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Home → Blog → Residence Permit in Serbia via Company Formation
Updated: September 21, 2026 · Author: Kristijan Stoiljković, Attorney-at-Law · Next review: January 2027
A foreign citizen can establish a Serbian business without already holding a residence permit. If the founder also intends to live and work in Serbia through that business, self-employment may provide the legal basis for a residence and work permit.
The important distinction is that registering a company does not automatically grant residence. The corporate and immigration procedures are connected, but they remain separate legal steps.
This guide explains the route in practical order: choosing the business structure, registering the company, checking whether Visa D is required, completing banking and post-registration steps, and applying for the Single Permit.
Quick Answer: Serbia Residence Permit Through a Company
- A foreigner may open and own a company in Serbia before obtaining residence.
- For founders who will work through their own business, the relevant ground is usually self-employment.
- The Single Permit is the residence and work permit used for covered employment grounds, including self-employment.
- Visa-required nationals generally need Visa D before the Single Permit stage.
- Company registration can often be handled remotely through an attorney, while banking and biometrics may require personal presence.
- The full process usually takes longer than the statutory 15-day Single Permit decision period because several separate stages come first.
Can a Foreign Business Owner Get a Residence Permit in Serbia?
Yes, if the legal conditions for self-employment and residence are met. Serbia does not operate a simple “buy a company and receive residence” programme. Instead, a foreign founder may rely on a genuine Serbian business relationship as the basis for self-employment and a permit to reside and work.
The official Welcome to Serbia portal recognises running a business as a purpose of stay. The exact immigration route depends on the founder’s citizenship, travel document, visa status, business structure and intended role in the company.
If your main goal is to register a company in Serbia, review our Company Formation in Serbia blog. Foreign founders who need broader relocation support can also review our legal services for foreigners in Serbia.
Key point: company formation may create a legal basis for residence, but the immigration authority still decides separately whether the applicant meets the requirements for a residence and work permit.
Residence and Work Permit in Serbia: What Is the Single Permit?
The Single Permit for Temporary Residence and Work is the official permit combining lawful temporary residence with work authorization for covered employment grounds. Many founders simply refer to it as a “residence permit” or “work visa”, but legally the relevant document for self-employment is the Single Permit.
Since 1 February 2024, the old two-step model of first obtaining temporary residence and then a separate work permit no longer applies to self-employment cases covered by the Single Permit. Applications are submitted electronically through the official Portal for Foreign Citizens.
The legal framework is set by the Law on Foreigners, the Rulebook on the Single Permit, and the Law on Employment of Foreigners. The permit may be issued for up to three years, depending on the legal basis and individual case. The statutory deadline for deciding on a properly completed Single Permit application is 15 days.
Visa D, Visa C and Visa-Free Nationals
You do not need Visa D merely to become the owner of a Serbian company. The visa question becomes important when you intend to enter Serbia for longer-term residence and work.
If your nationality is subject to Serbia’s visa regime, the official Single Permit guidance generally requires Visa D for employment/self-employment before the Single Permit stage. Visa D is a long-stay visa valid for a period between 90 and 180 days. Visa-exempt nationals generally do not have this prior Visa D step.
Visa C vs Visa D: what is the difference?
A Visa C is a short-stay visa, generally allowing stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period for tourism, business visits and similar short-term purposes. As a rule, it is not the visa used to obtain temporary residence through self-employment.
A Visa D, by contrast, is intended for longer stays and recognised purposes such as employment, self-employment, education or family reunification. For a visa-required founder who plans to live and work through a Serbian company, Visa D is therefore the relevant visa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes the current Serbian visa requirements.
If you already hold residence in an EU or Schengen country: that status may make short-term entry into Serbia easier in some circumstances, but it does not automatically remove the Visa D requirement for a residence-and-work route. The correct analysis depends on your citizenship, passport or travel document and the status you currently hold.
Nationality matters: do not assume that another client’s route will apply to you. Visa D requirements, document legalisation and consular practice can differ depending on citizenship and the passport or travel document used.
Not sure whether you need Visa D?
Send us your citizenship, current country of residence, travel document and planned business activity. We can identify the correct corporate and immigration route before you start filing.
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How to Open a Company in Serbia and Apply for Residence: Step by Step
Step 1 — Check the visa regime and choose the business structure
Before registering anything, confirm whether Visa D will be required and decide whether your Serbian business should operate as a limited liability company or another available form. The business activity, ownership structure and your own role should be consistent with the later immigration application.
Step 2 — Register the Serbian company
A foreign citizen does not need Serbian temporary residence in order to establish a company. Incorporation of Serbian companies is handled electronically before the Serbian Business Registers Agency (APR). The APR incorporation guidance confirms that the application may be filed by the founder or an authorised person.
