Sick leave rules in Serbia at a glance
Statutory rules for Serbia, checked against official government guidance on 15 October 2026.
| Tell your employer | Deliver a certificate with the expected length within 3 days |
|---|---|
| Self certification | None found |
| Doctor's certificate needed from | Day 1 |
| Certificate deadline | Within 3 days of the start of incapacity |
| Waiting days | None |
| Employer pays | The first 30 days, at least 65% |
| State sickness benefit | Health Insurance Fund from day 31, at 65% |
| Maximum duration | No fixed maximum |
| Last checked |
Who pays sick pay in Serbia?
In Serbia, employer pay: the first 30 days, at least 65%. State sickness benefit: Health Insurance Fund from day 31, at 65%.
- EmployerDays 1 to 30The first 30 days, at least 65%
- State sickness benefitFrom day 31Health Insurance Fund from day 31, at 65%
- Official body
- Republic Health Insurance Fund
Work out your own figures with the sick pay calculator.
When do you need a doctor's note in Serbia?
In Serbia, a doctor's certificate is needed: day 1.
Self certification. None found
Certificate deadline. Within 3 days of the start of incapacity
Telling your employer. Deliver a certificate with the expected length within 3 days
Check your own dates with the "do I need a note" tool, or see how to get a doctor's note in Serbia.
Worked example: 50 days off sick in Serbia
How a 50 day absence runs in Serbia, step by step. No money is worked out here.
| When | What happens | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Tell your employer | Deliver a certificate with the expected length within 3 days |
| Days 1 to 30 | Employer | The first 30 days, at least 65% |
| From day 1 | A doctor's certificate is normally needed | Day 1 |
| Days 31 to 50 | State sickness benefit | Health Insurance Fund from day 31, at 65% |
Maximum duration: No fixed maximum
For your own figures, use the sick pay calculator. It reads the same checked data as this page.
What is different about sick leave in Serbia?
In Serbia you deliver a certificate with the expected length within 3 days.
Your employer pays the first 30 days at least 65%, and the Republic Health Insurance Fund pays 65% from day 31. There is no fixed maximum.
What if you work in Serbia but live in another country?
If you work in Serbia and live in another country, you are usually covered by the social security system where you work, so the rules on this page apply.
Report sick by the rule in Serbia (deliver a certificate with the expected length within 3 days), and send any certificate to the body that pays you (Republic Health Insurance Fund).
If your doctor is in another country, ask the paying body (Republic Health Insurance Fund) which format it accepts.
More on working in one country and living in another. Related tool: Fit to fly readiness checklist
Frequently asked questions
The rule for telling your employer in Serbia: deliver a certificate with the expected length within 3 days.
The certificate deadline in Serbia: within 3 days of the start of incapacity.
Waiting days in Serbia: none.
The maximum duration of sick pay in Serbia: no fixed maximum.
Self certification in Serbia: none found.
Sick leave rules in neighbouring countries
Compare Serbia with Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia, or see all 42 countries side by side.
Have a question we did not answer? Ask the assistant.