What the reform changed
Previously, residence and work required two separate permits and two separate procedures, with weeks passing between entry and the legal start of employment. The combined residence and work permit brought both together into a single document.
The government portal states the purpose of the change plainly: it shortens the period during which a foreign national may lawfully begin working after entry, and along with it the employer’s and the foreign national’s own costs for accommodation between arrival and receipt of documents.
The second change in the same package: temporary residence permits are now issued for up to three years instead of the previous one year — under all grounds provided by law, depending on the grounds and evidence presented in each individual case. The validity period of the unified permit is also three years.
Third: a temporary residence permit on any basis, like a unified permit, is issued as a biometric document.
- Residence and work — one document instead of two separate procedures
- Single permit duration — 36 months
- Temporary residence permit on any ground — up to three years
- The document is biometric
Fifteen days and who submits the application
The processing time for a single permit application is fifteen days from the date a correctly completed application is submitted. The phrase ’correctly completed’ carries the full weight here: the clock starts not from the day you sent something in, but from the day a proper application is on file.
The application may be submitted by the foreign national themselves, by their employer on their behalf, or by an authorised representative on behalf of multiple foreign employees the company is hiring. For companies relocating a team, this is significant: the process does not multiply with the number of people.
The entry logic depends on visa requirements. If the citizen needs a visa, they apply for a type D visa on employment grounds. If entry is visa-free, the application for a unified permit is submitted after arriving in Serbia.
| Situation | Procedure |
|---|---|
| An entry visa is required | D visa on employment grounds, then status |
| Visa-free entry | application for a single permit after arrival |
| Filed by the foreign national themselves | permitted |
| Filed by the employer | permitted, including on behalf of several employees |
| Decision timeline | 15 days from a correctly submitted application |
Renewal application window
Two deadlines here, and both are stated precisely. An application to extend a temporary stay or a unified permit may be filed no earlier than three months before expiry and no later than the last day of the previously approved period.
The portal adds a direct warning alongside the standard rule: the application must be submitted in a timely manner, not on the last day of lawful stay. This is not a formality — the second period depends on it.
The second period is a reward for being on time: if an application for issue or renewal is submitted within the deadline, the foreign national is entitled to remain in Serbia until the administrative procedure is concluded. In other words, an expired status does not arise simply because the authority takes longer to decide than the days remaining on the permit.
And one more detail to keep in mind when calculating: temporary residence is initially granted for a period counted from the date of application — not from the date of the decision and not from the expiry date of the previous document.
- No earlier than three months before expiry
- No later than the day the current term expires
- If filed on time — the right to remain until the end of the procedure
- The period runs from the date the application is submitted
Changing employer and changing the basis
A foreigner who has been granted a combined temporary residence and work permit may change employers during the validity period of the permit — with prior consent from the relevant employment authority. This means changing jobs does not require starting from scratch, but it does not happen automatically either.
Changing the basis of stay on a D visa is considerably more restrictive, and this is where plans most often fall apart. If an application for temporary residence is filed on the basis of a D visa, the purpose of stay must match the purpose for which the D visa was issued.
The portal gives its own example: a person received a D visa for family reunification to join an unmarried partner; the relationship ended, but the person found work and wishes to stay. In this case, they are required to leave Serbia upon expiry of the D visa and submit a new D visa application on employment grounds at a Serbian diplomatic or consular mission.
In plain terms: while you are on a D visa, you cannot change your basis of stay without leaving the country. Once you have obtained status, room to manoeuvre opens up.
Status in Serbia: unified permit and renewals
- Analysis of the ground and how long it realistically holds
- Preparing the package so that the application is treated as correctly submitted from the first attempt
- Filing by the applicant directly or through the employer — whichever works better in your case
- Renewal window: no earlier than three months before and no later than the day of expiry
- Changing employer with approval, without loss of status
- Aligning dates when changing the basis to avoid any gap in status
A legal consultation — 80 €.Credited toward the full service fee if you continue with us.
During the consultation the lawyer reviews your situation based on your documents and provides filing route: which basis, what will be needed and in what order.
Government fees, notarisation, certified translations and apostille, where required, billed separately at actual cost — we will itemise them for your situation. Processing time depends on the authority and its workload, which is why we do not publish an average figure.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a residence permit in Serbia issued for?
Temporary stay on any ground provided by law — for up to three years, depending on the grounds and evidence submitted. The combined residence and work permit is also valid for three years, i.e. 36 months.
How long does a single permit application take to process?
Fifteen days from the date a correctly completed application is submitted. The clock starts from a valid submission, not from the first attempt.
When should you apply for renewal?
No earlier than three months before the current permit expires and no later than the day it expires. If you apply on time, you are entitled to remain in Serbia until the administrative procedure is completed.
Can the employer submit the application?
Yes. An application for a single permit may be submitted by the foreigner themselves, by the employer on their behalf, or by an authorised representative — including on behalf of several foreign employees at once.
Can you change employers?
Yes, for the duration of the combined permit — with prior consent from the relevant employment agency.
Can you change your basis while on a D visa?
No. The purpose stated in a temporary stay application must match the purpose for which the D visa was issued. If circumstances change, you will need to leave when the visa expires and apply for a new D visa on a new basis from abroad.
Verified September 13, 2026. The thresholds and amounts are tied to indicators that are reviewed annually — check the official source for your country before filing.
Services and prices — openly, before any conversation
People usually add: certified translation of a document — from 30 € · diploma nostrification — from 200 €. Two or more services — 5% off each.
Prices are in euros and are all-inclusive — nothing is added on top. Government fees are paid separately and directly: ~€230 per person for status, including biometrics and an ID card. VAT (PDV) of 20% does not apply to these services.