Qualified Electronic Certificate in Serbia for Foreigners

A qualified electronic certificate in Serbia is required for signing official documents electronically in Serbia — APR submissions, company founding acts, government portal access and the eInvoice system (SEF). We obtain yours from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PKS), an accredited certification authority, and deliver the USB token to your address anywhere in the world.

✓ Obtained on your behalf

✓ USB token delivered worldwide

✓ Legally valid signature

✓ All certification charges included

🏢 Registering a Serbian company? We submit your company registration and the beneficial owners registration on your behalf, so you don't need a certificate for that. Your own certificate is what lets you sign documents, use tax and eGovernment portals and the eInvoice system (SEF) once your company is running — we recommend obtaining it at the same time as your company registration.

What is a qualified electronic certificate in Serbia?

A qualified electronic certificate is a digital document issued by an accredited certification authority that gives you the legal right to sign documents electronically in Serbia. Under Serbian law, an electronically signed document is fully equivalent to one signed by hand — making this certificate essential for anyone doing business or managing legal obligations in Serbia remotely.

A qualified electronic certificate in Serbia is stored on a physical USB token — a small device you plug into your computer. The token contains your private cryptographic key and cannot be copied. If you lose it, a new certificate must be issued.

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Physical USB token

Your certificate is stored on a secure hardware device issued by the certification authority. It is delivered sealed to your address worldwide — typically within 7 to 10 business days.

When do you need a qualified electronic certificate in Serbia?

A qualified electronic certificate in Serbia is required — or strongly recommended — in the following situations:

🏢 APR company registration

Electronic submission to the Serbian Business Registry requires a qualified digital signature. We use ours during registration — but you'll need yours for all future submissions.

📋 Company changes at the APR

Changes to your company data — address, activity, directors or ownership — are filed with the APR electronically and signed with a qualified certificate. You can sign them yourself, or we file them for you.

🧾 eInvoicing (SEF)

Log in to the Serbian eInvoice system (SEF) to send, receive and accept eInvoices — mandatory for companies and entrepreneurs in the VAT and public sector systems.

🏦 Banking and e-services

Some Serbian banks require a qualified electronic signature for corporate e-banking access and for signing account agreements remotely.

📄 Contracts and documents

Any agreement or official document that must be signed electronically with the same legal force as a handwritten signature.

🖥️ Government portals

Access to Serbian e-government services such as the eUprava portal, tax filings, and other official online platforms that require verified electronic identity.

How we obtain your qualified electronic certificate in Serbia: step by step

We handle the entire procurement process. You do not need to visit Serbia, visit a certification authority office, or deal with Serbian bureaucracy directly.

1

Submit your request Tell us your full legal name as it appears on your passport and provide your passport copy. We confirm which accredited certification authority is most appropriate for your situation.
2

Document preparation We prepare all required documentation for the certification authority application on your behalf, based on your passport and any supporting materials.
3

Application submitted to accredited authority We submit the application to the Serbian accredited certification authority and coordinate the issuance process.
4

Certificate issued and loaded onto USB token The certification authority issues your qualified electronic certificate and loads it onto a physical USB token device.
5

USB token delivered to your address The sealed USB token is sent by courier to your address anywhere in the world. You receive it along with setup instructions so you can start signing documents immediately.

What's included in our service

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Procurement of your qualified electronic certificate from an accredited Serbian certification authority
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All document preparation and authority communication
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USB token with certificate — delivered sealed to your address worldwide
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Setup and installation instructions
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All government and certification authority charges included

💡 The qualified electronic certificate is also required to sign company founding documents in some situations and to complete certain government portal registrations. If you're unsure whether you need one for your specific case, ask us before ordering — we'll confirm.

Qualified electronic certificate in Serbia: FAQ

What is a qualified electronic certificate in Serbia and why do I need one?

A qualified electronic certificate is a legally recognized digital signature issued by an accredited certification authority in Serbia. Under Serbian law, a document signed with a qualified certificate has the same legal weight as a handwritten signature. You need one to sign documents for the APR (Serbian Business Registry), use the eInvoice system (SEF), access tax and government portals, and sign official contracts electronically. For foreign company founders operating remotely, it is a practical necessity.

Do I need an electronic certificate to register a company in Serbia?

No. We submit the company registration and the beneficial owners registration on your behalf using our own certificate, so you don't need one at that stage. Your own certificate becomes useful once the company is running: to sign documents electronically, use the eInvoice system (SEF), and access tax and eGovernment portals. We recommend obtaining it together with your company registration.

Can a foreigner get a Serbian electronic certificate without visiting Serbia?

Yes — this is exactly what our service provides. We obtain the certificate from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PKS), an accredited certification authority, on your behalf using a power of attorney, without you needing to visit Serbia, visit a certification office, or deal with any Serbian bureaucracy. The USB token is then delivered to your address anywhere in the world.

How long does it take to receive the USB token?

Once all documents are in order, the certificate is typically issued within 3 to 5 business days. The USB token is then sent by international courier and usually arrives within 7 to 10 business days depending on your location. If you have an urgent deadline, let us know and we will prioritize accordingly.

What is the Beneficial Owners Registry?

The Beneficial Owners Registry (Registar stvarnih vlasnika) is a mandatory public registry maintained by the Serbian Business Registers Agency (APR) that lists the ultimate beneficial owners of all Serbian companies. Every Serbian company must register its beneficial owners within 15 days of registration and update the record whenever ownership changes. For our clients, we prepare and submit this registration on their behalf as part of our company setup packages.

How long is a qualified electronic certificate valid in Serbia?

Qualified electronic certificates issued by Serbian accredited authorities are typically valid for 2 to 3 years depending on the issuing authority. We will inform you of the exact validity period for your certificate when we send the USB token. Renewal can be done before expiry — we can assist with this when the time comes.

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💡 Registering a company? Save time by combining your company registration with the electronic certificate. We handle both in one process, so your certificate is ready as soon as your company starts operating. See company registration →