Single work permit in Serbia
The single permit combines a residence permit and a work permit in one biometric document. It is intended for a foreign national hired by a Serbian employer. The decision is taken by the Ministry of the Interior together with the National Employment Service, which checks the vacancy through the labour market test. The application is filed only electronically on the Welcome to Serbia portal — by the foreign national, the employer or an authorised representative.
Source: welcometoserbia.gov.rs — Informacije o jedinstvenoj dozvoli
Who files the application for the single permit
The single permit can be arranged by yourself or through a Serbian employer — the procedure and the documents differ slightly.
The foreign national files the application
- No visa is needed to enter Serbia — the application can be filed after arrival
- An already signed employment contract is attached to the application
- After approval you come to the police in person to give biometric data for the card
The employer files the application for the employee
- Before filing it starts the labour market test through the National Employment Service
- It may file applications for several workers in a single package
- It files the application electronically on the portal on the employee's behalf
When the programme is not a fit
I am going to Serbia to study, not to work
A D visa on the ground of study — the single permit is not issued in that case
I am joining a husband or wife who is a Serbian citizen, not a Serbian employer
Family reunification (spajanje porodice) — no employment contract and no labour market test are needed
I want to start my own business in Serbia rather than work as an employee
The ground of self-employment or business registration — a different set of documents on the same portal
I already have stalno nastanjenje and want Serbian citizenship
Admission to citizenship under article 14 or 17 of the citizenship law — a separate procedure after stalno nastanjenje
What it costs
| Fee for filing the application | 430 RSD |
|---|---|
| Fee for approval of the single permit | 22 770 RSD |
| Fee for filing a family member's applicationFor each family member who files their own reunification application | +430 RSD |
| Fee for approval of a family member's stay (general rate)Applies where the family member is not the spouse of a Serbian citizen | +23 450 RSD |
| Fee for approval of the stay of the spouse of a Serbian citizenA reduced rate instead of the general one — only for marriage or extramarital cohabitation with a Serbian citizen | +11 725 RSD |
| Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Fee for filing a family member's application” adds 430 RSD; “Fee for approval of a family member's stay (general rate)” adds 23 450 RSD; “Fee for approval of the stay of the spouse of a Serbian citizen” adds 11 725 RSD. Charges with no official price list are in the list below. | 23,200–58 805 RSD |
Paid separately
- Health insurance policy — required in order to file the application; bought separately from an insurance company
- Translation and legalisation of documents — not covered by the state fee, paid separately
Documents to gather
The list applies to an application for the single permit on the ground of an employment contract.
- A passport or identity card — valid for at least 3 months longer than the period of stay requested
- An employment contract with a Serbian employer concluded under the Labour Law
- Confirmation that the employer has carried out the labour market test through the National Employment Service
- An electronic application on the welcometoserbia.gov.rs portal — completed by the foreign national, the employer or an authorised representative
- Attendance at the police in person after approval to give biometric data for the card
How the process runs
The route from filing the application to receiving the single permit card.
- 1
The employer starts the labour market test
Before an application on the ground of an employment contract is filed, the employer opens the labour market test through the National Employment Service — checking whether there are local candidates for the vacancy.
- 2
Filing the electronic application and paying the fees
The foreign national, the employer or an authorised representative files the application only through the welcometoserbia.gov.rs portal, attaches the passport and the employment contract and pays RSD 430 for filing and RSD 22,770 for approval — by card or by the payment slip from the portal.
- 3
Consideration of the application by the Ministry of the Interior
15 daysThe decision is taken within 15 days from the day a complete, duly completed application is filed.
- 4
Biometrics and issue of the single permit card
After approval the foreign national comes to the police in person to give biometric data (photograph, fingerprints); the single permit is issued as a biometric card for a term of up to 3 years.
Timelines and rights
Work
While the single permit is valid the foreign national has the right to live and work in Serbia; the permit is issued as a biometric document
Who you can bring with you
Family members of the holder of a single permit arrange their stay by a separate application on the ground of family reunification.
A spouse or a partner in extramarital cohabitation
Adult family members
Minor children
Trips, renewal and the grace period
The application is filed exclusively electronically through the welcometoserbia.gov.rs portal (the e-filing system eforeigner.welcometoserbia.gov.rs)
A renewal application is filed no earlier than 3 months before, and no later than the day of, the expiry of the current temporary residence permit — the portal advises against leaving it to the last day. If it is filed on time, you may remain in Serbia on the previous grounds until the end of the administrative proceedings. Each single permit is valid for no longer than 3 years; after that it is renewed again, or you apply for stalno nastanjenje after 3 continuous years of residence (with permitted absences of up to 10 months in total or 6 months in a row).
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to permanent residence
Stalno nastanjenje is granted after 3 years of continuous residence under approved temporary residence. Over those 3 years absences of 10 months in total, or one absence of 6 months in a row, are allowed.
Route to citizenship
Under article 14 of the citizenship law, a foreign national with approved stalno nastanjenje is admitted if they attach a release from their previous citizenship or proof that they will obtain one after admission. It is simpler for spouses of Serbian citizens: under article 17 you need 3 years of marriage and stalno nastanjenje, and renouncing the previous citizenship is not required — instead you write a statement that you consider Serbia your country.
Frequently asked questions about Single work permit
How much does the single work and residence permit cost?
How long does it take to consider the application?
For how long is the single permit issued?
When should the renewal application be filed?
Can the employer file the application for me?
After how many years of residence under the single permit can you apply for stalno nastanjenje?
Other ways to move to Serbia
- Residence permit through employmentWork residence permit
- AzilAsylum / refugee status
- Study residence permitStudy
- Residence permit through Serbian originOrigin
- Residence permit for investors and start-up foundersInvestment and business
- Family reunificationFamily
- Permanent residence — permanent settlementPermanent residence
- Naturalisation — admission of a foreign national to citizenshipCitizenship
- Citizenship for members of the Serbian peopleCitizenship by descent
- Citizenship by descentCitizenship by descent
Every route in one list — migration programmes: Serbia.
The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.