Serbia D visa for employment

Foreign citizens coming to Serbia for one of the employment activities listed in the official guidance.

• Choose an employment ground

  Choose one of the ten listed grounds and provide the documents required for that ground.

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• Valid passport

  The passport must be valid for at least 90 days after the intended departure from Serbia, have at least two consecutive blank pages and have been issued within the last 10 years.

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• Application, photo and invitation

  Submit a completed visa application form, an applicant’s photo and an invitation letter.

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• Contract-based employmentSometimes needed

  For this ground, submit an employment contract proposal, temporary work contract or other contract proving employment under labour regulations, signed by the employer and applicant; the employer’s registration certificate; its job-organisation rulebook excerpt or, if it has fewer than 10 employees, its statement describing the position and its requirements; and a diploma, certificate or other public document showing the appropriate required qualification or education, with a certified translation.

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• Self-employmentSometimes needed

  For this ground, be registered with Serbia’s Business Registers Agency in one of the capacities described on the route page and submit the employer’s Serbian registration certificate.

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• Assignment under a cooperation contractSometimes needed

  For this ground, be employed abroad and assigned to a Serbian employer under a business and technical cooperation contract; submit that contract specifying the place and period of work, the Serbian employer’s registration certificate, confirmation of at least one year’s employment or engagement with the foreign employer, and the foreign employer’s assignment document, with certified translations where specified.

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• Intra-company transferSometimes needed

  For this ground, have worked for the company abroad in a managerial or specialist position for at least one year and be temporarily transferred to its Serbian branch, representative office or subsidiary; submit the Serbian employer’s registration certificate, foreign-employer confirmation of that work and its transfer document, with certified translations.

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• Independent professionalSometimes needed

  For this ground, be registered abroad as an independent professional and work under a direct contract with a local employer; submit the registration decision, a contract stating the period of work, evidence of appropriate higher education or technical qualifications from an accredited institution, and a certificate of professional work experience, with certified translations.

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• Training or developmentSometimes needed

  For this ground, have completed appropriate education and undertake paid specialisation, professional development, practice, an internship or training in Serbia; submit evidence of the required qualification or education with a certified translation, a training or practice contract specifying its place and duration, and the Serbian organiser’s registration certificate.

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• VolunteeringSometimes needed

  For this ground, be registered as a volunteer with an organisation in Serbia’s register of volunteering organisers; submit the organiser’s registration certificate, confirmation of its registration in that register, a volunteering contract, and proof of valid health insurance and sufficient resources for living expenses. If volunteering in a company or public enterprise, also attach the responsible ministry’s consent to the programme.

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• Accredited foreign journalistSometimes needed

  For this ground, be registered as a foreign-media representative and submit accreditation from the Serbian ministry responsible for culture and information.

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• Public-authority projectSometimes needed

  For this ground, be engaged as an expert on a project with Serbian public authorities and submit a letter from the relevant authority or organisation stating the need to hire you, your function and the engagement period.

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• Audiovisual productionSometimes needed

  For this ground, be engaged on an audiovisual work in Serbia and submit the engagement certificates from the Serbian and foreign business entities stating the period, the Serbian entity’s registration certificate, and their business-cooperation contract, with Serbian translations where specified.

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• Address evidence where listedSometimes needed

  For employment grounds 1–6, submit a landlord’s statement consenting to registration at the Serbian residential address. The detailed documentation guidance also describes a qualifying lease or accommodation document.

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• Authorise an employer if they applySometimes needed

  If the employer submits the D visa application on the applicant’s behalf, provide written authorisation or a power of attorney.

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• D visa application fee; the official FAQ says payment is in RSD at the National Bank of Serbia’s middle exchange rateSources disagreeSource€50 per person
• Decision timeThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a visa procedure takes 15 days from application in most cases; in exceptional cases and for justified reasons, it may take up to 30 days. It does not publish a minimum.About 4 weeks

1. Get ready

   • Choose your employment ground

     3 months before you go

     Select the one ground that matches your work and check its specific document list.

   • Gather the documents for your ground

     3 months before you go

     Obtain the contract, registration, qualification, assignment or engagement documents specified for your chosen ground, including any required certified translations.

     You’ll need: Documents specified for the chosen employment ground, Certified translations where specified

   • Prepare your passport and common documents

     3 months before you go

     Prepare the qualifying passport, photo and invitation letter, together with address evidence and employer authorisation where applicable.

     You’ll need: Passport, Photo, Invitation letter, Address evidence where listed, Employer authorisation if the employer applies

2. Apply

   • Submit your D visa application

     3 months before you go

     Apply online or at the relevant Serbian diplomatic or consular mission; the general D visa guidance says to apply at least three months before travel.

     You’ll need: Completed visa application form, Supporting documents

   • Pay the applicable fee

     3 months before you go

     Pay during the final online application step, or provide proof of payment when applying at a diplomatic or consular mission.

     You’ll need: Proof of payment for an in-person application

3. Visa

   • Arrange the visa sticker after approval

     When you arrive

     Contact the mission through which you applied to arrange delivery of your travel document for the visa sticker; personal attendance is required in some cases.

     You’ll need: Travel document

4. Travel

   • Travel to Serbia and start your approved work

     When you arrive

     A D visa issued on the basis of employment permits you to start working on arrival.

     You’ll need: Passport with D visa

5. Settle in

   • Have your address registered

     1 day after you arrive

     The detailed D visa documentation guidance says the landlord or accommodation facility should report the address within 24 hours of your arrival.

     You’ll need: Address details matching the application

   • Apply if you need to stay longer

     1 day after you arrive

     If you intend to stay beyond the D visa, apply for the applicable temporary residence or single residence and work permit while the visa remains valid.

An application for temporary residence, or a single residence and work permit where applicable, while the D visa is still valid.

• Residence and work permit - Welcome to Serbiawelcometoserbia.gov.rsOfficial
• D visa, purpose of stay: Employment - Welcome to Serbiawelcometoserbia.gov.rsOfficial
• Help - Welcome to Serbiawelcometoserbia.gov.rsOfficial
• Frequently Asked Questions | Ministry of Foreign Affairsmfa.gov.rsOfficial
• welcometoserbia.gov.rs/visa-dOfficial
• Detailed information on the visa D documentation - Welcome to Serbiawelcometoserbia.gov.rsOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.