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Work Permit lawyers in Serbia: what to know before you hire
A guide by LawzanaOfficial sources checked 28 October 2026.
Check whether you need an employment Visa D or a single residence and work permit before starting work. Single-permit applications go through the Welcome to Serbia portal online.
This guide covers law and procedure in Serbia.
Application
Online only
Submit single-permit applications through Welcome to Serbia. [2]
Decision deadline
15 days
For single-permit issuance, the deadline runs from receipt of a complete application. [3]
Permit validity
Up to three years
The period depends on the grounds for issuing the permit; renewal is possible. [3]
Renewal window
Three months to expiry
Apply from three months before your single permit expires, no later than its expiry date. [3]
When a lawyer can help
Start a job with a local employer
You have a job offer and need a single residence and work permit.
Handled by: Apply through Welcome to Serbia yourself, through your employer or through an authorized representative.
Lawyer optional
Help prepare the application and coordinate the employer's supporting evidence. [3][2]
Handled by:
Apply through Welcome to Serbia yourself, through your employer or through an authorized representative.
Lawyer optional
Work through your own business
You plan to establish a company or work as a registered entrepreneur.
Handled by: For a longer stay, use a Visa D or single permit for self-employment; register a company with the Business Registers Agency.
Lawyer recommended
Check the business structure and prepare evidence supporting the self-employment application. [4]
Handled by:
For a longer stay, use a Visa D or single permit for self-employment; register a company with the Business Registers Agency.
You hold a valid single permit and want to change the work it covers.
Handled by: Request National Employment Service consent through Welcome to Serbia before starting the new work.
Lawyer recommended
Prepare the consent request and supporting evidence for the proposed employment change. [5][6]
Handled by:
Request National Employment Service consent through Welcome to Serbia before starting the new work.
Lawyer recommended
Challenge a single-permit refusal
Your application for a single permit or its renewal has been refused.
Handled by: File a written appeal in Serbian through the refusing authority within 15 days of receipt, with the prescribed fee; the Ministry of the Interior decides.
Lawyer recommended
Draft the written appeal and address the reasons given in the refusal. [3]
Handled by:
File a written appeal in Serbian through the refusing authority within 15 days of receipt, with the prescribed fee; the Ministry of the Interior decides.
The application fee is RSD 430 and approval costs RSD 22,770. Citizens of North Macedonia, Mongolia, Cyprus and Belarus pay only the application fee. These amounts cover application and approval charges. [2]
Questions about lawyer charges
Is there a charge for the first consultation?
How do you calculate fees for this matter?
What work, taxes and expenses would the quote include?
Can you provide a written quote and payment schedule?
Apply for a single permit for an ordinary job
1
Choose the entry and permit route
The standard route for visa-required workers starts with an employment Visa D, which permits work during its validity, up to 180 days. Visa-free applicants can apply for a single permit during a lawful stay or from abroad. [15][1][3]
2
Confirm registration after arrival
Your paid accommodation provider or private host must register your stay with the competent authority within 24 hours of providing accommodation or your arrival for a visit. Confirm that this has been done. [16]
3
Coordinate the employer's labour market test
For a job requiring a labour market test, your employer files the Vacancy Registration Form, called PPZ. It can file up to 60 days before, or with, the single-permit application. Get the test reference number if you apply yourself. [5]
4
Complete the online application
Register a portal account and complete the application. Prepare the draft employment contract and qualification evidence. Use a valid passport, or an accepted national identity card, valid for at least three months beyond the requested permit period. [6][10][3]
5
Monitor the portal for notices and the decision
Check eSanduče, the portal's electronic mailbox, for notices about your application. The decision deadline is 15 days from receipt of a complete application. [2][3]
15 days from receipt of a complete application
6
Attend the biometric appointment and collect the permit
Once the conditions are met, attend the scheduled appointment at the competent police office for foreigners to provide biometric data. Collect the single permit personally. [17][3]
Common questions
Does every foreign worker need a single permit?
No. Examples include permanent residents with a valid residence document and people granted temporary residence based on property ownership. Temporary residence for family reunification with an immediate family member who is a Serbian citizen or permanent resident also provides work rights without a single permit. [9]
Can I keep working during renewal, or apply after expiry?
A timely single-permit application lets you stay and work until the administrative procedure ends. Late renewal is discretionary: the gap must be less than three months, and there must be force majeure or an interest of the Republic of Serbia. If approved under that exception, the gap counts as lawful, continuous residence. This is not a general grace period. [3]
What happens if my employment contract ends?
If your employment or other qualifying work contract ends, conclude a new employment or qualifying work contract within 30 days of its end; otherwise the law on foreigners' entry, movement, stay and return applies. To change employer on a single permit, obtain National Employment Service approval before starting the new work. [10][9][5]
Is the appeal deadline different for an employment Visa D refusal?
For a visa refusal, file the appeal with the office that made the decision within eight days of receiving it. The appeal must be written in Serbian and accompanied by the prescribed administrative fee. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs decides appeals against embassy or consulate decisions. [3]
Do Serbian documents always need an apostille for work abroad?
No. Serbian public documents need legalization for use abroad only if the destination country's law requires it. Exemptions may apply under a ratified treaty, de facto reciprocity, or if the receiving state authority does not require legalization. In Serbia, the competent basic court issues apostilles for public documents drawn up, issued or certified by authorities seated within its jurisdiction. [11]
What should I check before accepting a job abroad?
Check the agency's licence. For Serbian citizens taking jobs through National Employment Service placement, the employer must conclude the employment contract before departure. National Employment Service and private employment agencies do not charge unemployed people for placement services. [7][8]
