February 1st, 2024 brought revolutionary changes in the procedures for granting temporary residence and work permits for foreigners in Serbia. The procedure has been completely transformed due to recent changes in the law, as we extensively discussed in our previous blog. (Here you can read more about it.)
However, in this text, we want to focus on the permit that combines residence and work in Serbia – the unified work permit.
The most significant changes include:
- Online Application Submission: Requests can now be submitted exclusively through the online portal dedicated to visa and temporary residence applications in Serbia: Welcome to Serbia.
- Application Account: All foreigners must now create an account that will serve as their personal account through which they will exclusively communicate with the Ministry of the Interior (MUP).
- Basis for Unified Permit Issuance: Permits can be obtained based on employment, self-employment, or in special cases of employment.
- Labor Market Test: If the basis for submitting the request is employment, the employer must first submit a request online for conducting a labor market test.”In other words, the employer must also have a registered account on the E-Government portal and submit a request within the portal. Within four days, the employer will receive results via email regarding whether there are Serbian citizens who meet the job requirements. It’s also important to note that foreigners extending their residence and work permits must undergo a labor market test.”
- Unified Fee: There are no more separate fees for work permits. Now there is only one unified fee of 21,170.00 RSD, plus bank commission costs.
- Shortened Decision Deadline: The decision deadline of the MUP has been shortened from 30 to 15 days from the date of receipt of a complete request.
- Extension of Stay: An application for an extension of stay can be submitted no earlier than three months before the expiry date and no later than the expiry date of the temporary residence.
- Biometric Data: Instead of a sticker in the passport, foreigners are scheduled for an appointment to collect biometric data (photographing and fingerprinting). At that time, the foreigner must bring the fee payment receipt for issuance of the ID card.
- Issuance of ID Card for Foreigners: After collecting biometric data, foreigners are issued an ID card with a chip, which should be obtained in about 7 days.
- Right to Work for Family Members: Close family members of foreigners who have been granted a unified work permit have the right to work from the moment temporary residence is approved.
- Validity Period of the Permit: The unified permit can be issued for a validity period of up to three years, with the possibility of extension for the same period.
More About the Unified Residence and Work Permit in Serbia
The unified work permit represents a significant step forward in simplifying the process of stay and work for foreigners in Serbia. In addition to the changes mentioned above, this permit brings other benefits that make it easier for foreigners to start or continue their work life in our country.
One of the key advantages is that foreigners no longer have to deal with complex procedures for submitting various requests for stay and work. Instead, everything can be done through a single integrated process, saving time and resources for both applicants and administration.
Moreover, shortening the decision deadline to 15 days means that foreigners can obtain the necessary permits more quickly, contributing to the efficiency and predictability of the process.
Extension of stay has also been simplified, allowing foreigners to timely submit applications for extension without the need for quick reaction before the expiration of the previous permit.
Furthermore, the introduction of ID cards with a chip represents a step towards modernizing the identification of foreigners, providing a reliable and secure form of identification.
All these changes together make the process of obtaining a permit for stay and work in Serbia simpler and more transparent, creating a friendly environment for foreigners who want to contribute to our society and economy.
Note: the Information provided in this article is solely for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
