insurance certificate;
- Completed application in three copies (can also be submitted online);
- Proof of paid fees (generated on the eUprava portal). Additional information is available on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia’s website.
Expect that the foreigner must personally appear before the Directorate for Foreigners or the competent police station three times during the temporary residence approval process. The foreigner’s stay is considered legal after initiating the temporary residence approval procedure, as long as the process is not completed.
Step 3: Work Permit
The National Employment Service receives the request for issuing a work permit. The decision takes 30 working days.
The documentation includes:
- Decision on the employer’s registration in the relevant authority’s register;
- Foreigner’s travel document;
- Approval for the foreigner’s temporary residence;
- Draft employment contract or another contract that establishes the right based on work;
- Excerpt from the Job Classification Rulebook, or a statement from an employer with less than 10 employees containing the job title and description;
- Diploma or certificate of appropriate qualifications with a certified translation;
- Certificate proving that the foreigner meets the employer’s requirements with a certified translation;
- Proof of paid administrative fee. The work permit application can also be submitted electronically.
The NES can also issue a so-called temporary work permit for 45 days so that the foreigner can work while the temporary residence procedure is not completed.
