Europe / THE NORTHBRIDGE JOURNAL
Open a Company in Serbia as a Foreigner
Northbridge · Published · 3 min read
A foreign individual or company can generally open and own a Serbian DOO, including full foreign ownership, subject to sector-specific restrictions. Serbian residence is not required merely to own shares. Incorporation does not automatically grant the right to live or work in Serbia.
Research date: 19 October 2026. The fee and registry-period references below were checked against the linked sources on that date. The fee is reported in an independent Serbian legal guide updated September 2026; reconfirm the APR tariff before payment.
Should you choose a DOO or an entrepreneur structure?
A DOO is a separate limited-liability company and can have one or more shareholders. An entrepreneur operates with personal liability and different tax and reporting rules. Choosing the cheapest-looking registration route without considering liability, client relationships and taxation can create costs later.
A DOO generally has minimum registered capital of RSD 100. This is not the total formation price or a realistic working-capital budget. Regulated activities may require additional permissions or funding.
Documents a foreign founder should prepare
- A valid passport or other accepted identification for an individual founder.
- A current foreign registry extract and representation evidence for a corporate founder.
- Company name, Serbian registered office, activity, director and ownership information.
- Founding act, capital contributions and the intended management arrangements.
- Proper filing authorisation and the required Serbian translations, legalisation or electronic document conversion.
The electronic submission route must be arranged before filing. A lawyer handling registration under authorisation does not mean the director can ignore later electronic-signature, tax-access or beneficial-owner obligations.
What does registration cost and how long does it take?
The linked September 2026 legal guide reports a company-incorporation APR fee of RSD 8,000. Legal assistance, translation, certification, registered address, bank charges and accounting are additional. Ask for a written breakdown instead of treating the filing fee as an all-inclusive offer.
APR’s official instructions publish a five-working-day decision period from receipt of an application. This does not mean every company can trade within five days. Document preparation, corrections, beneficial-owner registration, tax setup and bank onboarding need separate planning. Ask which stage any quoted timeframe actually covers.
Can a foreign-owned company obtain a bank account?
Bank approval is separate from APR registration. Prepare the company documents, director and ultimate-owner identification, source-of-funds evidence and an explanation of customers, suppliers, payment countries and transaction volumes. Contracts or other evidence of intended business can support the application.
Personal attendance and the treatment of foreign owners depend on the bank’s review. Do not book travel or promise clients a payment date on the assumption that incorporation guarantees an immediate account.
What must you do each year?
A DOO needs statutory bookkeeping, annual financial statements, corporate-tax reporting and ongoing beneficial-owner compliance. Standard corporate income tax is 15% of taxable profit, not turnover. VAT, payroll, SEF electronic invoicing and other reporting depend on activity and registrations. Owner distributions and foreign management create additional tax questions.
Read our Serbia company formation service and detailed compliance guide for the DOO-versus-entrepreneur assessment and practical calendar. Contact Northbridge about opening a Serbian company. Share your residence, business activity, proposed owners and whether you can attend in person so we can scope the work.
Sources and verification
- APR official registration instructions and decision period
- STATT: foreign founders, documents and 2026 incorporation fee
- PwC: Serbian corporate income tax
General information, not a quotation or individual legal, immigration or tax advice. Check the current rules before filing.
What does this mean for your business?
Talk through your circumstances and confirm current requirements before making your next move.
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