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Serbia Residence Permit Through a Company or Sole Proprietorship
A residence permit for people who register their own company or sole proprietorship in Serbia and officially work in it. A symbolic share capital, online filing and a path to permanent residence.
A Serbia residence permit through a company is one of the most accessible business routes to residence in Europe. You register a limited liability company (D.O.O.) or a sole proprietorship (preduzetnik), formally take a role in your business and apply for a single permit for residence and work. The share capital of a D.O.O. can be symbolic, starting at 100 dinars. There are no investment or hiring requirements, and almost any type of activity qualifies, apart from licensed ones.
A paper company set up just for the permit will not work, though. The migration authorities check whether the business is active, pays taxes and has an address. We help you choose between a sole proprietorship and a company, register the business, open a bank account and prepare the documents so that the permit can be renewed later.
Who it is for
- Entrepreneurs who want to run a business in Serbia
- Freelancers and IT professionals who find it convenient to work through a Serbian sole proprietorship
- Remote workers who need a residence permit with the right to work in the country
- Families: a spouse and children get residence together with the main applicant
Requirements
- A registered company or sole proprietorship in Serbia
- Official employment in your own company or work as a sole proprietor
- Real business activity, bookkeeping and tax payments
- A registered business address and housing in Serbia
- For family members: health insurance and funds to live on
- Registration of your place of residence after arrival
What we do
- Compare a sole proprietorship and a company for your activity and taxes
- Register the business and obtain a tax number
- Help with a bank account, a business address and an accountant
- Handle your residence registration
- File the single permit application through the e-government portal
- Arrange residence for your family and support renewals
Key documents
- Passport
- Company or sole proprietorship registration documents
- Proof of the registered business address
- Proof of qualifications for the chosen activity: a diploma or certificate translated by a court interpreter
- Lease agreement or proof of property ownership
- For family members: a bank statement and health insurance
- Marriage and birth certificates with translations for family members
How it works
- Choosing the legal formsole proprietorship or company, activity codes and tax regime
- Business registrationusually takes a few business days
- Account and addressbank account, registered address and an accountant
- Registration and filingresidence registration, then the online residence application
- Decisionby law within 15 days of a complete application; in practice it can take longer
- Renewalpossible as long as the business operates and pays taxes
Timeline
Business registration usually takes a few business days; by law, a decision on the single permit is due within 15 days of a complete application, though in practice it can take longer.
Timelines are approximate: government agencies, consulates and banks set them.
What to watch out for
- A company with no activity or taxes may fail at renewal
- Banks ask about the source of funds, and an account is sometimes not opened right away
- Errors in documents or the address delay the review
- Serbia's filing rules changed recently, so they need to be checked before you start
- If you hardly live in Serbia, questions can come up at renewal
FAQ
How much does it cost?
Our service fee is from $5,200. Government fees, translations, insurance and other mandatory costs are paid separately; we send the full estimate before you sign.
Which is better for a Serbia residence permit through a company: a sole proprietorship or a D.O.O.?
A sole proprietorship is simpler and cheaper to maintain and suits freelancers and people working alone. A D.O.O. is more convenient if there are several co-owners, you expect real turnover or you want to keep personal and company money apart. Taxes and reporting differ. We choose the form after talking through your activity.
How much do I need to invest?
The share capital of a D.O.O. can be symbolic, from 100 dinars. The main costs are registration, the business address, an accountant, taxes and payroll contributions, and rent. You should also set aside money to live on for the first few months. We work out the budget in advance.
Can my family get residence too?
Yes. Your spouse and minor children get residence through family reunification. You need to show income and housing for everyone. Marriage and birth certificates must be apostilled or legalized and translated.
Do I have to live in Serbia full time?
There is no fixed minimum number of days for this permit. But at renewal the authorities check your actual presence, your address and whether the business operates. If you spend most of the year abroad, renewal may raise questions. For permanent residence, absences are limited: no more than 10 months in total over three years, or one trip of up to 6 months.
When can I get permanent residence and citizenship in Serbia?
You can apply for permanent residence after three years of continuous residence on a temporary permit or single permit. Citizenship comes later, after living in Serbia on permanent residence and meeting other conditions. We will tell you how to keep your residence time unbroken through renewals.
Can I take a regular job with this permit?
A company-based permit is tied to work in your own business. You can change the basis of your work or your employer only after approval within the single permit procedure. Remote work for foreign clients through your company or sole proprietorship is possible.
Do you guarantee the result?
No. Decisions are made by government agencies, consulates and banks. We are responsible for preparing and checking documents, filing and support, and we tell you about the risks upfront.
Related programs
Let’s discuss your case
We will check whether the program fits your citizenship, income and family, and send an estimate with the full list of costs.
