Accepting that, on the basis of reciprocity, dependants of accredited employees of the sending State assigned to official duty in the receiving State as members of a diplomatic mission or consular post will be granted authorisation to engage in gainful occupation in the receiving State,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
For the purpose of this Agreement:
1. “Member of a diplomatic mission or consular post” shall mean an employee of the sending State who is not a national of the receiving State and who is assigned to official duty in the receiving State at a diplomatic mission, consular post or mission to an international organisation.
2. “Dependants” shall mean:
(a) spouse or common-law partner of a member of a diplomatic mission or consular post;
(b) unmarried dependent children of a member of a diplomatic mission or consular post up to 18, or up to 26 years of age if in full-time attendance as students at a post-secondary educational institution; and
(c) unmarried dependent children of a member of a diplomatic mission or consular post who are physically or mentally disabled.
Article 2
1. No restrictions shall be placed on the type of gainful occupation of a dependant. However, in those professions where particular qualifications are required in order to undertake gainful occupation, the dependant must have those qualifications.
2. Authorisation to engage in gainful occupation may be denied in cases where, for security reasons, only nationals of the receiving State may be employed.
3. The receiving State may, at any time, refuse or revoke authorisation to engage in gainful occupation, if the dependant does not abide by the laws of the receiving State.
4. Should the dependant seek another employment after having been granted authorisation to engage in gainful occupation under this Agreement, the dependant shall re-apply for authorisation via the diplomatic mission.
5. The authorisation granted to the dependant to engage in gainful occupation in the receiving State shall expire in two months from the date when the assignment of the member of a diplomatic mission or consular post terminates.
6. The authorisation to engage in gainful occupation shall expire in the case of legal separation or divorce, or in the case the unmarried dependent children cease to form part of the household of the member of a diplomatic mission or consular post.
Article 3
1. Before a dependant may engage in gainful occupation in the receiving State, the diplomatic mission of the sending State shall make an official request to the protocol division of the ministry of foreign affairs of the receiving State.
2. Upon verification whether the person in question falls within the categories defined in this Agreement and after observing applicable domestic procedures, the protocol division shall promptly notify the diplomatic mission that the person concerned has been granted authorisation to engage in gainful occupation in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations of the receiving State, including the issuance of a work permit, if necessary.
Article 4
1. For dependants who engage in gainful occupation under this Agreement and have immunity from the jurisdiction of the receiving State in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961 or the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of April 24, 1963, immunity from civil and administrative jurisdiction with respect to all matters arising from such gainful occupation is hereby irrevocably waived by the sending State.
2. In the event that a dependant who has immunity from criminal jurisdiction in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is accused of a criminal offence committed in relation to their gainful occupation, the sending State shall give serious consideration to any written request that may be submitted by the receiving State for waiving such immunity.
Article 5
Dependants who engage in gainful occupation under this Agreement shall be subject to fiscal and social security regimes of the receiving State for all matters relating to their gainful occupation in that State.
Article 6
The Contracting Parties shall undertake to apply the present Agreement in good faith and shall amend it as appropriate, in line with the needs and interests of both Contracting Parties.
Article 7
Any differences or disputes arising from the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall be settled through diplomatic channels and by mutual consent.
Article 8
This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of receipt of the last written notification by which the Contracting Parties notify each other that all necessary internal requirements for the entry into force of this Agreement have been fulfilled.
Article 9
This Agreement shall be concluded for an indefinite period of time. Either Contracting Party may terminate it at any time by giving six months’ notice in writing to the other Contracting Party.
Done at Ljubljana on 26 October 2012 in two original copies in English.
For the Government
of the Republic of
Slovenia Stanislav Raščan (s)
For the Government
of the Republic of
Serbia Zoran Marković (s)