{"id":39841,"date":"2024-04-01T14:43:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-01T12:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/unlock-temporary-residence-in-serbia-from-company-to-residency\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T15:39:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T13:39:15","slug":"serbia-residence-permit-by-company-formation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/serbia-residence-permit-by-company-formation\/","title":{"rendered":"Residence Permit in Serbia by Company Formation in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"39841\" class=\"elementor elementor-39841 elementor-33629\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54b61d5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"54b61d5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7f25fa e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a7f25fa\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c2b318 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"0c2b318\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- ============================================================\r\n     ZUNIC LAW \u2013 Serbia Residence Permit by Company Formation\r\n     URL: zuniclaw.com\/en\/serbia-residence-permit-by-company-formation\/\r\n     Paste into Elementor > HTML widget\r\n     Delete this comment before publishing\r\n     ============================================================\r\n     SEO METADATA [enter in Rank Math, delete before publishing]\r\n     H1 post title:        Serbia Residence Permit by Company Formation: Complete Guide\r\n     Meta title (60 chars): Serbia Residence Permit by Company Formation \u2013 Zunic Law\r\n     Meta description (155 chars): Serbia residence permit by company formation: unified permit, founder vs director, labour market test and full procedure guide for 2026. Zunic Law.\r\n     URL slug:   \/en\/serbia-residence-permit-by-company-formation\/\r\n     Focus KW:   Serbia residence permit by company formation\r\n     Schema:     Article + FAQPage [add via WPCode]\r\n     Author:     Marija Medi\u0107 Raci\u0107, Senior Associate | Zunic Law\r\n     ============================================================ -->\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n.zl-wrap{font-family:'Poppins',sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:400;line-height:27px;color:rgb(79,94,112)}\r\n.zl-wrap p{margin:0 0 16px 0;font-family:'Poppins',sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:400;line-height:27px;color:rgb(79,94,112)}\r\n.zl-wrap h2{font-family:'Poppins',sans-serif;font-size:32px;font-weight:500;color:rgb(79,94,112);margin:48px 0 40px 0 !important;padding-bottom:0;line-height:34px}\r\n.zl-wrap h3{font-family:'Poppins',sans-serif;font-size:28px;font-weight:500;color:rgb(79,94,112);margin:32px 0 24px 0 !important;padding-bottom:0;line-height:38px}\r\n.zl-wrap a{color:#27BA66;text-decoration:underline}\r\n.zl-wrap a:hover{color:#1e9450}\r\n.zl-wrap ul,.zl-wrap ol{margin:10px 0 16px 0;padding-left:22px;font-size:18px;line-height:27px;color:rgb(79,94,112)}\r\n.zl-wrap li{margin-bottom:6px}\r\n.zl-meta{font-family:'Poppins',sans-serif;font-size:13px;font-weight:400;color:#888;margin-bottom:20px;line-height:1.6}\r\n.zl-toc{background:#F9F9F9;border:1px solid #E0E0E0;border-top:4px solid #27BA66;padding:20px 24px;margin:28px 0;border-radius:0 0 6px 6px}\r\n.zl-toc p{font-family:'Poppins',sans-serif;font-weight:600;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 12px 0;color:rgb(79,94,112);line-height:1.4}\r\n.zl-toc ol{margin:0;padding-left:20px;line-height:2.2}\r\n.zl-toc a{font-family:'Poppins',sans-serif;color:#27BA66;text-decoration:none;font-size:16px;font-weight:400}\r\n.zl-toc a:hover{text-decoration:underline}\r\n.zl-ukratko{border-left:5px solid #27BA66;background:#E8F8EF;padding:14px 18px;margin:24px 0 40px 0 !important;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;font-family:'Poppins',sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:400;line-height:27px;color:rgb(79,94,112)}\r\n.zl-ukratko strong{color:#27BA66;font-weight:600}\r\n.zl-paznja{border-left:5px solid #E65100;background:#FFF8E1;padding:14px 18px;margin:24px 0;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;font-family:'Poppins',sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:400;line-height:27px;color:rgb(79,94,112)}\r\n.zl-paznja strong{color:#E65100;font-weight:600}\r\n.zl-stat{text-align:center;border-top:3px solid #27BA66;border-bottom:3px solid #27BA66;background:#F5F5F5;padding:18px 20px;margin:24px 0}\r\n.zl-stat-num{display:block;font-family:'Poppins',sans-serif;font-size:36px;font-weight:600;color:#27BA66}\r\n.zl-stat-lbl{display:block;font-family:'Poppins',sans-serif;font-size:13px;font-weight:400;color:#888;margin-top:5px}\r\n.zl-table{width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:16px 0 24px;overflow-x:auto;display:block;font-family:'Poppins',sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:rgb(79,94,112)}\r\n.zl-table th{background:#27BA66;color:#fff;padding:11px 14px;text-align:left;font-size:15px;font-weight:600;white-space:nowrap}\r\n.zl-table td{padding:10px 14px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;line-height:1.55}\r\n.zl-table tr:nth-child(even) td{background:#F5F5F5}\r\n.zl-table tr:nth-child(odd) td{background:#fff}\r\n.zl-hr{border:none;border-top:1px solid #E0E0E0;margin:40px 0}\r\n.zl-author{background:#F9F9F9;border-left:4px solid #27BA66;padding:14px 18px;margin:8px 0;font-family:'Poppins',sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;color:rgb(79,94,112);line-height:1.6}\r\n.zl-faq-item{border-bottom:1px solid #E0E0E0;padding:18px 0}\r\n.zl-faq-item:last-child{border-bottom:none}\r\n.zl-faq-q{font-family:'Poppins',sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:600;color:rgb(79,94,112);margin:0 0 8px 0}\r\n.zl-faq-a{font-family:'Poppins',sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:400;line-height:27px;color:rgb(79,94,112);margin:0}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-wrap\">\r\n\r\n<p class=\"zl-meta\">\r\n  <strong>Updated:<\/strong> March 2026. &nbsp;|&nbsp; <strong>Next review:<\/strong> September 2026.