Serbia isn't yet part of our established network of local contacts. We assess every project case by case, though, and can bring in a trusted local partner (lawyer, accountant) if needed to create and direct your structure.
These timelines assume a complete file (ID documents, supporting evidence, governance decisions made): an incomplete file is the single most common cause of delay, ahead of the administrative timelines themselves. Once the file is genuinely complete, expect generally 3 to 5 business days (electronic route) for the legal process itself.
Minimum share capital: RSD 100 — symbolic capital.
Gathering ID documents, mandate, governance decisions and choice of bank — the essential groundwork for the legal timelines below to actually start running.
Electronic company registration is now mandatory; documents are filed with the APR solely in electronic form with a qualified certificate.
If incorporation is done via e-Registration, notarial certification of the deed is not needed; the document is signed with a qualified electronic certificate.
Standard timeframe to receive the registration decision once the file is complete.
For a complex file or a foreign legal entity, opening the business account generally takes longer than registration itself.
On top of the legal timelines above, allow one week of banking margin: KYC checks, extra documentation or a branch appointment can extend account opening, particularly for a non-resident director.
| Taux | ||
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | 20% | |
| Reduced rates | 10% | basic food, medicines, books, public transport, accommodation, first transfer of new housing |
15%.
Not all foreign nationals need a visa to visit or stay in Serbia; rules depend on nationality. An extended stay to run the business requires a separate residence process.
Information provided for guidance (July 2026), subject to change depending on local regulation, the bank and the relevant authority. We confirm the precise timeline with you during the initial assessment of your project.
Foreign natural persons have the same rights as Serbian founders, with no residency requirement for incorporation. Simply forming the company does not, however, automatically grant temporary residence.
3 to 5 business days for the registration decision, but actual account opening can take several weeks for a complex file or a foreign legal entity.
Minimum share capital: RSD 100 — symbolic capital.
Every director or shareholder must be declared as an Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) in the national register — a requirement stemming from EU anti-money-laundering directives (or equivalent standards outside the EU). Bank scrutiny is heightened in two situations common among international clients: when a shareholder or director is a US citizen or US tax resident (FATCA then imposes extra reporting obligations on the bank, which can slow down or complicate account opening); and when a shareholder is based in an African country rated higher-risk by the FATF (extra proof of the origin of funds, longer KYC validation times). We anticipate this with you from the initial assessment if your structure involves such profiles.
Information provided for guidance (July 2026), subject to change depending on local regulation. We confirm the applicable detail with you during the initial assessment of your project.
Commercial lease and registering the establishment with the Business Registers Agency (APR).
An electronic fiscal till is mandatory for all retail sales, transmitting data to the tax authority in real time.
Indicative, non-exhaustive list of examples of solutions present on the local market — availability and terms change quickly; we help you select the best-suited offer during the assessment of your project.
To exhibit or sell equipment at a trade fair, the ATA carnet allows temporary import of goods — professional equipment, samples, stand fittings — without advancing customs duties or import VAT, provided they are re-exported within the allotted period (generally 12 months, sometimes 6 months for fair equipment). The carnet is issued by the chamber of commerce in the country of departure and recognised across the international network of ATA Convention countries, a network that covers Serbia.
To import goods from a non-EU country (China, the US, etc.), an EORI number is essential for any customs procedure. Customs duties depend on the tariff code (combined nomenclature) and the product's origin; import VAT is then due at the rate applicable in the destination country, generally recoverable if the business is VAT-registered. Depending on trade agreements in force, some products benefit from reduced or zero duties on presentation of a certificate of origin. The competent authority for these procedures is Serbian Customs Administration.
As Serbia is not an EU/EEA member, consumer-protection rules (right of withdrawal, price display, warranties) fall under national law and can differ significantly from the harmonised European framework. We check this point with you based on your on-site sales activity.
Information provided for guidance (July 2026), subject to change depending on local regulation. We confirm the applicable detail with you during the initial assessment of your project.
Describe your project and timeline, and we'll quickly tell you whether we can act directly in Serbia or point you to a trusted local partner.
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