Šabac, 6th of June 2024. – A three-day workshop titled “Implementation of Amended Regulations in the Area of Residence and Employment of Foreign Nationals in the Republic of Serbia” was held at the Hotel “Sloboda”, organised by Returning Point in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Government of the Republic of Serbia. The event was supported by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), the United Nations Development Programme in Serbia (UNDP), and GIZ’s Centres for Migration and Development (ZME) program.
The main topic of the workshop was the introduction of the digital application process for the unified work and residence permit for foreigners, implemented through amendments to the Law on Foreigners and the Law on the Employment of Foreigners from 2023, which will take effect on February 1, 2024. The new permits allow foreigners to obtain residence and work rights in Serbia through a simple and fully digitised process. During the workshop, participants discussed the functionality of the unified portal for foreigners and the coordination of the procedures between various government bodies involved in this process.
The workshop brought together over 80 representatives from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, National Employment Service, Security Information Agency, Office for IT and eGovernment of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, as well as representatives from the General Secretariat of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.
During the sessions, participants discussed the current challenges in the functionalities of the portal, proposals for overcoming them, as well as various opportunities to improve coordination between institutions. Despite the challenges, it was concluded that the implementation of a unified permit system represents a significant step forward in modernising administrative processes and facilitating the integration of foreign nationals in Serbia.
This workshop, organised by the Returning Point, marks an important step towards improving the legal and administrative framework for foreigners in Serbia, contributing to the creation of more favourable conditions for their integration and participation in the social and economic life of our country, while also balancing practices through better coordination among government bodies involved in the process. The positive conclusions of the workshop highlight the commitment of all parties involved to work together in overcoming existing obstacles and creating a more efficient system.
