Serbia is a comfortable country with costs of living lower than almost anywhere else in Europe. At the same time, the living standards are high enough and this combination makes people from different parts of the world consider the opportunity to relocate to Serbia. In the text below, we discuss advantages as well as disadvantages of moving to the country.
Requirements for immigrants to Serbia
Foreign nationals cannot acquire legal residence in Serbia in the following cases:
- If they are connected with terrorist or extremist organizations;
- If they are wanted internationally;
- If they are disabled;
- If they have serious diseases (AIDS, TB);
- If they have criminal record;
- If they are military or police officers at home.
Applicants for Serbian residency have to supply truthful information about themselves and members of their families.
Living standards in Serbia
After the collapse of Yugoslavia and a military conflict on the territory of the country, Serbia saw some hard times. Today, the country is overcoming the associated difficulties. Even though its economy is growing, there is still space for improvement. Let’s look at some figures:
- The country’s GDP grows by 1% to 2% per year.
- The average salary is 1,195 euros per month in Serbia.
- The foreign debt is 26 billion euros.
- The average pension is about 250 euros per month.
The figures are not very impressive but they reflect the low cost of living in Serbia. Besides, Serbians’ welfare is improving:
- The crime rates are low (much lower than in some neighboring countries).
- Free healthcare and education. A system of universal medical insurance is applied. Schools in Serbia don’t charge tuition fees and talented students can attend universities without pay too.
Advantages of relocating to Serbia
Serbians are very friendly to foreigners regardless of their countries of origin. Most of them speak good English but even if a certain person in the street does not, he or she will give you directions using sign language. He/she may even see you to the place that you need! On this page, you can read more about people’s friendliness in Serbia.
Easy-going attitude to life
Even though Serbians had to go through all the hardships of war only several years ago and even though they are not exactly prospering, they remain a jolly and light-minded nation. They are very open and they like spending their free time with their families and friends. Serbians do not strive for luxury. Even wealthy people often prefer living in the countryside even though they could afford a luxury apartment in the city.
Simple relocation procedure
Many nationalities are allowed to stay in Serbia for 90 days without visas. This time is enough to apply for a temporary residence permit. If it is not enough, a visa run will set the clock back to zero.
Love for children
Serbians love not only their own children but also all children in the world! Even if parents get divorced, both of them keep looking after their child(ren). A seat on a public bus is more likely to be given up to a child in Serbia rather than an elderly person.
Nice climate
Serbia is a warm country. The temperature in winter rarely goes lower than +6ºС. The mid-season is very comfortable with temperatures between +15ºС and +25ºС. However, because Serbia is a landlocked country, the temperature in the summer can reach +46ºС in some places. You can avoid the heat by traveling to the mountains that are beautiful in Serbia.
Disadvantages of relocating to Serbia
Besides advantages, you will also find some disadvantages in Serbia and face some difficulties.
Slowness of pace
Serbians live at a slow pace. If you try to rush a local resident, you will be considered impolite. It is not a breach of etiquette rules to be 20 minutes late for a meeting. Serbians like to take long breaks during their working hours.
Unemployment
When Serbia became an independent country, the level of unemployment reached 25%. The situation is much better now but many people are still unemployed. What is more, it is difficult for a foreigner to find a job in Serbia because personal relations mean a lot in the country. You could easily find a job in the agricultural sector or work as an unskilled laborer but your income would be very low in these cases.
Expensive utilities
Rent, gasoline, and utilities are considerably less expensive in Serbia than they are in Western Europe but they are expensive for a Serb with an average salary anyway. Renting a one-bedroom apartment outside the center of Belgrade costs around 900 euros per month. Gasoline costs around 1 euro per liter, and your monthly utility bill can come up to 100 euros. You can save on utilities if you find an apartment without centralized heating in Serbia.
Bureaucracy
Not only foreigners but also locals hate the Serbian bureaucratic machine. If one paper is missing in your application document package, your application will be turned down. All official organizations recommend that you should contact them via their websites where all the rules are spelled out and all the instructions are clear. However, you have to speak Serbian to be able to use the websites!
No visa-free access to the EU
A foreign holder of a Serbian legal residence permit is not eligible to enter the European Union without a visa. You can use this document, however, to apply for an EU visa in Belgrade.
Rigid patriarchy
In small settlements, you will find a patriarchal way of life. The man is the head of the family and the woman must do what he says. The husband does not help the wife around the house. When a son is born, Serbians are happier than when a daughter is born. In large cities such as Belgrade or Novi Sad, for instance, the attitude to family life is more progressive.
Lack of some services available elsewhere
Internet shops and courier services are not well-developed in Serbia. There is no car sharing in the country either. If you want to use the Internet, you have to sign a one- or a two-year contract and often pay in advance for the whole period.
If your car breaks down, you can expect to have it fixed … in 3 to 4 weeks.
How to obtain a legal residence permit in Serbia
There are multiple ways of acquiring legal residency in Serbia but probably the simplest way of doing it is registering a company in the country. Besides, it is a very inexpensive route to Serbian residence.
A foreign national registering a sole proprietorship or an LLC in Serbia qualifies for a resident permit. If you are opening an LLC, the registration fee is only 100 euros. The cost of registering a sole proprietorship is even lower.
When you set up a company in Serbia, you will be issued a 3-month residence permit. If your company does not exist only on paper (i.e. if it carries out some business operations), you will get a 12-month residence permit.
When you have a company in Serbia, you can open a corporate bank account there.
