In order to work in Serbia, you must have an appropriate visa D issued on the basis of employment or a temporary residence and and work permit. In some cases, a temporary residence permit may also grant the right to work.
It is also important to mention that there are certain jobs that you can perform without a work permit for a shorter period of time, up to 90 days (more information about this at the end of this text).
Which rule applies to you depends on the work you want to do, the purpose of your stay in Serbia, the length of your stay, and it also depends on which country issued the passport with which you enter the territory of the Republic of Serbia.
A work visa is required for foreigners who are subject to a visa regime or who need a visa D to submit an application for residence approval and are coming to work in Serbia.
Visa D based on employment can also be obtained by foreigners coming from countries with which the Republic of Serbia does not have a visa regime, if their eployment in the Republic of Serbia lasts less than 180 days.
To find out whether you need a work visa with a maximum duration of 180 days or whether you can apply directly for a temporary residence permit on the basis of employment with a maximum duration of 36 months, visit My Guide to Entry, Visas and Residence.
A work visa is actually a visa D issued for the purpose of employment. This visa allows you to stay and work in Serbia for a maximum period of 180 days. If you wish to stay longer and continue with the same employment, you must apply for a single temporary residence and work permit.
Specific employment reasons for which a visa D can be obtained are as follows:
Foreign citizens from certain countries do not need a visa D to enter, reside and work in Serbia, but can submit an application for temporary residence based on employment electronically (whether they are already in Serbia or not).
Employment is the purpose of stay on the basis of which you can obtain a residence and work permit. There are specific employment reasons that require a work permit, and it will automatically be integrated into a permit called a single tgemporary residence and work permit.
Specific employment types on the basis of which a single residence and work permit is obtained:
If you are submitting an aplication for temporary residence based on employment, such as work contract or another agreement that grants rights in accordance with the Labor Law, the employer must initiate the labour market test procedure.
Within the purpose of stay which implies employment, there are certain specific employment reasons when a foreigner has the right to work in accordance with the purpose and reason for employment:
If the reason for your stay is one of the four listed, your temporary residence permit will be a permit with the right to work in accordance with the purpose of the approved stay. Your right to work is integrated into the temporary residence permit, which is issued for a maximum of 36 months.
You can apply for a visa D and a temporary residence permit on the basis of employment yourself or your employer can apply for you. You can apply for a visa D electronically on this Portal. You can submit a request for temporary residence in person or electronically, and you can submit a request for a single permit exclusively electronically on this Portal.
Acknowledging the need for foreign citizens who have been approved temporary residence on other bases prescribed by the valid Law on Foreign Citizens and Employment of Foreigners Law, to have the opportunity to work in our country, thereby contributing to the development of the country, it has been made possible for a large number of foreign citizens to have the legally approved right to work in the Republic of Serbia without being issued a single permit for temporary residence and work. This group of foreign citizens primarily includes foreign citizens who have been granted temporary residence on the basis of family reunification with a citizen of the Republic of Serbia, foreign citizens who have been granted temporary residence on the basis of owning real estate, on the basis of studying (within the time period prescribed by the Law on the Employment of Foreign Citizens), foreign citizens who have been granted temporary residence on the basis of scientific research work, volunteers, foreign journalists, foreign experts who are engaged in projects with state authorities of the Republic of Serbia, religious officials, foreign citizens on humanitarian stays, foreign citizens who are victims of human trafficking and other foreign citizens in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Employment of Foreign Citizens, as well as foreign citizens with permanent residence.
If you do not stay in Serbia for more than 90 days in a period of 180 days counting from the date of first entry, then you have the right to work in the specified period without a single permit, provided that:
Note: A decisive role in whether you need a visa to stay in Serbia for up to 90 days is played by the visa regime of the country you are coming from, as well as the purpose of your stay. Visit My Guide to Entry, Visas and Residence and find out which visa you need. You can also get information on the website of the Ministry of the Interior.
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