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>A foreigner who forms a company in Serbia and wants to stay beyond the tourist visa period faces one central question: how to legalise their residence and work. The answer is not intuitive, because Serbian law does not formally recognise company formation as a standalone ground for residence. And yet, a Serbia residence permit by company formation is both possible and confirmed by daily practice.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In recent years, the growth of the IT sector, the simplification of company registration procedures, and a range of tax benefits have collectively driven growing numbers of foreigners to choose Serbia as their business base. According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/lp.startupblink.com\/report\/#lp-pom-box-30\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2022 by StartupBlink<\/a>, Serbia ranked 52nd among the best countries for founding a startup, reflecting a real trend of foreign founders relocating here.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>This guide explains the entire procedure: from company formation to obtaining the Unified Permit, with specific attention to the key distinction between the status of founder and managing director.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-stat\">\r\n  <span class=\"zl-stat-num\">1 Feb 2024<\/span>\r\n  <span class=\"zl-stat-lbl\">Date of introduction of the Unified Permit for residence and work in Serbia, combining two previously separate procedures into one<br>(Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia)<\/span>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-toc\">\r\n  <p>Contents<\/p>\r\n  <ol>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#legal-basis\">Legal basis: why company formation gives the right to residence<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#unified-permit\">The Unified Permit for temporary residence and work<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#company-formation\">Company formation in Serbia: the first step<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#steps-after\">Steps after company formation<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#submitting\">Submitting the unified permit application<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#obtaining\">Obtaining the Unified Permit<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#founder-vs-director\">Founder vs. managing director: key differences<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#labour-test\">Labour market test<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#entrepreneur\">What changes if I register as an entrepreneur?<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-ukratko\">\r\n  <strong>TL;DR:<\/strong> A Serbia residence permit by company formation is obtained through the Unified Permit, which since 1 February 2024 combines residence and work permits into a single application. The legal ground is employment, not company formation per se. Founder status and managing director status lead to different permit types and different procedures. The labour market test applies only to managing directors who are not founders.\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"zl-hr\">\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"legal-basis\">Legal Basis: Why Company Formation Gives the Right to Residence<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>Serbian law recognises temporary residence for foreigners only on the basis of employment. Company formation as such is not a listed legal ground. However, the status of founder and\/or shareholder in a Serbian company does represent a valid basis for applying for temporary residence, because the founder's name appears in the SBRA database, proving a business connection to a domestic entity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The practical consequence: a foreigner who forms a company may apply for the Unified Permit on the basis of self-employment, while a foreigner registered as managing director applies on the basis of employment. Both routes lead to the same result but go through different procedures before the <a href=\"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/serbia-immigration-lawyer\/\">Foreigners Administration and the National Bureau of Employment<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-ukratko\">\r\n  <strong>TL;DR:<\/strong> Serbian law does not recognise company formation as a standalone ground for residence, but founder status in the SBRA database proves the business connection and forms the basis for the Unified Permit. A founder applies for self-employment; a managing director applies for employment.\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"zl-hr\">\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"unified-permit\">The Unified Permit for Temporary Residence and Work<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>Before 1 February 2024, a residence permit and a work permit were two separate procedures. A foreigner first had to obtain temporary residence, and only then apply for a work permit. The entire process was significantly longer and administratively burdensome.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>With the introduction of the Unified Permit, these two procedures were merged into a single application submitted to the Ministry of Interior, on which the National Bureau of Employment (NBE) also decides jointly. The result is one permit covering both residence and work in Serbia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Every foreigner who wishes to legally live and work in Serbia must hold a Unified Permit that includes:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n  <li><strong>Temporary residence permit<\/strong> \u2013 issued on the basis of employment in both scenarios (founder and managing director).