On January 7th, Christmas Day, the center of Subotica transformed into a true winter fairytale. The holiday market is underway, and everything is blanketed in fluffy snow, creating a magical atmosphere. Trees and market stalls are covered in white caps, with festive garlands hanging between them.
When moving to a new place of residence in Serbia, residence permit (boravak) holders are required to notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP). This process raises many questions, and it's important to know the answers in advance to avoid unpleasant situations.
Serbia has a large number of currency exchange offices, known as 'menjačnice'. When exchanging major world currencies, such as euros or dollars, for Serbian dinars, the exchange rate in most offices will be roughly the same, making the process convenient and predictable.
The environmental tax, or eco-tax (ekološka taksa), is a mandatory annual fee for the protection and improvement of the environment in Serbia. Its payment is not dependent on the chosen tax system, whether it's a lump-sum system or bookkeeping.
When moving to Serbia, the first and most important step is to obtain the 'White Card' (Beli karton) — a registration of your place of residence. This document is mandatory for all foreigners. Without it, you cannot register at a new address, which would require a 'visa run' (exiting and re-entering the country) to reset your stay period.
The decision to close a sole proprietorship (preduzetnik) in Serbia raises many questions, especially for foreign citizens. Understanding the key aspects of the process from the outset will help you plan your actions and avoid unpleasant surprises.
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.
You can purchase a SIM card in Serbia without any documents. However, a foreign passport is required for its full activation and use. After purchase, it is recommended to visit the operator's office to link the card to your passport.
Creating an account on Serbia's official e-Government portal, eid.gov.rs, is an important procedure that gives foreigners access to a wide range of digital services. This allows many bureaucratic issues to be resolved remotely, significantly simplifying life in the country.