Serbia
Serbia Open Balkan
First stay: 2 yrs
Open Balkan free access to the labour market (Albania and North Macedonia)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Open Balkan is a long-stay route for Serbia. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Only for passports from Albania, North Macedonia
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- The applicant is a citizen of Albania or North Macedonia with an Open Balkan identification number from their home e-government portal.
Documents1
- A scanned passport or ID card valid for at least 90 days from the date of the request is attached.
Steps4
- Apply online on the Open Balkan portal, from abroad or from Serbia; the decision arrives by email within 30 days.
- A holder of a Serbian temporary residence permit must first have it terminated at the police administration.
- Report the residence address to the police within 24 hours of entering Serbia; the landlord or hotel usually does this.
- Report any change of personal data on the portal within 5 working days.
After you arrive2
- The approval is valid for 2 years and a new request can be filed from 60 days before expiry.
- Time spent on this approval does not count towards the period needed for permanent residence.
What happens at day 183
How Serbia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
2 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in 12-month period beginning or ending in the tax yearPresence in Serbia for 183 or more days, continuous or interrupted.
- Foreign-source income
Worldwide, foreign tax credit
Residents are taxed on income earned in Serbia and in another state; salary and self-employment income are taxed at 10%, capital income and capital gains at 15%, royalties and property income at 20%, with a tax credit for income tax paid abroad up to the Serbian tax on that income.
All tax rules for Serbia Tax records checked
Full official text
Citizens of Albania and North Macedonia can apply online for approval to stay and work in Serbia for 2 years without a temporary residence permit or work permit. 1 2 3
Requirements
- The applicant is a citizen of Albania or North Macedonia with an Open Balkan identification number from their home e-government portal. 1 3
- A scanned passport or ID card valid for at least 90 days from the date of the request is attached. 2 3
- Apply online on the Open Balkan portal, from abroad or from Serbia; the decision arrives by email within 30 days. 3
- A holder of a Serbian temporary residence permit must first have it terminated at the police administration. 2 3
- Report the residence address to the police within 24 hours of entering Serbia; the landlord or hotel usually does this. 2 3
- Report any change of personal data on the portal within 5 working days. 3
- The approval is valid for 2 years and a new request can be filed from 60 days before expiry. 3 2
- Time spent on this approval does not count towards the period needed for permanent residence. 3
Stay
- 2 years; a new request can be filed from 60 days before expiry.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Citizens of Albania and North Macedonia. Open to: Albania, North Macedonia.
Work
Work as an employee or register own business activity without a separate work permit; no right to state employment incentives.
Family
The approval covers only the applicant; family members must regulate their stay under the Law on Foreigners and family reunification cannot be based on it.
Official sources
- Open Balkan: approval for free access to the labour market in Serbia · Government of the Republic of Serbia (Open Balkan eGovernment portal) · checked 2026-10-10
- Open Balkan portal: questions and answers · Government of the Republic of Serbia (Open Balkan eGovernment portal) · checked 2026-10-10
- Useful information on applying for free access to the labour market · Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia · checked 2026-10-10
Open Balkan and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Balkan | – | 2 yr, renewable | Yes |
| EU free movement Portugal | – | – | Yes |
| Free movement by treaty Spain | – | 5 yr | Yes |
| Visa-free stay (12 months) Georgia | – | 1 yr | – |
| EU free movement Italy | – | – | Yes |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Open Balkan?
2 years; a new request can be filed from 60 days before expiry.
Can I work on the Open Balkan?
Yes. Work as an employee or register own business activity without a separate work permit; no right to state employment incentives.
Can I bring my family on the Open Balkan?
The approval covers only the applicant; family members must regulate their stay under the Law on Foreigners and family reunification cannot be based on it.
Who can apply for the Open Balkan?
Citizens of Albania and North Macedonia. Open to: Albania, North Macedonia.
How are Open Balkan holders taxed in Serbia?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Open Balkan. The standard rules apply: Residents are taxed on income earned in Serbia and in another state; salary and self-employment income are taxed at 10%, capital income and capital gains at 15%, royalties and property income at 20%, with a tax credit for income tax paid abroad up to the Serbian tax on that income.
Similar visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 3 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Open Balkan: approval for free access to the labour market in Serbia · Government of the Republic of Serbia (Open Balkan eGovernment portal) · checked 2026-10-10
- Open Balkan portal: questions and answers · Government of the Republic of Serbia (Open Balkan eGovernment portal) · checked 2026-10-10
- Useful information on applying for free access to the labour market · Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia · checked 2026-10-10
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.