Serbia Company Registration | Set Up a d.o.o. Company in Serbia
Planning Serbia company registration, or want to set up a company in Serbia for European manufacturing and the Balkan market? The entity investors use most is the limited liability company (d.o.o.), which becomes a legal entity once registered with the Serbian Business Registers Agency (APR). Shareholders and directors have no nationality or residence requirements, and foreigners can own 100%.
The minimum capital for a d.o.o. is about EUR 1. Corporate income tax is a flat 15%, the standard VAT rate is 20%, and dividends paid to non-residents are subject to 20% withholding. Serbia also has 15 free customs zones and a 10-year corporate income tax holiday for large investments. NSS Group (戰國策集團) offers a one-stop Serbia company formation service, from entity assessment, formation documents, legalization and translation, APR registration and beneficial owner registration to bank account opening and annual financial statement reminders, and helps companies and individuals from abroad set up their Serbia limited liability company.
Corporate income tax is a flat 15%. Non-residents are taxed only on Serbian-source income, and the same applies to branches of foreign companies.
According to the Development Agency of Serbia, goods can be exported duty-free to markets of more than 2.4 billion people, including the EU, the Eurasian Economic Union, Turkey, the UAE and China.
15 industrial zones across the country are also free customs zones, where raw materials and equipment imported for export production are exempt from VAT and customs duties.
Investments of more than RSD 1 billion that employ more than 100 people can qualify for a 10-year corporate income tax holiday, starting from the first profitable year.
Serbia?
Serbia lies in the central Balkans. According to the Development Agency of Serbia, it can serve as a manufacturing hub with duty-free exports to markets of more than 2.4 billion people, including the EU, the Eurasian Economic Union, EFTA members, Turkey, the UAE and China. Corporate income tax is a flat 15% and the standard VAT rate is 20%. 15 free customs zones offer VAT and customs duty benefits, and large investments can qualify for a 10-year income tax holiday. The minimum capital for a limited liability company is about EUR 1, and shareholders and directors have no nationality or residence requirements. Serbia suits companies planning European manufacturing and regional sales.
in 3 steps
In Serbia, the limited liability company (d.o.o.) is the entity investors use most. It needs at least 1 shareholder, with no upper limit, and every company must have at least 1 director who is a natural person and may be a foreigner. The company becomes a legal entity only after registration with the Serbian Business Registers Agency (SBRA/APR). It then opens a bank account and registers its ultimate beneficial owners.
Registration in Serbia is electronic, and the beneficial owner registration must be signed by the director with a qualified local electronic certificate. Check in advance whether you need a visa to enter Serbia. After setup, the company pays income tax in monthly advance installments and files annual financial statements by March 31. NSS Group plans the shareholding structure, prepares the documents and schedules annual maintenance, so your Serbia company stays clear and compliant from setup to operation.
Decide the company name, main business activity, registered address and share capital, and have the shareholders sign the founding act (osnivački akt). The director must be a natural person, may be a foreigner and does not need to be a local resident. Prepare legalized copies of the shareholders’ passports or the foreign company’s registration certificate at the same time.
Apply to the Serbian Business Registers Agency (SBRA/APR) to register the company. Registration is constitutive: the company becomes a legal entity only once it is registered. Registration fees are as published by the APR. Foreign shareholders and directors who need a Serbian visa must get one before traveling to Serbia for any procedures.
After registration, apply to a bank for a company account, and register the ultimate beneficial owners (UBO) electronically with the SBRA within 15 days of formation, signed by the director with a qualified local electronic certificate. After that, pay income tax in monthly advance installments and file annual financial statements by March 31.
service
- Company name search and reservation
- Preparation and filing of registration documents
- Drafting of governing documents
- Collection of the registration certificate
- Serbia bank account opening: documents and process tips
- Account opening document preparation
- Appointment booking and accompaniment
- Post-opening support
- Registered address
- Company secretary appointment
- Annual filing services
- Document custody and management
- Bookkeeping
- Tax filing and planning
- Financial statement preparation
- Audit arrangement
- Trademark search and assessment
- Trademark application filing
- Trademark maintenance and renewal
- Infringement protection advice
- Company change filings
- Share transfer support
- Company deregistration
- Legal advisory support
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- Limited liability company and shareholding structure assessment
- Company name, formation documents, legalization and translation
- Company registration with the Business Registers Agency (APR)
- Ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) registration and bank account opening support
- Reminders for advance income tax, annual financial statements and filings
Official fees: Business Registers Agency (APR) registration fees are as published by the authority. Other items are quoted.