In many cases, a foreign founder can authorise a Serbian attorney to prepare the corporate documents and submit the electronic application under a properly prepared power of attorney. For the incorporation documents, APR filing, registered office, business activity and post-registration obligations, see our blog how to open a company in Serbia (step-by-step guide).
Step 3 — Obtain Visa D if your nationality requires it
For a visa-required founder, the Serbian company will normally already need to exist because the company documents support the self-employment basis. The official Visa D guidance for employment sets out the documents commonly required for the self-employment route, including a valid passport, photograph, proof of payment of the prescribed fee, invitation documentation, evidence of the Serbian company, a power of attorney where relevant and evidence relating to the intended residential address. Additional documents may be requested depending on the case.
Step 4 — Complete banking and practical company setup
Company registration does not automatically mean that the business is operational. A corporate bank account, accounting setup, beneficial-owner compliance and other post-registration steps may follow. Banking is often the most time-sensitive practical stage. Serbian banks carry out their own AML/KYC review and may examine the founder and beneficial owner, ownership structure, source and purpose of funds, planned business activity, expected turnover, counterparties and countries of operation. Requirements vary from bank to bank, and the foreign founder or director may be required to participate personally in the onboarding process. No lawyer or incorporation service can guarantee that a particular bank will open an account.
Step 5 — Apply electronically for the Single Permit
The Single Permit application is filed electronically through the Portal for Foreign Citizens. For visa-required nationals, it is generally filed after entry into Serbia and while the relevant Visa D is valid. The application must include a valid passport or other eligible travel document, evidence supporting the self-employment basis and the relevant address information. The travel document must remain valid for at least three months longer than the period for which the Single Permit is requested. For self-employment, the supporting evidence may also include documents showing that the applicant satisfies the conditions for the planned activity. The competent authority may request additional documents depending on the circumstances.
Step 6 — Biometrics and permit card
If the application is approved and the conditions are met, the applicant appears in person for biometric data. The permit is issued as a biometric residence and work card.
Typical visa-required route: company formation → Visa D for self-employment → entry into Serbia → company setup/banking → Single Permit → biometrics.
Typical visa-exempt route: company formation → lawful stay/direct Single Permit route → company setup/banking → Single Permit → biometrics.
Required Documents for Visa D and the Single Permit
“What documents do I need?” is one of the most important practical questions in this process. The exact list depends on nationality, the legal basis and the individual case, but a company-owner file will usually be built around the following categories.
Typical Visa D documents for self-employment
- valid passport and photograph;
- proof of payment of the prescribed visa fee;
- invitation or other documents supporting the purpose of stay;
- evidence that the Serbian company has been registered;
- power of attorney where the application is handled through an authorised person; and
- evidence concerning the intended residential address in Serbia.
The official Visa D documentation guidance should be checked immediately before filing because additional evidence may be required.
Typical Single Permit documents
- a valid passport or other eligible identification document;
- evidence supporting the self-employment basis under the employment rules;
- address of stay or residence, or the intended address where the application is made from abroad;
- documents showing that the applicant satisfies the conditions for the planned business activity, where applicable; and
- any additional documents requested by the competent authority for the particular case.
The passport or travel document must generally remain valid for at least three months beyond the requested permit period. Because the evidence is submitted electronically, document format, translation and legalisation should be planned before the filing date.
LLC or Sole Proprietor: Which Structure Fits a Foreign Founder?
Foreigners often ask whether they should establish a Serbian LLC (d.o.o.) or register as a sole proprietor/entrepreneur. Both structures can be relevant to self-employment, but the decision should not be made only from an immigration perspective.
An LLC and a sole proprietor differ in liability, taxation, accounting, ownership structure, business continuity and how third parties may view the business. For founders planning cross-border trading, employees, investors or a more formal corporate structure, an LLC is often the more natural model. For a smaller individual activity, an entrepreneur structure may deserve consideration. A tax and legal review should be completed before registration.
How Much Does a Residence Permit Through Company Formation Cost?
There is no single all-inclusive government price for the entire route. The overall cost depends on whether Visa D is required, the company structure, document legalisation, certified translations, banking, accounting and whether professional legal assistance is used.
| COST ITEM | CURRENT OFFICIAL AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Visa D | EUR 50 in RSD equivalent |
| Single Permit application fee | RSD 430 |
| Single Permit approval fee | RSD 22,770 |
| Company registration | Separate APR registration fee applies; check the current APR tariff at the time of filing. |
| Other costs | May include notarisation/legalisation, certified translation, electronic certificates, registered office, banking support, accounting and legal fees. |
Official residence and visa fees can change. Before filing, verify the current amounts on the Welcome to Serbia help page and the current APR tariff.
