Work permit in Serbia: what is real and what is a scam
We get these questions every week, often from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal. This is how a Serbian work permit actually works, and how to spot an offer that is too good to be true.
Short answer: a Serbian work permit starts with a Serbian employer. The employer offers you a job, and the permit is issued for that job. You cannot buy a permit on its own, and nobody can promise you one before an employer has said yes.
How it works
- A Serbian employer decides to hire you and gives you a contract or a written offer.
- The employer, or a lawyer working for the employer, files the application. Since 2024 most people receive a single permit that covers both residence and work.
- If your passport needs a visa for Serbia, you apply for Visa D at a Serbian embassy, based on that job.
- You come to Serbia, register your address and start work.
Signs of a scam
- Someone asks you for money for a "guaranteed" job or permit
- There is no named Serbian company you can look up in the public business register (APR)
- You are asked to pay into a private account or by a money transfer app
- The salary is far above what the same work pays in Serbia
Real employers in Serbia do not charge workers for hiring them. If you have an offer, you can check the company yourself in the APR register, or send it to us and we will tell you what we see.
Have a job offer from a Serbian company and want it checked before you pay or sign anything? Send it to us.
Where to look for work
- The National Employment Service (Nacionalna služba za zapošljavanje)
- Large Serbian job portals, and the careers pages of companies directly
- Industries that have hired foreign workers in recent years, such as construction, transport, hospitality and food processing
The other route: your own company
If you have savings and a real business idea, you can register your own d.o.o. and apply for residence as its owner and director. This route is for people who will actually run a business. The police check that the company works, and an empty company is not enough. See residence through your own company.
What we do and don't do
We are a law practice. We register companies, prepare residence files and check contracts. We don't find jobs or sell work permits, and we can't promise any decision of the authorities.
General information, not legal advice. Visa and permit rules depend on your citizenship and change from time to time.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a Serbian work permit without a job offer?
No. A work permit for employment is tied to a Serbian employer who wants to hire you. Without an employer there is nothing to apply for, so be careful with anyone who sells a permit on its own.
Where can I find real jobs in Serbia?
Start with the National Employment Service (NSZ) and large Serbian job portals, and apply to employers directly. A real employer handles the application with the authorities or works with a lawyer to do it.
Can I come to Serbia first and look for work?
Many nationalities need a visa even for a short visit, and a tourist stay does not give you the right to work. Check the visa rules for your passport before you plan the trip.
Can I work in Serbia through my own company instead?
Yes, if you really run a business. As owner and director of your own d.o.o. you can apply for residence on that basis. The company has to be active: real clients, invoices, a bank account and taxes.
Tell us what you are planning
A few lines are enough. Every message is read by our lawyer, and the first written reply is free.
- You send the form. WhatsApp opens with your message already written. This website stores nothing.
- We reply, usually the same business day. If something is missing we ask four things: citizenship, where you live and pay tax now, what the business or income is, and when you want to start.
- You get a written plan with fixed fees before any work begins. If we think a bank is unlikely to say yes, or Serbia is the wrong choice for you, you hear it then.
Belgrade, Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00 CET