<\/li>\r\n  <li><strong>Work permit<\/strong> \u2013 the type differs depending on the nature of the business engagement in the company.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-ukratko\">\r\n  <strong>TL;DR:<\/strong> Since 1 February 2024, residence and work are covered by a single application. The foreigner does not need to be physically present in Serbia when submitting the application. Two authorities (the Ministry of Interior and the NBE) decide jointly on the conditions for both permits.\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"zl-hr\">\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"company-formation\">Company Formation in Serbia: The First Step<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>We have written in detail about the process of <a href=\"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/company-formation-serbia\/\">company formation in Serbia<\/a>, so here we provide only the points most relevant to the residence permit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>A founding act is required, containing all mandatory information prescribed by law. If you are the sole founder, the act takes the form of a decision; if you are forming the company with another founder, it takes the form of an agreement. The founder's signature on the founding act must be electronic, meaning the founder must personally come to Serbia to collect their qualified electronic certificate from an authorised body. If that is not feasible before the process begins, the solution is to authorise an attorney in Serbia to sign the founding act under a Power of Attorney signed and properly legalised in the founder's country of residence, accompanied by a certified Serbian translation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Attorneys at law are the only persons authorised to convert documentation into electronic form for registration purposes. For foreigners who cannot travel to Serbia in the near term, <a href=\"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/company-registration-in-serbia\/\">online company formation<\/a> is the most practical route.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-ukratko\">\r\n  <strong>TL;DR:<\/strong> Company formation is the mandatory first step. An electronic signature on the founding act requires a personal visit or a Power of Attorney legalised abroad and given to a Serbian attorney. The company must be registered with the SBRA before the Unified Permit application can be submitted.\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"zl-hr\">\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"steps-after\">Steps After Company Formation<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>After the company is registered with the SBRA, the following steps must be completed before or alongside the Unified Permit application:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n  <li>opening of business bank accounts,<\/li>\r\n  <li>depositing the company's share capital,<\/li>\r\n  <li>obtaining the <a href=\"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/electronic-signature\/\">electronic signature<\/a>,<\/li>\r\n  <li>registration of the ultimate beneficial owner(s) of the company.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>At the same time, documentation collection for the Unified Permit can begin in parallel to save time. The documentation list is extensive and assembly takes time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-ukratko\">\r\n  <strong>TL;DR:<\/strong> Bank account, share capital deposit, electronic signature, and beneficial owner registration are all required before or alongside the Unified Permit documentation. Starting in parallel saves time.\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"zl-hr\">\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"submitting\">Submitting the Unified Permit Application<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>The application for the Unified Permit is submitted to the Ministry of Interior through the Foreigners Administration. The foreigner's physical presence in Serbia is not required at the time of submission, which is a practical advantage for those still in the planning phase of relocation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The documentation lists to be submitted to the Ministry of Interior and the NBE are long, and the exact list depends on the type of business engagement (founder or managing director). Because of the complexity of this stage, <a href=\"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/serbia-immigration-lawyer\/\">professional assistance from an immigration lawyer<\/a> is almost always necessary.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-paznja\">\r\n  <strong>Notice:<\/strong> Incorrect or incomplete documentation is the most common reason for rejection or delay. The complete document list depends on individual circumstances and the type of engagement, and must be verified with a specialist before submission.\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-ukratko\">\r\n  <strong>TL;DR:<\/strong> The application is submitted to the Ministry of Interior; physical presence is not required. The NBE decides on the employment component. Documentation is extensive and case-specific. Professional legal support is practically necessary.