A foreigner working in Serbia with approved residence and the right to work has the same employment rights as a Serbian employee. The Labour Act applies to the employment relationship, whether the employer is a Serbian or a foreign company.
Employment contract
An employment contract is concluded in writing before the employee starts work. If it is not concluded in writing, an open-ended employment relationship is deemed to exist from the day work started. The contract should state the job, place of work, salary, working hours and duration of employment. A foreigner has the right to understand what they sign, so it is useful to ask for a translation.
Salary and leave
- The salary cannot be lower than the minimum wage.
- The employer must provide a payslip with each payment. A payslip for unpaid salary is an enforceable document on the basis of which enforcement can be sought.
- Annual leave is at least 20 working days.
- A foreign employee is compulsorily insured, unless an international social security agreement provides otherwise.
Dismissal
The employer can terminate an employment contract only on grounds provided by law, by a written decision. Where the reason is the employee's conduct or performance, the employer must first give a written warning and allow time to respond. A lawsuit against a dismissal decision is filed within 60 days of its service.
Work permit and changing jobs
As a rule, a foreigner works on the basis of a single permit for residence and work. A foreigner with permanent residence, or with temporary residence on a ground that itself gives the right to work, for example ownership of real estate or family reunification with a Serbian citizen, works without it. Changing employer or working for several employers requires the consent of the National Employment Service. The application is filed electronically, and the service decides within 10 days. When the single permit expires, the employment also ends, so an extension should be started in time.
Deadlines
- lawsuit against a dismissal decision: 60 days from service
- employment claims, such as unpaid salary: time-barred after three years
- a new employment contract after the previous one ends: 30 days, otherwise the right of residence may end
- decision on consent to change employer: 10 days from a complete application
Common questions
Note: This text is general information and is not legal advice for a specific case. It reflects the regulations at the time of the page's last update (October 2026). Assessing a particular situation requires reviewing the documents and circumstances of the case.
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