Set up in Serbia
Work and residence permits for foreign directors and employees in Serbia
We handle the single permit, one permit for both residence and work, and temporary residence for the foreign directors and employees of your Serbian company. We assess which procedure applies, prepare and file the application, and track each expiry date so that the renewal starts in time. The state fees for a single permit and its card are 24,960 RSD per person. You can add the single permit to any tier, or order it alone.
What we handle
- The assessment. We check which procedure applies to each person: the single permit or temporary residence.
- The documents. We give you the document checklist, collect the documents and order the certified translations.
- The application. We prepare and file the application for the single permit or for temporary residence.
- Renewals and changes. We renew existing permits and file the changes to them.
- The start of work. After the approval, a licensed accounting firm we work with registers the new employee and adds the employee to payroll, as part of Accounting and payroll.
- The expiry dates. We keep a list of the permits and their expiry dates, and we start each renewal in time.
How it works
Assessment.
You tell us who comes to Serbia, in which role and from when. We name the procedure, the documents and the fees.
Documents.
We send you the checklist, collect the documents and order the certified translations.
Application.
We prepare and file the application. The state fees are 24,960 RSD per person for a single permit. Time to a decision: the law gives the Ministry of the Interior 15 days from a complete application. In practice, the decision often takes several months.
Approval.
The person gets the permit card. The accounting firm registers the start of work and adds the employee to payroll.
Renewal.
We track the expiry date and file the renewal in time.
Key facts
State fees and rules for permits in Serbia.
| Item | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Single permit (residence and work) | 22,770 RSD (about EUR 193.9) per person | Law on Republic Administrative Fees, tariff item 7a |
| Permit card (single permit or temporary residence) | 2,190 RSD (about EUR 18.7) per card | Law on Republic Administrative Fees, tariff |
| Single permit and permit card together | 24,960 RSD (about EUR 212.6) per person | Law on Republic Administrative Fees, tariff |
| Temporary residence, outside the single permit | 23,450 RSD (about EUR 199.7) per person | Law on Republic Administrative Fees, tariff item 7 |
| Appeal against a refusal of a single permit | 10,950 RSD (about EUR 93.3) | Law on Republic Administrative Fees, tariff |
| Separate work permit fee under the single permit | None in the tariff | Law on Republic Administrative Fees, tariff |
| Single permit procedure | In force since 2024-02-01 | Law on Foreigners, Art. 46a. The start date is in the amending laws of Sl. glasnik RS 62/2023: Law on Foreigners, Art. 54, and Law on Employment of Foreigners, Art. 21. |
| Certified translation | 10.2 to 12.8 EUR a page at market prices. A page is 1,800 characters with spaces. | Market prices on 2026-10-17 |
| Documents of an application | A passport that is valid at least 3 months beyond the requested stay. The proof that the employment law requires. For employment, this is a started labour market test, a draft employment contract, and no redundancy dismissals on these jobs in the 90 days before. The address of residence in Serbia. The proof of payment of the state fees. All in electronic form, as originals or scans. | Law on Foreigners, Art. 46v and Art. 46b(9). Law on Employment of Foreigners, Art. 16. |
| Processing time | Within 15 days of a complete application by law. In practice often several months. The assessment of the job by the National Employment Service takes up to 10 days. | Law on Foreigners, Art. 46g(1) and (3). Law on Employment of Foreigners, Art. 10(6). |
| Staff of Expo 2027 participants | The free Expo visa replaces temporary residence and the single permit | Expo 2027 treaty, Sl. glasnik RS, Međunarodni ugovori 10/2025, Art. 1 and Art. 9 |
What we need from you
- For each person: the role in the company and the planned start date.
- The details of the Serbian company that employs or appoints the person.
- The documents of each person: a passport that is valid at least 3 months beyond the requested stay, and the address of residence in Serbia, or the intended address for an application from abroad.
- The documents of the family members who move with the person. We handle their permits too.
Your scope
We handle one permit or the permits of a whole team. For a team, we keep one list of all permits and their expiry dates.
Tier and offer
Set up in Serbia
Single permit (work and residence). We handle the work and residence permit of one foreign director or employee. You can add it to any tier, or order it alone.
The state fees are 24,960 RSD per person for the single permit and the permit card. Certified translations are passed on at cost.
You get the scope and the price in a written offer before we start.
Questions and answers
Can you support our foreign directors and employees?
Yes. We handle the residence and work permits of your foreign directors and employees. That covers the assessment, the documents, the translations, the application, the renewals and the changes. After the approval, a licensed accounting firm we work with registers the start of work and adds the employee to payroll.
What does a single permit cost?
The state fees are 22,770 RSD for the single permit and 2,190 RSD for the permit card, 24,960 RSD per person together. Temporary residence outside the single permit costs 23,450 RSD in state fees. For our service, you get the scope and the price in a written offer before we start. Contact us for an offer.
Is there a separate work permit fee?
The tariff of the Law on Republic Administrative Fees lists no separate work permit fee under the single permit. The single permit procedure is in force since 2024-02-01. Our guide The single permit from the employer's side explains the steps for the employer.
How long does a single permit take?
The law gives the Ministry of the Interior 15 days from a complete application, and in practice the decision often takes several months. The assessment of the job by the National Employment Service takes up to 10 days.
Which permit do Expo 2027 staff need?
Staff of official Expo 2027 participants use the free Expo visa, which replaces temporary residence and the single permit (Expo 2027 treaty, Art. 1 and Art. 9). Non-official participants get limited visas (Art. 22). Our page Expo 2027 describes the administration for participants.
Last reviewed on . RNDM DOO is responsible for this page.