Serbia company registration at a glance
The points people ask about most when registering a company in Serbia, checked against official sources (updated November 2026).
| Entity type | Limited liability company (d.o.o.) |
|---|---|
| Registrar | Serbian Business Registers Agency (SBRA/APR) |
| Foreign ownership | Up to 100%; no nationality or residence requirements for shareholders and directors |
| Minimum capital | About EUR 1 |
| Corporate income tax | Flat 15% |
| VAT | Standard rate 20%, reduced rate 10% |
| Timeline | Depends on review progress |
| Annual compliance | Income tax return within 180 days after the year end; financial statements by March 31 |
| Who can help | NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw), free assessment and written quote |
Serbia company formation cost: fee breakdown
The main costs of registering a Serbia company are the Business Registers Agency (APR) registration fee, share capital, document legalization and translation, and annual bookkeeping. The minimum capital for a limited liability company is about EUR 1. Each item is listed below so you can check quotes line by line.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Company registration fee (APR) | As published by the authority | Paid when applying to the Serbian Business Registers Agency for registration. The latest APR notice applies. |
| Share capital (d.o.o.) | Minimum about EUR 1 | A joint stock company needs about EUR 25,000. Banking and insurance have separate sector-specific capital requirements. |
| Document legalization and translation | Quoted as needed | Have the foreign shareholders' identity and company registration documents legalized and translated in advance. |
| Electronic certificate | Quoted as needed | The beneficial owner registration must be signed by the director with a qualified local electronic certificate. |
| Bookkeeping and annual filings | Quoted by bookkeeping volume | Advance income tax is paid by the 15th of each month, and annual financial statements are filed with the SBRA by March 31. |
| NSS Group advisory fee | Written quote after a free assessment | Based on the shareholder structure, entity type, bank account needs and home-country tax planning. Every item is listed in the quote, with no hidden fees. |
Capital and registration rules follow Deloitte's Doing business in Serbia 2023 and the PwC tax summary (secondary sources). APR fees follow the authority's latest notice.
Serbia company tax and compliance: 15% income tax and 20% VAT
Serbia applies a flat 15% corporate income tax and a standard VAT rate of 20%, with extra benefits in free customs zones and for large investments. Shareholders should also check whether their home country has a tax treaty with Serbia and whether controlled foreign company (CFC) rules apply.
| Item | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax | Flat 15% | Non-residents are taxed only on Serbian-source income. Investments of more than RSD 1 billion that employ more than 100 people can qualify for a 10-year tax holiday. |
| VAT | Standard rate 20% | Basic food, daily newspapers, utilities and similar items are taxed at 10%, and exports at 0%. Foreign entities with taxable supplies must register regardless of turnover. |
| Dividend withholding | 20% for non-residents | No withholding on dividends between domestic companies. Dividends to entities in tax havens remain at 20%. Treaty relief depends on the shareholder's country. |
| Income tax return | Within 180 days after the year end | Advance payments based on the prior year's tax are due by the 15th of each month and settled in the annual return. |
| Annual financial statements | By March 31 of the following year | Filed with the SBRA. A statutory audit is required for total revenue above EUR 4,400,000 or for large and medium-sized entities. |
| Free customs zones | 15 nationwide | Raw materials, machinery, equipment and building materials imported for export production are exempt from VAT and customs duties. |
Rates follow notices from the Development Agency of Serbia (RAS). Filing deadlines, VAT registration and financial statement rules follow the PwC tax summary and the Deloitte guide (secondary sources). Ask an accountant to assess your actual structure.
d.o.o., joint stock company or branch: which should you choose in Serbia?
Foreign companies setting up a company in Serbia usually compare a limited liability company (d.o.o.), a joint stock company (a.d.) or a branch (ogranak) of the foreign company.
| Item | Limited liability company (d.o.o.) | Joint stock company (a.d.) | Branch of a foreign company (ogranak) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Separate legal entity | Separate legal entity | Not a separate legal entity; part of the foreign company |
| Minimum capital | About EUR 1 | About EUR 25,000 | Ask our consultants |
| Shareholders | 1 or more, no upper limit | 1 or more | Set up by the foreign company |
| Corporate income tax | 15% | 15% | 15% |
| Typical use | The entity investors use most | Large or publicly offered companies | The parent company operates directly in Serbia |
These are general principles. Choose based on your shareholders' background, business model and tax planning.
