Registration with the Serbian Pension Fund (PIO): A Complete Guide
Why PIO Registration is Necessary and Answers to Key Questions
When moving to Serbia for work or business, one of the key steps is registering with the Pension Fund (Fond za penzijsko i invalidsko osiguranje – PIO). This step is mandatory for legal employment, starting a sole proprietorship, and gaining access to the country's social security system.
The main purpose of registering with PIO is to obtain the mandatory health insurance policy, known as the "Zdravstvena knjižica" or "kartica". Without it, access to public healthcare in Serbia is impossible. Additionally, registration ensures that your work experience and social security contributions are recorded, which can affect your future pension eligibility.
Before delving into the process, it's worth clarifying a few important points. First, you can only register with PIO after obtaining a residence permit (boravak) in Serbia. Second, the entire procedure requires personal attendance, as an online option is not currently available.
Who is Required to Register with the Pension Fund?
The need to register with PIO directly depends on the basis of your residence permit and your type of employment. This requirement does not apply to all foreigners living in Serbia. Understanding your status will help you avoid unnecessary steps.
Registration is mandatory for those employed under a contract with a Serbian company or who have started their own business as a sole proprietor (preduzetnik). In the case of employment, the employer handles the PIO registration process and obtains the necessary document, "Obrazac MA". The employee should contact their company's accounting or HR department to get this document.
On the other hand, if your residence permit is based on property ownership, talent, or education, and you are not working or doing business in Serbia, registration with the Pension Fund is not required. The obligation arises only from the moment you are officially employed or start a sole proprietorship.
Document Package for PIO Submission
For a successful registration with the Pension Fund, you need to prepare a specific set of documents. The list may vary slightly depending on whether you already have a resident ID card or just a residence permit sticker (nalepnica) in your passport.
- A copy of the work permit (Radna dozvola).
- A copy of your international passport.
- Proof of residence (Uverenje o boravku), which is usually inspected and returned.
- A copy of the "white card" (often required in Belgrade).
For ID card holders, the list is simpler: you just need to provide a 'read' ID card (a printout of the data from the chip) and, in rare cases, your international passport.
Depending on your status, additional papers may be needed. The table below provides clarifications.
It's important to note that for a sole proprietorship, the "Rešenje" (Decision) on establishment is required, as the "Izvod" (Extract) may not be accepted.
Step-by-Step Registration Algorithm and Branch Addresses
The PIO registration process involves a personal visit to one of the fund's branches. You need to choose the branch corresponding to your place of residence or the registered address of your sole proprietorship.
Upon arrival at the branch, you need to ask an employee for "Obrazac MA". You can use the phrase: “Molim, meni treba obrazac MA” or the full name “Potvrda o podnetoj prijavi, promeni i odjavi na obavezno socijalno osiguranje”. The employee will check your documents and issue the necessary paper.
- Novi Sad: Žitni Trg 3.
- Belgrade (for the municipalities of Stari Grad, Vračar, Dorćol): Venizelosova 31. Please note that processing may take place in different buildings and during limited hours (often from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM).
- Belgrade (for Novi Beograd): Bulevar umetnosti 10.
Once you have the "Obrazac MA" in hand, you have completed the registration stage with the Pension Fund. The next step is to apply to the Republic Health Insurance Fund (RFZO) to get your health insurance card, the "Zdravstvena knjižica".
Specifics of Registering Family Members
PIO registration applies not only to the employee or entrepreneur themselves but also to their family members who have moved with them. This is a critically important step for them to also gain access to public healthcare in Serbia.
- If the spouse is employed, their employer submits the documents on their behalf.
- If the spouse has their own business (sole proprietorship), they submit the documents themselves.
- If family members (spouse, children) do not work or conduct business in Serbia, the main applicant must submit the documents for them.
To register family members, you will need notarized translations of birth certificates (for children) and the marriage certificate (for a spouse), done by a certified court interpreter. Sometimes, PIO staff may claim that nothing needs to be submitted for the family. In such a situation, it is recommended to try skipping this step and go directly to the RFZO with the family's documents to apply for health insurance.
Re-registration with PIO When Changing a Sole Proprietor's Address
It's important for sole proprietors to remember that changing the legal address, which involves moving to another municipality (opština), requires updating information not only in the business register but also with the Pension Fund.
If you, as a sole proprietor, have changed your legal address, you must go through the re-registration procedure with PIO. The process is similar to the initial registration: you need to visit the Pension Fund branch again with the full set of documents you submitted when starting your business, including the new decision (Rešenje) from the SBRA regarding the change of address.
The purpose of this second visit is to obtain a new, updated "Obrazac MA" that reflects your new legal address. This document will confirm that you are registered with PIO at the new location, which is important for the correct calculation of taxes and social contributions.
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