Starting a Business in Serbia as a Foreigner: A Clear Guide
Thinking of launching your business in the Serbian market but not a resident? It’s a common scenario, and the process is more straightforward and flexible than you might think. Let’s break down the most important questions you have about who is eligible to open a company in Serbia.
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Who Can Legally Open a Company in Serbia?
The answer is simple: anyone.
Serbian law allows both private individuals and existing companies from anywhere in the world to establish a new legal entity here. There are no special limitations based on your country of origin or citizenship. The requirements are the same for everyone, making Serbia an open and accessible market.
Do I Need a Serbian Citizen as a Director or Partner?
No, you don’t.
Serbia offers complete flexibility in how you structure your company. The founder (shareholder) and the director (legal representative) do not need to be Serbian citizens.
This allows for various structures to fit your needs. For example:
- 100% Foreign-Owned: Both the company founder and the appointed director can be foreign citizens.
- Mixed Structure: A foreign founder can easily appoint a Serbian citizen to act as the local director.
- Local Founder, Foreign Director: A Serbian citizen can establish the company and appoint a foreign national as the director.
The Key Consideration: Residence & Work Permits
While ownership is unrestricted, the legal status of the people running the company is a crucial next step.
Depending on their role, citizenship, and how much time they will spend in the country, the appointed foreign director may need to secure a Serbian temporary residence permit and a work permit. This ensures that both the individual and the company are operating in full compliance with local regulations.
This flexibility makes Serbia an attractive place to start a business. Now that you know you’re eligible, the next step is choosing the right legal structure for your venture. If you need help with that, book a consultation here.
The Step-by-Step Guide to Registering a Company in Serbia
The process of establishing a company in Serbia is well-defined and now fully digital. With expert support and your key decisions made, the core registration with the Serbian Business Registers Agency (APR) can be completed efficiently.
Here’s a look at the essential phases of the process.
Phase 1: Your Pre-Registration Checklist
Before any documents are filed, you need to make several key decisions. This planning stage is critical for a smooth launch. Your checklist should include:
- Choosing Your Legal Structure: Decide if an LLC (d.o.o.) or another entity type is the right fit for your business goals.
- Selecting a Unique Company Name: Pick a distinct name for your business that isn’t already registered with the APR.
- Establishing a Business Address: Every Serbian company must have a registered office address (company seat).
- Appointing a Director: Name the individual who will act as the legal representative of the company.
- Defining Your Core Business Activity: Select the primary activity that best describes what your business does.
- Preparing Your Founding Document: This involves drafting the Memorandum of Association (MoA), the company’s key constitutional document. Our Solution: Our in-house legal team drafts all necessary documents, tailored to your specific ownership structure and needs. Click here to find out more.
- Choosing Your Financial Partners: It’s wise to select the bank where you’ll open your corporate account and an accountant to handle your books from the start. Our Solution: We make this easy. As a full-service firm, we provide expert services from day one to ensure your finances are clear and compliant.
Phase 2: The Digital Registration Process
Company formation in Serbia is handled exclusively online. This modern approach requires all founding documents, including the Memorandum of Association, to be in a specific electronic format signed with a qualified electronic signature.
An experienced attorney is invaluable here. They can manage the digital certification of all necessary documents and handle the entire submission to the APR on your behalf, ensuring every detail is filed correctly and preventing common delays.
Phase 3: Becoming Operational
Once the APR reviews and approves your application, you will receive the official decision of incorporation.
With this document in hand, the final step is to activate your corporate bank account. Your company is then officially registered and ready to begin its business activities in Serbia. But our support doesn’t stop there. We can continue to assist with crucial next steps, including applying for work & residence permits for foreigners.
Your One-Stop Solution in Serbia
Navigating these steps is much simpler with a single, dedicated partner. By integrating legal, accounting, tax, and virtual office services, we eliminate the need to coordinate with multiple firms. Our goal is to provide a seamless, all-in-one solution that handles every detail, so you can launch your business with complete confidence.
Book a free consultation HERE.