\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"zl-hr\">\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"obtaining\">Obtaining the Unified Permit<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>After the NBE approves the employment component, the competent authority issues the Unified Permit to the foreigner. From that point, the foreigner may officially and legally reside and work in Serbia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The permit is time-limited and must be renewed. Renewal conditions, deadlines, and any changes to the engagement (for example, transitioning from founder to managing director or vice versa) require specific attention, as each change may affect the grounds and type of the permit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-ukratko\">\r\n  <strong>TL;DR:<\/strong> The Unified Permit is issued after NBE approval and enables legal residence and work. The permit is time-limited. Changes in company status may require changing the permit's legal basis.\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"zl-hr\">\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"founder-vs-director\">Founder vs. Managing Director: Key Differences<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>The distinction between founder and managing director has direct consequences on the type of Unified Permit and the documentation required. A practical example illustrates this clearly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Two founders sign the founding act of a Serbian company and each acquire 50% of the shares. Founder Mike wants to be the Managing Director. Founder Anne does not want to be registered as Managing Director. They also engage Nicole as an additional Managing Director who is not a founder.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<table class=\"zl-table\">\r\n  <thead>\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <th>Person<\/th>\r\n      <th>Status<\/th>\r\n      <th>Basis for residence<\/th>\r\n      <th>Work permit type<\/th>\r\n      <th>Labour market test<\/th>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n  <\/thead>\r\n  <tbody>\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <td><strong>Mike<\/strong><\/td>\r\n      <td>Founder + Managing Director<\/td>\r\n      <td>Employment<\/td>\r\n      <td>Self-employment<\/td>\r\n      <td>No<\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <td><strong>Anne<\/strong><\/td>\r\n      <td>Founder (no directorship)<\/td>\r\n      <td>Employment<\/td>\r\n      <td>Self-employment<\/td>\r\n      <td>No<\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <td><strong>Nicole<\/strong><\/td>\r\n      <td>Managing Director (not a founder)<\/td>\r\n      <td>Employment<\/td>\r\n      <td>Employment<\/td>\r\n      <td>Yes<\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n  <\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\r\n<p>The fact that Mike is both founder and Managing Director makes no difference to the legal ground for residence or the type of work permit. A founder receives the same basis and permit type regardless of whether they are also the Managing Director.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Important note on the managing director: the Managing Director does not have to be engaged under an employment contract. They may also be engaged through an <a href=\"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/management-agreement-serbia\/\">Agreement on the rights and obligations of the Managing Director<\/a> without establishing an employment relationship. From the perspective of foreigners' rights, the type of contract (employment or management agreement) is irrelevant to determining the basis of the Unified Permit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-ukratko\">\r\n  <strong>TL;DR:<\/strong> A founder (with or without a directorship) and a managing director who is not a founder receive different types of work permit. The labour market test applies only to managing directors who are not founders. The type of director's contract does not change the permit basis.\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"zl-hr\">\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"labour-test\">Labour Market Test<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>The Labour Market Test is conducted by the NBE to check whether there are unemployed Serbian citizens registered in the NBE's records who meet the conditions for the open position. The purpose is to ensure that domestic workers have priority over foreigners seeking to work in Serbia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>If such candidates exist and meet the requirements, the NBE's approval for the foreigner for that particular position cannot be issued and the permit cannot be obtained. The test applies exclusively to managing directors who are not founders of the company. For founders applying for self-employment, this step does not exist.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-ukratko\">\r\n  <strong>TL;DR:<\/strong> The Labour Market Test applies only to managing directors who are not founders. If the NBE finds a suitable domestic candidate for the director position, the foreigner's permit cannot be issued. Founders are not subject to this test.\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"zl-hr\">\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"entrepreneur\">What Changes if I Register as an Entrepreneur?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>Not much. The same procedure that applies to a founder who did not establish employment in the company (self-employment) applies to entrepreneurs as well. Whether to register as an entrepreneur or form an LLC depends on business goals and strategy. The simplicity of the registration process is the entrepreneur route's main advantage, as the <a href=\"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/electronic-registration-entrepreneurs\/\">online registration of entrepreneurs in Serbia<\/a> confirms in practice.