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How Long Does the Full Process Take?
The often-quoted 15-day period applies to the decision on a complete Single Permit application. It is not the total time needed to create the company, obtain Visa D where required, open the bank account and complete all practical steps.\
| STAGE | PRACTICAL PLANNING POINT |
|---|---|
| Company formation | Usually planned in business days once the documents are ready; timing depends on document preparation and APR processing. |
| Visa D | Timing varies by diplomatic/consular processing and the applicant’s circumstances. |
| Bank Account | Can take several weeks for foreign-owned companies because the bank performs an independent compliance review. |
| Single Permit | Statutory decision period: 15 days for a properly completed application. |
| Biometric/card | Additional in-person scheduling and card issuance follow approval. |
For that reason, foreign founders should plan the process as a multi-stage relocation and business setup project, not as a 15-day procedure.
Can Company-Based Residence Lead to Permanent Residence in Serbia?
Potentially, yes. Under the current rules, a foreigner may apply for permanent residence in Serbia after three years of continuous lawful temporary residence or residence and work under a Single Permit, provided the statutory conditions are met and the permitted absence limits have not been exceeded.
The official Permanent Residence guidance explains the continuity and absence rules. Company formation itself does not create permanent residence, and permanent residence does not automatically mean Serbian citizenship. Citizenship is a separate legal procedure with its own requirements.
What Do the Authorities Actually Check?
The application is not assessed only by looking at the APR registration certificate. The file should consistently support the claimed self-employment basis and the applicant’s right to reside and work in Serbia.
- the Serbian business is properly registered;
- the applicant has a valid self-employment basis;
- the planned activity and supporting qualifications/documents are coherent;
- the passport, address and immigration documents are in order;
- the visa route, where applicable, has been followed correctly; and
- there are no legal or security grounds preventing approval.
This is why a company should not be created as a purely formal “residence shortcut”. Corporate documents, intended activity and the immigration file should tell the same credible story.
Planning both company formation and residence in Serbia?
Our Belgrade office can coordinate the company, visa analysis, documents and residence process as one project.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Residence Through a Serbian Company
Does opening a company in Serbia automatically give me a residence permit?
No. Company registration may create a legal basis for a Single Permit through self-employment, but residence and work authorization are decided in a separate immigration procedure.
Can a foreigner open a company in Serbia before obtaining residence?
Yes. A foreign citizen may establish and own a Serbian company without first obtaining Serbian temporary residence. The incorporation application can also be filed by an authorised attorney under a proper power of attorney.
Can I register a company in Serbia while I am still abroad?
In many cases, yes. The incorporation stage can often be handled through an attorney. Personal presence may still be required later, especially for bank onboarding and biometric data. Do I need Visa D before applying for the Single Permit?
If your nationality is subject to Serbia's visa regime, you generally need Visa D for employment or self-employment before proceeding to the Single Permit. Visa-exempt nationals generally do not have that prior Visa D step.
How much does a Single Permit in Serbia cost?
The official portal currently lists a RSD 430 application fee and a RSD 22,770 fee for approval of the Single Permit. Other costs such as Visa D, company registration, translations, notarisation, banking and legal services may apply separately.
How long does the residence-through-company process take?
The Single Permit has a statutory decision period of 15 days for a complete application, but the full process is longer because company formation, Visa D where required, banking, document legalisation and biometrics may all be separate stages.
Should I open an LLC or register as a sole proprietor?
Both structures can be relevant to self-employment, but they have different liability, tax, accounting and business consequences. The right structure should be chosen based on the planned activity and the applicant's long-term business plans, not only immigration considerations.
Can temporary residence through a company lead to permanent residence?
Potentially, yes. Under the current rules, a foreigner may apply for permanent residence after three years of continuous lawful temporary residence or residence and work under a Single Permit, subject to the statutory conditions and permitted absences.
Does this route automatically lead to Serbian citizenship?
No. Company formation, temporary residence and permanent residence do not automatically grant Serbian citizenship. Citizenship is governed by separate legal requirements and should be assessed independently.
Get a Personalised Serbia Residence Route Assessment
Send us your citizenship, current country of residence, planned business activity and whether you have already registered a Serbian company. We can outline the likely Visa D, company and Single Permit steps for your case.
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Legal notice: This article provides general information as of September 21, 2026 and does not constitute legal advice. Visa, residence, work, banking and company-registration requirements depend on citizenship, the travel document used, current immigration status, planned business activity and the circumstances of each individual case.