Guide
How to Open a Company in Serbia as a Foreigner in 2026
Foreign nationals and companies can form a business in Serbia. Biro Vision's fee is €500, official and third-party costs are separate, and a foreign founder comes to Serbia for a physical KES/QES and bank identification.
A foreign citizen can form a Serbian company and own 100% of it without citizenship, residence or a local partner. With a notarized power of attorney we prepare and electronically file the APR application, but our workflow is not fully remote: there is no cloud KES, so a foreign founder must come to Serbia for a physical KES/QES and bank identification. The bank decides on the account. If you also plan to live and work in Serbia, D visa and residence/work permission are separate procedures. Our foreign founder formation service costs €500; official fees, KES, translations, certification, travel and other third-party costs are separate.
What you should know
- You can own 100% of the company and be its only director. Serbia sets no nationality limits and no minimum investment beyond the symbolic 100-dinar capital.
- We prepare and file the APR application under a notarized power of attorney, but a foreign founder comes to Serbia for a physical KES/QES and bank identification. We do not offer cloud KES.
- Pick the right vehicle. A d.o.o. is a separate company that protects your personal assets and can trade freely. A branch is not a separate entity, trades in your parent firm's name, and is taxed here as a resident. A representative office can only research and prepare the market, cannot trade, and cannot hold its own account. If you are weighing a sole trader against a company, liability and how you take money out decide it, as our guide to sole trader vs LLC in Serbia sets out.
- The document list is shorter than you expect. An individual founder needs a passport, plus the director's details, a registered address in Serbia, the founding act and the registration application. If the founder is a foreign company, add a register extract and constitutive documents with an apostille and a court interpreter's translation.
- Biro Vision's formation fee is €500. APR, physical KES/QES, notary, translation, banking, travel and other costs are not included. We sign the APR filing with our certificate under your power of attorney, while the founder obtains a physical KES for the operating setup.
- The bank sets its own account-opening rules. A foreign director attends identification in Serbia; the bank performs its checks and makes the account decision independently.
- You only need a residence or work permit if you plan to work in Serbia yourself, for example as an employed director; pure ownership needs neither. Forming a company can also be a basis for temporary residence, and for that route a starting capital of around 250 euros is usually recommended.
- Obligations start the moment you are registered. Companies, including a d.o.o., keep double-entry books, tax records run from day one, and the beneficial owner is recorded within 30 days. That is why we set up your monthly bookkeeping before you issue the first invoice.
- Plan for tax on money leaving the country. Dividends, interest and royalties paid abroad carry a withholding tax (as a rule 20%), which a double-taxation treaty between Serbia and your country often reduces.
| Setup | Best for | Can it trade? | Liability |
|---|---|---|---|
| New company (d.o.o.) | Most foreigners doing real business in Serbia | Yes | Limited, your personal assets are protected |
| Branch of a foreign company | Extending an existing foreign firm into Serbia | Yes | The parent company is liable |
| Representative office | Market research and groundwork only | No | Cannot trade or hold its own account |
How we handle it
- 01 Advice and choosing your setup We start with a short talk about what you actually want to do in Serbia, then recommend the setup that fits: a new d.o.o., a branch or a representative office. We explain the differences in liability, taxation and the right to trade in plain language before you commit.
- 02 Preparing your documents We draft the founding documents and tell you exactly what to bring: usually just your passport, plus, for a corporate founder, a register extract and articles with an apostille and a certified Serbian translation.
- 03 Director, address and power of attorney We help you appoint a director and secure a registered address in Serbia. Under your notarized power of attorney we prepare the APR filing, while you plan a Serbia visit for a physical KES/QES and bank identification.
- 04 Registration and tax ID We file the application electronically with APR (mandatory since 2023), sign it with a qualified electronic certificate, and follow it to the registration decision, your company number and PIB, usually within a few working days.
- 05 Business bank account We prepare the bank file and help select a suitable bank. The foreign director attends identification in Serbia; the bank performs its own checks and independently decides on the account.
- 06 Bookkeeping and first obligations From day one we set up bookkeeping and your tax records, record the beneficial owner, track withholding tax on payments abroad and, if you plan to work here, the residence and work-permit route.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner open a company in Serbia without living here?
Yes. Residence is not required merely to own the company, but our workflow is not fully remote. We prepare the APR filing under a power of attorney, while the foreign founder comes to Serbia for a physical KES/QES and bank identification. We do not offer cloud KES.
How much does it cost to open a company in Serbia?
Biro Vision's formation fee is €500. APR, physical KES/QES, notary, translations, banking, travel and all other arising costs are paid separately. If a D visa is needed, our additional fee is €500, excluding official fees.
How long does it take?
Once your documents are complete, APR usually issues the registration decision within a few working days. Counting document preparation, translation and opening a bank account, plan for about one to two weeks in total.
What documents does a foreigner need?
For an individual founder a passport is enough, plus a chosen director and a registered seat (address) in Serbia. If the founder is a foreign company, you also need a register extract and constitutive documents with an apostille and a court interpreter's translation. Electronic registration with APR, obtaining a PIB, and opening a bank account follow.
Do I need a qualified electronic signature?
We sign the APR filing with our qualified certificate under your power of attorney. The foreign founder still comes to Serbia to obtain their own physical KES/QES for the company's ongoing obligations; we do not offer a cloud KES option.
Can the bank account be opened without coming to Serbia?
Not in our workflow. A foreign director comes to Serbia for identification; the bank then performs its own checks and independently decides whether to open the account.
Does the company need an address in Serbia?
Yes. The company is registered at a seat address in Serbia and that address goes into the APR register. We help you secure a seat and appoint a director before the application is filed.
What happens right after registration?
You open the business account, set up bookkeeping and start filing tax returns, and for a d.o.o. the beneficial owner is recorded within 30 days. Companies keep double-entry books, so we track the deadlines for you against the tax calendar.
Can I get a residence permit by opening a company?
Not automatically. Serbia’s official guidance for foreign business owners states that setting up a company is a valid purpose of residence but on its own does not guarantee that a visa or a residence and work permit will be granted. The listed ground is self-employment, which sits under the employment basis and is handled through the single permit; "business owner" is not a separate ground. Our guide on residence by company formation sets out what the route actually requires.
What tax applies when I send profit abroad?
Dividends, interest and royalties paid abroad are subject to withholding tax, as a rule 20%. The rate can be reduced by applying the double-taxation treaty between Serbia and your country.
Can I open a franchise in Serbia as a foreigner?
A franchise is not a separate legal form. In practice you set up a normal Serbian company (usually a d.o.o.) which, under a franchise agreement with the foreign brand owner, operates under their brand and standards for a fee.
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