Serbia's combined residence and work permit, explained for employers

What the permit is

A single document that authorises a foreign national to live in Serbia temporarily and to work for a named employer, in a named position, on a named legal basis. It replaced two separate procedures with the police and the employment service.

Legal bases you can use

• Standard employment contract
• Secondment from a foreign employer
• Intra-company transfer
• Independent professional or contractor
• Training and upskilling

For workers recruited from Pakistan, the standard employment contract is the usual basis.

Order of steps matters

Validity and changes

The permit is tied to the employer, the position and the basis. A new job or a new employer means a new procedure. Renewals are filed online before expiry.

Penalties

Employing a foreign national without a valid permit, or on terms that differ from the contract, exposes the company to fines ranging from RSD 800,000 to 2,000,000, and inspectors can also check accommodation and pay conditions.

Sequence for a worker from Pakistan

1. SelectionCrown recruits and tests; you choose.
2. InvitationYou issue the invitation and guarantee.
3. Visa DCrown books and submits at the Serbian embassy in Islamabad.
4. CROSOYou register the worker.
5. Online filingYou file the combined permit.
6. ArrivalThe worker travels and starts.

Employer questions

Serbia pages

• Serbia overview
• Belgrade workforce
• Vojvodina factories
• Central Serbia industry