What foreign founders should know about setting up a company in Serbia
- Visas: check whether your nationality needs a visa to enter, transit or change flights in Serbia, and apply at a Serbian embassy in advance if so.
- Tax treaties: check whether your home country has a comprehensive income tax treaty with Serbia. Without one, the 20% dividend withholding cannot be reduced.
- Beneficial owner (UBO) registration can only be filed electronically, and the director needs a qualified local electronic certificate. Before setup, decide who will act as director and how the certificate will be obtained.
- Home-country filings: some countries require approval or a filing before residents or companies invest abroad, and some apply controlled foreign company (CFC) rules. Confirm this before you transfer capital to Serbia.
Why work with NSS Group on Serbia company registration?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) is a Taiwan-based global company registration and corporate advisory group with more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 companies served. We provide company formation, bank account opening, accounting and tax, and annual maintenance in Serbia and many other countries and regions. We can handle legalization and translation of Serbian formation documents, APR registration and beneficial owner registration. Our fee is a written quote after a free assessment. Call the toll-free number 0800-003-191 (Taiwan) or use the form on this page.
Further reading
Sources: Development Agency of Serbia (RAS): Competitive Operating Costs (tax system); Development Agency of Serbia (RAS): Financial Benefits and Incentives; Development Agency of Serbia (RAS): Free Access to a Market of 2.4 bn Consumers; Development Agency of Serbia (RAS): Free Zones; Deloitte Legal: Doing business in Serbia 2023; PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Serbia: Taxes on corporate income (reviewed 2026-08-07); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Serbia: Other taxes (reviewed 2026-08-07); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Serbia: Withholding taxes (reviewed 2026-08-07); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Serbia: Tax administration (reviewed 2026-08-07). The latest official notices prevail. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
How much does it cost to set up a company in Serbia in 2026?
The minimum capital for a limited liability company is about EUR 1. The main costs are the Business Registers Agency (APR) registration fee, document legalization and translation, and bookkeeping. APR fees follow the authority’s latest notice. After setup, the company pays income tax in monthly advance installments and files financial statements every year, so include annual bookkeeping costs in your budget.
Can foreigners own 100% of a Serbia company?
Yes. According to the Deloitte 2023 guide, Serbia has no local residence or nationality requirement for shareholders, so foreigners can own 100% without a local partner. Directors also do not need to be Serbian nationals or residents. Certain businesses, such as banking and insurance, must be run through a local legal entity and have sector-specific capital requirements.
Do I need to travel to Serbia to set up a company?
The company must register with the Business Registers Agency (SBRA/APR). The beneficial owner registration, due within 15 days of formation, can only be filed electronically, and the director needs a qualified local electronic certificate. Check whether your nationality needs a visa to enter Serbia. Whether you need to be there in person depends on how documents are signed and how the certificate is obtained, so plan this before setup.
What taxes does a Serbia company pay?
Corporate income tax is a flat 15%. The return is due within 180 days after the end of the tax year, with monthly advance payments due by the 15th. The standard VAT rate is 20% and the reduced rate is 10%. Dividends paid to non-residents are subject to 20% withholding, which a tax treaty between Serbia and the shareholder’s country may reduce.
Which businesses should set up a company in Serbia?
Serbia suits companies planning manufacturing, assembly and exports for Europe. According to the Development Agency of Serbia, goods can be exported duty-free to markets of more than 2.4 billion people, including the EU, the Eurasian Economic Union, Turkey, the UAE and China. 15 free customs zones offer VAT and customs duty benefits, and large investments can qualify for a 10-year income tax holiday.
Who can help me register a company in Serbia?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) can help. NSS Group has more than 25 years of experience and has served more than 30,000 companies. Our one-stop Serbia company registration service covers entity and shareholding assessment, formation documents with legalization and translation, Business Registers Agency (APR) registration, beneficial owner registration, and tax and annual financial statement reminders. Our fee is a written quote after a free assessment. Toll-free (Taiwan): 0800-003-191.