Managing a pregnancy and giving birth in another country always raises many questions. This material was created to support women who live in Serbia and are preparing to become mothers. The information is based on real experience and is constantly updated.
An extract from the register of sole proprietors is an official document confirming the status of your business. It is often required for various legal and administrative procedures, such as applying for a residence permit (boravak).
The 'Promenu osnova rada' or 'Change of Basis' procedure is an official process designed for foreigners who already have a residence permit in Serbia based on employment (work-based residence permit) and want to additionally register and link a sole proprietorship (SP) to their residence permit.
A certificate confirming that your sole proprietorship is a tax resident of Serbia (Potvrda o rezidentnosti) is necessary for applying double taxation avoidance agreements. It is most often requested by counterparties from European Union countries and Armenia. This document confirms that you pay taxes specifically in Serbia, which exempts your partner from withholding tax at the source in their country.
Paušal taxation in Serbia is a simplified system with a fixed tax rate that does not depend on the entrepreneur's actual profit. This regime is considered the simplest and most convenient, especially for freelancers, IT specialists, and consultants working with foreign clients.
The Zdravstvena knjižica or kartica is Serbia's compulsory health insurance (OMS) policy, which provides access to public medical services. Obtaining this document is directly linked to having a residence permit (VNZh). It is impossible to apply for Serbian public health insurance without a residence permit.
The 'White Card' (Beli karton) is the official confirmation of a foreigner's registration at their place of residence in Serbia. It is essentially an equivalent of a temporary residence registration. Although the document is usually issued for an indefinite period, it must be re-registered each time you leave and re-enter the country, unless you have a residence permit (VNZh).
When choosing a bank in Serbia, it's important to understand the legal framework. According to Article 41 of the Law on Banks, financial institutions have the right to choose their clients and are not obligated to explain the reasons for refusing to open an account. Attempts to challenge such a decision are usually unsuccessful.
You can buy a car in Serbia even without a residence permit, but you won't be able to register it. Therefore, the key step before purchasing is obtaining a residence permit. It's important that the permit is issued for at least six months and is valid at the time of vehicle registration. A Serbian driver's license is not required for the registration process.