FAQ: Company Setup and Doing Business in Serbia

Foreigners can register an LLC (d.o.o.) or sole proprietorship in Serbia fully remotely — no visit to Serbia is required. The process works via a power of attorney: we prepare all documents, you sign the power of attorney before a notary in your home country and have it apostilled, and we submit everything electronically to the Serbian Business Registers Agency (APR) on your behalf.

As of May 2026, access to the APR eServices portal requires an account created through Serbia's Electronic Identification Portal (eID.gov.rs), and documents must be signed with a qualified electronic certificate. Both are handled by our team as part of the service.

The APR typically issues the company certificate within 3–5 business days of a complete submission. The whole process, including document preparation and the power of attorney, takes 10 to 15 days.

With SerbiAssist, company registration is part of our Work in Serbia package at €499 one-time. The price includes all government fees, tax registration, beneficial owners registration, an introduction to a trusted international bank and one month of a Belgrade virtual office.

The only extra costs are outside Serbia or specific to your case: the notary and apostille fees for your power of attorney in your home country, certified translation if your documents require it, and share capital above the legal minimum if you choose a higher amount.

Serbia has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in Europe — 15% on company profit. Freelancers and small businesses operating as sole proprietors can opt for the flat-rate "paušal" regime, which replaces tax on actual profit with a fixed monthly amount and simplifies bookkeeping significantly.

Serbia has double taxation treaties with over 60 countries, which prevent the same income from being taxed twice. Dividends paid to foreign shareholders are subject to a standard 20% withholding tax, which can be reduced under an applicable tax treaty. Combined with a low cost of living, this makes Serbia a serious option for entrepreneurs looking for a tax-efficient base in Europe.

Yes. Serbia has no dedicated digital nomad visa, but by registering your own Serbian company you gain the legal basis to apply for a unified residence and work permit, valid for up to 3 years. The result is the same — full legal status to live in Serbia and work for your clients anywhere in the world.

Belgrade in particular has become a hub for relocated entrepreneurs and remote workers, with a growing international community, affordable rent and strong internet infrastructure.

Yes — founding a Serbian company is one of the most direct paths to legal residence. As a company founder or director, you can apply for a unified residence and work permit, valid for up to 3 years and renewable. It covers both residence and the right to work in a single document.

We handle the permit only together with company registration, as part of our Digital Nomad and Family Relocation packages. Your company is the basis for the permit, so we manage both steps without gaps between them.

Almost entirely — doing business in Serbia can be set up remotely. Company registration, the introduction to a trusted international bank and eGovernment portal registration are handled remotely via power of attorney. Our secretarial and accounting services also work fully online.

If your package includes a residence and work permit, the only in-person step is collecting your biometric permit card, and we guide you through that appointment.

All three are popular with international entrepreneurs, and each has strengths.

vs Georgia: Georgia offers a territorial tax system and very simple company setup. Serbia is closer to EU markets, has free trade agreements with the EU, Russia, Turkey and the CEFTA region, and offers a clear path to long-term residence for those who want to live in Europe.

vs Estonia: Estonia's e-Residency is designed for running an EU company remotely — it does not give you the right to live there. Serbia combines low taxes with a genuine residence pathway and a lower cost of living.

The honest answer: doing business in Serbia is the right choice if you want to live in Europe, pay low taxes and have clear legal status — all from one place.

No. We first review your situation during a free consultation. Only after we confirm that your case is eligible and that we can help will we ask for payment. If we can't help, you owe us nothing.

The guarantee applies if we are unable to complete your application due to an error or oversight on our part — for example, incorrect document preparation or a missed deadline on our end. It does not cover rejections by Serbian authorities based on your eligibility or on documents you provided. In every case, we first work to resolve the issue and refile before processing a refund.

We first analyze the reason for the rejection. In most cases, the issue can be addressed and the application refiled at no extra charge. We explain all available options and next steps. If the rejection was caused by an error on our part, our money-back guarantee applies.

We provide full support in English, Serbian and Russian. All communication, documents and guidance are available in your preferred language, and we reply within 24 hours on business days, so language is never a barrier to doing business in Serbia.

Work in Serbia (€499) is for entrepreneurs who need a Serbian company but plan to live elsewhere. Digital Nomad (€999) adds a unified residence and work permit valid up to 3 years, for those who want to live and work in Serbia. Family Relocation (€1,499) adds a family reunification permit for one family member and private health insurance.

Not sure? We'll recommend the right one during your free consultation. Compare the packages →

Yes — all Serbian government agency fees, administrative charges and taxes for the services in your package are included. Costs not included are the notary and apostille fees in your home country, certified translation if required, and share capital above the legal minimum. We always confirm the exact total before you pay.

