How long does company registration in Serbia take by power of attorney?
About 5 working days at APR, and two to four weeks in total. Here is where the time actually goes, and how to keep it short.
The part people worry about, the Serbian registry, is the most predictable part. The Business Registers Agency (APR) normally registers a d.o.o. about 5 working days after filing. What stretches the timeline is almost always on the way to Belgrade: an appointment at a notary, an apostille office that works two days a week, a courier stuck in customs.
Week by week
| Step | Who | Usual time |
|---|---|---|
| You write, we reply with a plan and the total cost | Us | Same or next business day |
| You confirm name, activity, capital and director; we draft the power of attorney and founding decision | You and us | 1 to 2 working days |
| Signature at a notary or Serbian consulate, apostille if needed | You | Same day to two weeks, depending on the country |
| Courier with the original to Belgrade | You | 2 to 4 working days from most of Europe |
| Translation by a Serbian court interpreter, filing with APR | Us | 1 to 2 working days |
| APR registers the company and issues the tax number (PIB) | APR | About 5 working days |
What we usually see, not a promise. APR, notaries and couriers don't work to our schedule.
What slows it down
Names that don't match. A passport in one spelling, a power of attorney in another, a maiden name somewhere in between. If your name has changed, send the proof with an apostille at the start.
A company as founder. If your UAE or Cypriot company will own the Serbian one, we need a recent register excerpt for it, apostilled. Some registries take a week to issue one.
Changing details after signing. The power of attorney names the company, its capital and its director. Change your mind about any of them after the notary and you sign again.
A taken name. We check the name in the APR register before you sign, so this one shouldn't happen.
Send us your citizenship and the country where you would sign. We will tell you which route is fastest from there.
How to keep it short
- Sign one original. Certified copies are made at a notary in Serbia, which is cheaper and faster than certifying several abroad.
- Send us a scan the day you sign. We check it before the courier leaves, not after it arrives.
- If you live near a Serbian consulate, ask about an appointment. No apostille, no translation.
- In Austria, use a local notary. No apostille is needed under the Serbia and Austria treaty.
After registration
You get the APR excerpt and the tax number, with an English translation. The next step is usually the business bank account, which needs one visit by the director at most banks. If you plan to live here, the company is the basis for Visa D and the residence permit.
Timelines are what we usually see in practice. They are not guarantees, and state offices in Serbia and abroad set their own pace.
Frequently asked questions
How long does company registration in Serbia take?
APR usually registers a d.o.o. about 5 working days after we file. Counting everything before that, the power of attorney, the notary and apostille in your country and the courier, most cases take two to four weeks from the first message.
Can I sign the power of attorney at the Serbian embassy instead of a notary?
Yes. A signature certified at a Serbian embassy or consulate needs no apostille and no translation. It is often the fastest option if the consulate is near you and has free appointments.
Do I need an apostille?
If a local notary certifies your signature, usually yes. Austria is the exception: under the treaty between Serbia and Austria a notarised signature needs no apostille. The apostille itself is then translated in Serbia by a court interpreter.
Can you start before the originals arrive?
Yes. Send us a scan as soon as you have signed. We check it, prepare the translation and the filing, and file with APR as soon as the original is in our hands.
Tell us what you are planning
A few lines are enough. Every message is read by our lawyer, and the first written reply is free.
- You send the form. WhatsApp opens with your message already written. This website stores nothing.
- We reply, usually the same business day. If something is missing we ask four things: citizenship, where you live and pay tax now, what the business or income is, and when you want to start.
- You get a written plan with fixed fees before any work begins. If we think a bank is unlikely to say yes, or Serbia is the wrong choice for you, you hear it then.
Belgrade, Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00 CET