Serbia seasonal work visa

The Law on Simplified Work Engagement for Seasonal Jobs in Certain Activities (Official Gazette 50/18) limits this route to jobs of a seasonal character in agriculture, forestry and fishing: planting, sowing, harvesting, fruit picking, soil preparation, pruning, fruit sorting, grazing and similar work. Sole proprietors and legal entities active in those sectors can hire seasonal workers, and so can a person who owns or is a member of a family agricultural holding.

The employer may engage one worker for up to 120 working days in a calendar year and registers and deregisters each seasonal worker electronically with the Tax Administration. Work in tourism, construction or industry, even if seasonal, is not covered and needs a single permit.

A foreign seasonal worker can be engaged without a single residence and work permit if staying in Serbia on a short-term stay, on a visa C or visa D issued for seasonal work, or on approved temporary residence for seasonal work. For visa-exempt nationals this means a farm employer can engage them during a visa-free stay, which is itself limited to 90 days within six months. For a longer season the worker needs a D visa or temporary residence for seasonal work.

The D visa file for seasonal jobs contains, besides the form, passport and fee: a photo; an invitation letter under the Law on Foreigners; the employer’s registration certificate, not older than six months and showing active status in the Business Registers Agency, or another registration document if the employer is not registered there; the offer of seasonal work; and an employer certificate on accommodation and food.

The offer must state the employer’s details, address, registration number and activity code, a description of the seasonal job, the working conditions and place, the expected duration of up to 120 working days in a year, the pay required by law, and daily and weekly rest.

Visa-required workers apply at the Serbian mission in their country of residence or online on Welcome to Serbia with an eID account, paying EUR 50. The Law on Foreigners requires a decision within 15 days, extendable to 30. On arrival the employer or accommodation provider registers the worker’s address within 24 hours, and the employer registers the engagement with the Tax Administration before work starts.

The offer must state the pay due under the law on seasonal work, and the employer registers and deregisters the engagement electronically with the Tax Administration. The engagement cannot exceed 120 working days per worker and employer in a calendar year. Taking another kind of job requires the proper permit, and staying beyond the visa or visa-free period is not allowed.