How do I get Serbia's single permit to live and work there?

Checked on 2026-10-25

To live and work in Serbia as an employee or self-employed person you need a single permit, which combines temporary residence and work. Serbia's Law on Foreigners says it is applied for only online, through the government portal, by you or your employer, decided within 15 days of a complete application, and valid for up to three years.

Key facts

What	The law says	Source
What it is	A permit for temporary residence and work, issued for employment and for specialisation, training and practice	Zakon o strancima, arts. 3(1)(13a), 40(2), 46a(1)
Specific reasons (portal)	Employment contract under the Labour Law; self-employment; referred (posted) person; movement within a company; independent professional; training and development	Portal FAQ, question 13
Who applies	You, your employer on your behalf, or a person either of you authorises	Zakon o strancima, art. 46b(1)
How	Only electronically, through the Welcome to Serbia portal	Zakon o strancima, art. 46b(1)
Decision deadline	15 days from receipt of a complete application	Zakon o strancima, art. 46g(1)
Validity	Up to three years, extendable for the same period	Zakon o strancima, art. 46e
Fee (portal FAQ)	430 RSD submission plus 22,770 RSD for the single permit	Portal FAQ, question 12

Who needs it

The law says a foreigner who intends to live and work in Serbia, or to do specialisation, training or practice, must apply for a single permit during their legal stay (Zakon o strancima, art. 46(1)). Foreigners who already have a right to work without one, for example under other residence bases, apply for ordinary temporary residence instead if they stay longer than 90 days in 180 (art. 46(2)).

The portal’s guidance adds that for employment under a work contract or another agreement under the Labour Law, the employer must start the labour market test procedure.

When and where you apply

If you need a visa for Serbia: you enter on a long-stay visa D for employment and apply while it is valid (art. 46b(2)). The portal’s guidance says this visa itself lets you stay and work for up to 180 days.
If you can enter visa-free: you apply during your legal stay, and you may also apply from abroad (art. 46b(4)).
On a short-stay visa: only if it is in the interest of Serbia or there is force majeure, with evidence (art. 46b(3)).

The portal’s FAQ says an individual applicant needs an electronic identification (eID) account; an employer applying needs an eGovernment account and must give the person filing the “Working with Foreign Citizens” role.

What you submit

The law lists a valid passport (or national ID card where you may enter Serbia with it), proof that the application is justified under the rules on employment of foreigners plus any other documents asked for, and your address in Serbia, or a statement of your intended address if you apply from abroad. Documents are submitted as original electronic documents or as digitised documents. Your passport must be valid at least three months longer than the permit you ask for (art. 46v).

The decision

The police unit for foreigners decides within 15 days of receiving a complete application. In the same procedure it obtains the security agency’s assessment and the employment organisation’s assessment of whether the employment conditions are met, both due within 10 days (art. 46g(1)–(3)). You collect the permit in person (art. 46g(6)). An application is refused if, among other reasons, the employment organisation finds the employment conditions are not met (art. 46đ(1)(1)).

Changing jobs

The portal’s guidance says a single permit holder can change employer during the permit’s validity with prior approval from the employment organisation. The law requires you to live in Serbia in line with the basis for which the permit was issued (art. 46a(4)).

Renewal: file no earlier than three months before expiry and no later than the expiry date; a timely applicant may stay and work until the procedure ends (art. 46b(5)–(6)).
Refusal: you can appeal within 15 days of receiving the decision (art. 46đ(2)).

Sources

Change history

2026-10-25: Page created

This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.