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>For details on the differences between the entrepreneur form and an LLC in the context of foreigners' rights and the residence permit, we recommend consulting a <a href=\"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/serbia-immigration-lawyer\/\">lawyer specialising in foreigners' rights in Serbia<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-ukratko\">\r\n  <strong>TL;DR:<\/strong> An entrepreneur follows the same procedure as a founder who self-employs in a company. The legal form (entrepreneur or LLC) does not change the permit basis, but may affect tax and business considerations.\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"zl-hr\">\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"faq\">Frequently Asked Questions \u2013 Serbia Residence Permit by Company Formation<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<!-- Developer note: Apply FAQPage JSON-LD schema to all Q&A pairs below. Use a WPCode snippet with Smart Conditional Logic set to page URL slug. -->\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-faq-item\">\r\n  <p class=\"zl-faq-q\">Does a foreigner have to be physically in Serbia to apply for the Unified Permit?<\/p>\r\n  <p class=\"zl-faq-a\">No. Physical presence in Serbia is not required when submitting the Unified Permit application. The application is filed with the Foreigners Administration of the Ministry of Interior. The same principle applies to company formation when a Power of Attorney is granted to an authorised attorney. For more information on the <a href=\"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/serbia-immigration-lawyer\/\">rights of foreigners in Serbia<\/a> and the procedure, we recommend a consultation with a specialist.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-faq-item\">\r\n  <p class=\"zl-faq-q\">How long does it take to obtain the Unified Permit in Serbia?<\/p>\r\n  <p class=\"zl-faq-a\">The statutory deadline for deciding on a Unified Permit application is 30 days from the date a complete application is properly submitted. In practice, duration varies depending on the workload of the Foreigners Administration and the NBE. Assembling the documentation, which is extensive, is typically the factor that extends the overall timeline. Preparation should start as early as possible, in parallel with <a href=\"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/company-formation-serbia\/\">company formation<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-faq-item\">\r\n  <p class=\"zl-faq-q\">Does a company founder need to sign an employment contract to obtain a Serbia residence permit?<\/p>\r\n  <p class=\"zl-faq-a\">No. A founder may apply for the Unified Permit for self-employment without concluding an employment contract. It is sufficient to be visible in the SBRA database as a founder or shareholder of the company. This is one of the key advantages of founder status compared to the status of a managing director who is not a founder, since it bypasses the labour market test. Details on <a href=\"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/work-permit-serbia\/\">work permits for foreigners in Serbia<\/a> are covered in a separate article.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-faq-item\">\r\n  <p class=\"zl-faq-q\">What is the Labour Market Test and who needs to pass it?<\/p>\r\n  <p class=\"zl-faq-a\">The Labour Market Test is an assessment by the NBE to determine whether there are unemployed Serbian citizens in the NBE's records who meet the conditions for the position a foreigner is applying for. The test applies exclusively to managing directors who are not founders of the company. Founders applying for self-employment are not subject to the test. If the NBE finds a suitable domestic candidate for a managing director position, the permit for the foreigner for that position cannot be issued.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-faq-item\">\r\n  <p class=\"zl-faq-q\">Can a foreigner work in Serbia as an entrepreneur instead of forming an LLC?<\/p>\r\n  <p class=\"zl-faq-a\">Yes. An entrepreneur and an LLC founder follow the same procedure for obtaining the Unified Permit on the basis of self-employment. The difference lies in the legal form, tax treatment, and business liability structure, not in the permit procedure itself. <a href=\"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/electronic-registration-entrepreneurs\/\">Online registration of entrepreneurs in Serbia<\/a> is faster and simpler than forming an LLC, which is a practical advantage for foreigners who want to legalise their status quickly.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"zl-hr\">\r\n\r\n<div class=\"zl-author\">\r\n  <strong>About the author<\/strong><br>\r\n  <strong>Marija Medi\u0107 Raci\u0107<\/strong> is a Senior Associate at Zunic Law specialising in corporate and tax law. She handles branch office registrations and company formation procedures for domestic and foreign clients on a daily basis. She is fluent in Serbian and English. Zunic Law has been recognised as <em>Law Firm of the Year \u2013 Serbia 2024 and 2025<\/em> by the Lexology Index.\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated: March 2026. &nbsp;|&nbsp; Next review: September 2026. A foreigner who forms a company in Serbia and wants to stay beyond the tourist visa period faces one central question: how to legalise their residence and work. The answer is not intuitive, because Serbian law does not formally recognise company formation as a standalone ground for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":67183,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[103,132],"class_list":["post-39841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rights-of-foreigners","category-company-formation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39841"}],"version-history":[{"count":77,"href":"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39841\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74601,"href":"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39841\/revisions\/74601"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zuniclaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}