A foreigner can be the founder and director of a limited liability company (DOO) or register as a sole trader (preduzetnik). Registering a business does not in itself give a right to live and work in Serbia, but it can be the ground for a single permit for residence and work.
DOO or sole trader
- DOO: the founder is liable for the company's obligations up to the amount of the contribution, the minimum share capital is 100 dinars, and the company keeps accounts and pays corporate income tax.
- Sole trader: an individual carrying on a business who is liable for its obligations with all their assets. In certain activities, subject to statutory conditions, they can pay a flat-rate tax.
How a DOO is set up
- Choosing the business name, registered office and main activity.
- The founding act and the registration application to the Serbian Business Registers Agency (APR). The application for founding a DOO can be filed only electronically, so a foreigner usually files it through a representative. APR decides within five working days.
- Opening a business account and paying in the share capital.
- Recording the beneficial owner, an individual with 25% or more of the shares or with a dominant influence, in the Central Register of Beneficial Owners. With electronic founding this is done in the same application, and later changes within 30 days.
- A qualified electronic certificate for the director, for electronic dealings with authorities.
Documents for a foreign founder
- individual: passport
- legal entity: an extract from the register of its home country, with an apostille or legalisation and a court interpreter translation
- a power of attorney for the person handling the registration, certified and apostilled, if the founder is not in Serbia
Business account
Before opening an account, the bank carries out client due diligence and checks the source of funds, which can take longer for foreign founders. Without a business account the company cannot receive or make payments.
Residence and work
A foreigner who is the sole or controlling member of the company, as well as a sole trader, can apply for a single permit for residence and work on the ground of self-employment. The National Employment Service then assesses their qualifications for the activity and the employment plan. The business must start within 90 days of obtaining the permit. A director who is not a controlling member obtains a permit on the ground of employment. A foreigner with permanent residence, or with temporary residence based on ownership of real estate or family reunification with a Serbian citizen, can work without a single permit.
After registration
- keeping accounts and filing tax returns within the statutory deadlines
- registering employees for compulsory social insurance
- notifying APR of changes: address, director, activity
Common questions
Note: This text is general information and is not legal advice for a specific case. It reflects the regulations at the time of the page's last update (October 2026). Assessing a particular situation requires reviewing the documents and circumstances of the case.
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Contact
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