Every company setup package includes one month of our Belgrade virtual office. After that, you can keep the address through any of our secretarial and accounting packages, which include a registered virtual address with mail receipt and scanning, plus invoicing, your tax book and tax reminders.

We register LLCs (d.o.o.) and sole proprietorships (preduzetnik). Most foreigners choose an LLC for its limited liability and flexible ownership. Freelancers often prefer a sole proprietorship because it can use the flat-rate paušal tax regime. We recommend the right structure during your free consultation.

As a foreign founder, you need a valid passport, a proposed company name, a Serbian registered address (included for the first month in all our packages) and a power of attorney signed before a notary and apostilled in your home country.

Foreign documents must be translated into Serbian by a certified court interpreter where required. We send you the complete document checklist after your free consultation and guide you through each step.

The minimum share capital for an LLC (d.o.o.) is 100 RSD — less than €1 — and there is no need to deposit it in a blocked account before registration. If you plan to apply for a residence permit based on your company, we recommend at least €250 to strengthen your application.

Yes. Foreign nationals have the same rights as Serbian citizens when it comes to owning and managing a company. You can be the sole founder, sole shareholder and sole director of a Serbian LLC. No local partner or local director is required.

The paušal (lump-sum) regime is a flat-tax system for sole proprietors (preduzetnik) whose annual turnover does not exceed 8,000,000 RSD (about €68,000). Instead of paying tax on actual profit, you pay a fixed monthly amount set by the Tax Administration, which greatly simplifies bookkeeping.

It is one of the simplest ways of doing business in Serbia and is especially popular with freelancers, consultants and IT professionals. LLCs (d.o.o.) are not eligible. Our secretarial packages include monitoring of your paušal limits, with timely alerts before you get close to them.

Doing business in Serbia through a company comes with regular obligations. A Serbian company must keep books, issue proper invoices, pay monthly taxes and contributions on time, use the eInvoice system (SEF) where required, and meet yearly obligations such as financial statements and tax returns. Beneficial ownership must also be kept up to date in the APR registry. Our secretarial and accounting services take care of this admin so you can focus on your clients.

Yes. Serbian law requires companies to keep proper books and file reports and tax returns on time, and missed deadlines lead to penalties. We recommend having support in place from day one. Our secretarial packages cover invoicing, your KPO book, tax payment slips and reminders, and the Business and Executive plans include direct support from a bookkeeper. Full bookkeeping for LLCs is provided by our certified partner agency.

Our monthly packages combine a business assistant with bookkeeping support. Start (€149/month, 5 hours) covers a virtual address with mail scanning, invoicing, your KPO book, paušal limit monitoring, tax payment slips, email and calendar management. Business (€399/month, 25 hours) adds eInvoice (eFaktura) administration, expense records, annual admin, direct bookkeeper support and a dedicated assistant. Executive (€849/month, 60 hours) adds representation before tax authorities, full executive support and a backup assistant.

See everything included in each package →

Yes. You pay monthly and can upgrade, downgrade or cancel whenever you like. On the Business and Executive plans, unused hours roll over to the next month (up to 20% and 30% respectively).

By email, by message or through the client portal. On the Business and Executive plans you can also use Viber, WhatsApp or Slack. At the end of each month you receive an overview of the work done and the hours used.

Yes. If you are already doing business in Serbia, our secretarial and accounting services are available to you — whether you are a sole proprietor or a company, whether you set it up with us or not. We start with a free 30-minute intro call to understand your business.

No. We don't prepare visa applications (including the D visa) or standalone residence permits. We handle the unified residence and work permit — and family reunification for one family member — only for clients who register their company with us, as part of the Digital Nomad and Family Relocation packages.

The permit process starts once your company is registered. By law, the authorities must decide on a unified residence and work permit within 15 days of a complete application; in practice it can take longer, depending on their workload. We monitor your application and keep you updated at every step.

The "beli karton" (white card) is the registration of a foreigner's place of stay with the local police, which must be done within 24 hours of arriving at your accommodation. It is required for a residence permit application. For clients whose package includes a permit and who are staying in Serbia, we explain exactly how to complete it.

Yes, as part of our company setup packages. Once your company is registered, we introduce you to a trusted international bank and help you prepare the documents the bank requests. The account is opened directly between you and the bank, which makes the final decision. We don't offer bank account opening as a standalone service.

A qualified electronic certificate lets you sign documents online with the same legal force as a handwritten signature. You need it for APR submissions, the eInvoice system (SEF), tax filings and many government portals. Learn more about the electronic certificate →

Yes. We connect you with the right private health insurance provider for your situation, and arrange certified translations of official documents through licensed court translators. These and other services are available individually — see our administrative services in Serbia.