Serbia (RS)

A low-cost Western Balkan EU-candidate country with a lively Belgrade expat scene, strong IT and gaming sectors, cafe culture, good regional travel links, private healthcare options and a fast-moving residence/work permit system.

Capital: Belgrade

Region: Europe

Language: Serbian

Currency: RSD (din)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 32)

Emergency: 112

Jobs & Work Permits

Everything you need to find work and get authorised to work in Serbia.

National Employment Service

Nacionalna sluzba za zaposljavanje (NSZ)

Foreign nationals with lawful residence/work rights can contact the local NSZ branch for job-search support. Employers and applicants use the Foreigners Portal/single permit route for work authorisation where required.

Services offered:

✓Job listings
✓Employer matching
✓Unemployment registration for eligible insured workers
✓Training programmes
✓Foreign-worker work-permit coordination

Expat eligibility: Eligibility depends on residence status, work authorisation and contribution history. Tourist status does not permit local employment.

Visit National Employment Service

💼 Work Permits

EU Citizens

EU citizens do not have EU free-movement rights in Serbia. They follow Serbian foreigner rules, although many enter visa-free and can apply for temporary residence/single permit if staying or working.

Non-EU Citizens

Foreigners need the correct basis for residence and work. Since 2024 the single permit combines temporary residence and work authorisation and can be valid up to three years depending on basis.

EU Blue Card

Serbia is not an EU member and does not issue EU Blue Cards. Highly qualified employment is handled under Serbian residence/work-permit categories.

Freelancer Visa

There is no simple EU-style digital nomad visa in ordinary use. Remote workers typically use company, self-employment, employment, family, study or other temporary residence bases and must check tax/work-authorisation consequences.

⏱️ Work Culture

Typical hours 40 hours/week is standard, usually Monday-Friday. IT companies often use flexible hours; traditional offices are more fixed.

Annual leave Minimum annual leave is generally 20 working days, with increases by tenure, education, children or internal rulebook.

Sick leave Employer normally pays the first 30 days; RFZO covers longer qualifying sickness through public insurance rules.

Trial period Probation can be agreed in the employment contract, commonly up to 6 months.

Notice period Statutory and contractual notice vary; many contracts use 15-30 days, with special rules for redundancy and misconduct.

Salary range Belgrade IT: RSD 180,000-500,000+ gross/month; business services: RSD 100,000-250,000; local average salaries are much lower outside tech.

Pay frequency Monthly, paid to a Serbian bank account. Ask whether salary is quoted gross 1, gross 2 or net.

Contract types

·Indefinite employment
·Fixed-term employment
·Service contract
·Temporary/occasional work
·Entrepreneur/preduzetnik B2B
·DOO company engagement

🔍 Job Boards

Infostud

Main Serbian job platform across industries.

HelloWorld

IT and tech-focused jobs in Serbia.

Best for international companies, IT, finance, NGOs and remote-friendly roles.

Startit poslovi

Startup and IT ecosystem listings and community.

Jooble Serbia

Aggregator useful for non-tech roles.

🌍 Expat-Friendly Resources

🌍

Welcome to Serbia

Government-backed portal for residence, work and newcomer procedures.

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Digital Serbia Initiative

Technology ecosystem and policy resources.

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Belgrade expat and startup groups

Facebook, Slack, Meetup and coworking communities often share roles informally.

📝 Application Tips

CV format: Use a concise 1-2 page CV. Serbian employers may accept photos and personal details, but international companies prefer modern EU/US style without unnecessary personal data.

Cover letter: Expected

Language: Serbian is required for most local-facing roles. English is enough in some IT, gaming, startup, shared-service, NGO and multinational roles.

Interviews: Expect direct questions about availability, salary expectations, work-authorisation status and practical relocation. Follow up politely by email or LinkedIn.

🤝 Networking Tips

→Use coworking spaces in Belgrade and Novi Sad for startup introductions.
→Attend Startit, Digital Serbia, IT and gaming meetups.
→Ask employers whether they have already handled single permits for foreigners.
→Clarify gross/net salary language before accepting an offer.
→Keep copies of diploma, employment references and police certificate ready for permit steps.

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