Changes related to residence permit and work permit in Serbia

The Parliament of Serbia adopted amendments to the Law on the Employment of Foreigners and the Law on Foreigners, which enables foreign nationals to exercise the right to temporary residence and to work in Serbia in a single procedure, through a single verification procedure related to both the approval of temporary residence and work permits.

Some amendments and additions apply from the 4^th August 2023, while certain amendments and additions will start to be implemented from the 1^st February 2024.

Important changes:

Duration of temporary stay: Certainly the biggest change is the duration of the temporary stay, and now instead of up to 1 year, a foreigner can be granted a temporary stay for up to 3 years!

Single permit: There will be a single permit for temporary residence and a work permit, which will be issued to all foreigners who are granted temporary residence based on employment.

The right to work without a work permit: Foreigners who have been granted temporary residence on other grounds such as ownership of real estate or family reunification will have the right to work without applying for a special unique work permit.

Visas for entering Serbia in electronic format: For those foreigners who need visa C or visa D the new amendments to the Law provide for the possibility of issuing a visa in an electronic format, which will greatly facilitate the procedure.

Extension of temporary stay: Instead of the earlier 30 days before the expiration, the law now allows a foreigner to apply for an extension of temporary residence right before the expiration of the current temporary residence.

Use of identity card instead of passport: Amendments to the Law on Aliens provide that if, according to international agreements, a foreigner can enter Serbia with a valid identity card of the country of origin, he can also apply for temporary residence in Serbia with that document that must be valid for at least three months longer than the period for which the temporary residence permit is requested.

Unique work permit: For foreigners who intend to apply for temporary residence based on work, a single work permit has been provided, which will include both a temporary residence permit and a work permit. This change is planned to enter into force on February 1^st 2024. Also, the law foresees that even foreigners who have been granted temporary residence or permanent residence in Serbia will have the right to work without a single work permit.

Permanent residence: After 3 years of continuous temporary residence in Serbia, a foreigner can apply for permanent residence instead of the previous 5 years! The new condition for approval of permanent residence in Serbia that a foreigner must fulfill is: That a person resided continuously for three years in Serbia on the basis of a temporary residence permit and that a person has not been absent from Serbia more than once for a total of 10 months or once for 6 months in a period of 3 years.

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