What we don't like about Serbia, and how to plan around it

Short answer: The things that bother our clients most are practical, not dramatic: paperwork that asks for the same proof twice, practice that differs between offices, slow bank onboarding, limited English outside the big cities, polluted winter days, traffic, and hot summers. None of them is a reason not to come. All of them are easier if you plan for them.

1. Paperwork loves originals, stamps and translations

A document from abroad often needs an apostille or legalisation, a sworn translation, and sometimes a recent date. A small mistake, like a name spelled differently in two documents, can send the file back. Plan for this early: start documents before you decide on the date, check names letter by letter, and keep scans of everything. It is slow only if you start late.

2. Practice can differ from office to office

The law is the same everywhere, but how a desk reads a requirement is not always the same. Something that was accepted last year may be questioned this year. We cannot change that, but we can expect it: we ask in writing, keep the answer, and prepare the file for the strictest reading.

3. Banks take their time

Banks do careful checks of owners, activity and the source of money, and they decide on their own. A clear written description of the business, the expected monthly turnover and where the clients are usually answers the questions before they are asked. The idea that an account can be opened in an afternoon with no questions is a myth in either direction. See opening an account as a non-resident.

4. English works in Belgrade, less elsewhere

In Belgrade and Novi Sad many young people speak good English. In offices, smaller towns and with older people, much less. Learn the polite basics, bring a trusted translator for official visits, and use written Serbian templates for repeated tasks such as address registration.

5. Winter air

On some winter days, mostly when it is cold and still, the air in some cities is noticeably worse because of heating and traffic. If you have a child, asthma or run outdoors, check the air quality app before you plan the day, and consider an air purifier. When you choose an apartment, ask how the building is heated.

6. Traffic and public transport

Belgrade is a car city. Public transport works, but it is not on the level of a western European capital, and driving takes patience. If you live and work in the centre you can often do without a car, which also saves parking stress. Test your commute at rush hour before signing a lease.

7. The summer

Summers are hot, and a flat without air conditioning in July is a different experience than in May. Ask for photos of the units and look at the orientation of the apartment, not just the price.

8. Things move at a different pace

Many practical matters are still done in person, on paper, with a queue or an appointment. Online services are improving, but not everything has moved. Bring patience and a folder. We spend a surprising amount of our own time on this, and it is part of the reason people hire us.

Why we still say come

The costs are lower than in most of Western Europe, there are short flights to many European capitals, the tax system for a small company is simple, the food is very good and people are warm once you get to know them. The frictions above are real, and they are manageable. If you want a straight answer about whether your plan works, ask us in writing before you spend money.

What helps most

• Visit for a few weeks first, in the season you like least.
• Keep a small cash buffer, for the weeks when a payment or a paper is stuck.
• Find one local person, a landlord, a neighbour or a colleague, who will answer a practical question quickly.
• Write everything down, and ask offices and banks to confirm answers in writing where they can.

None of this is glamorous, and that is the point. People who come with a realistic picture are the ones who stay and are happy here.

What does not bother our clients

For balance: the things people most often praise are the food, the cafés, the cost of eating out and how easy it is to travel to nearby countries. The practical frictions are what get in the way of enjoying all that, and they are the part we can actually help with. We include the awkward list here because the good parts do not need our help.

Sources

• Welcome to Serbia, official portal for foreigners
• Serbian Environmental Protection Agency, air quality data

General information as of 2 November 2026, not advice on your individual case. Laws, fees and practice change, so we confirm the current position before every engagement.