Serbia business visa and business trips

Serbia has no separate business visa. A business trip of up to 90 days is either visa-free or covered by the short-stay visa C, which is issued for tourist, business and other travel. Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality in the foreign ministry's visa regime table. Nationals of visa-required countries are also exempt if they hold a valid Schengen, UK, EU member state or US visa or a residence permit from those states.

A visa C applicant shows the purpose of the trip with an invitation letter issued by a company in Serbia. Long assignments, regular work or paid projects in Serbia do not fit this route and require a D visa for employment or a single permit.

The Law on Employment of Foreigners allows a foreigner whose stay does not exceed 90 days in 180 days from the first entry to work without a single permit in these cases: an owner, founder, representative or member of a company registered in Serbia who is not employed by it; a person establishing business contacts or attending meetings without earning income in Serbia, or preparing a foreign employer’s entry to the Serbian market; lecturers and researchers at organised professional meetings or projects, with support staff.

The list also covers temporary educational, sports, artistic and cultural activities or events organised by authorised organisations or public bodies, including technical staff; persons sent by a foreign employer under a contract for the supply or rental of machines or equipment, their delivery, installation, assembly, repair or training; and people equipping and staffing stands at trade fairs and exhibitions. For posted installers, a contract between the foreign employer and the Serbian company must exist, and occupational safety rules still apply.

The general visa C file is an application form, a passport valid 90 days beyond departure with two consecutive blank pages and issued in the last 10 years, a 3.5 x 4.5 cm photo, the fee, adequate travel medical insurance and proof of purpose. For business, the key document is the invitation letter of the Serbian company; you add proof of accommodation, of means for the stay and return, and of your ties at home. The mission may request additional documents.

Visa C applications are filed at a Serbian embassy or consulate or online on evisa.welcometoserbia.gov.rs after creating an eID account; the EUR 90 fee is paid in dinars in the last step. The Law on Foreigners requires a decision within 15 days, which can be extended to 30. At the border, every visitor may be asked for EUR 50 a day, health insurance of at least EUR 20,000, the invitation letter and proof of accommodation.

Your hotel registers you within 24 hours; if a company or person hosts you privately, they register you within 24 hours of arrival. If a project grows beyond 90 days or turns into paid work, the Serbian employer or your foreign employer must arrange the proper basis: a single permit for employment, a referred person under a business and technical cooperation contract, or an intra-company transfer.