Digital Nomad Visa in Serbia

While many individuals look for a digital nomad visa for Serbia, it is worth mentioning that there is no such thing yet. Nonetheless, there is no need for this to be seen as an issue. There have been lots of digital nomads who manage to move to Serbia with the help of other residence programs.

What are the alternatives to digital nomad visa in Serbia?

There is no officially designated digital nomad visa for Serbia, but there are quite some other options available to relocate here legally.

1. Temporary residence permit for working remotely

The alternative that is the most suitable for digital nomads is the temporary residence permit as a self-employed individual or remote worker. It will allow you to:

• Reside legally in Serbia;
• Work for foreign companies or your clients;
• Stay for 1 to 3 years (depending on individual situations).

This is basically the Serbian version of the digital nomad visa.

2. Long-Stay Visa (Type D Visa)

Long-stay visas (also known as Visa D) can be applied to for temporary residency purposes. It allows:

• Entering the country for longer periods;
• Obtaining the residence permit upon entry.

It is usually chosen by those intending to relocate and work from the country.

What are the requirements to work remotely in Serbia?

The applicant is required to comply with some conditions even in the absence of a digital nomad visa in Serbia. Some of the common conditions may be the following:

• Validity of passport;
• Evidence of remote work/ freelancing;
• Sufficient financial income (about EUR 3,500 per month);
• Medical insurance;
• Proof of accommodation in Serbia;
• No criminal history.

What taxes should digital nomads pay while working in Serbia?

An individual will be taxed in Serbia if he or she:

• Spends 183 days or more in Serbia during a year-long period;
• Has his/her place of residence or work located in Serbia.

Taxes that apply to remote workers who are tax residents include:

• Personal income tax: 10% on salaries; other income types are taxed at flat rates between 10% and 20%;
• Social security contributions: around 35.05%, which includes: pension and disability insurance – 24%; health insurance – 10.3%; unemployment insurance – 0.75%.

What are the Serbian plans for digital nomad visa launch?

At present, no timeline has been set regarding the launch of a digital nomad visa in Serbia.

That being said, Serbia is demonstrating its desire to attract remote workers through:

• Promoting the development of the IT industry;
• Providing tax breaks;
• Upgrading infrastructure for remote professionals.

Could remote employees work for Serbian companies?

According to the Serbian work legislation, this is not allowed. The remote employee should work either for:

• Foreign companies;
• International customers.

This perfectly suits the working principle of a digital nomad visa, if implemented in Serbia.

Why choose Serbia?

Despite not having a specific Serbian digital nomad visa, Serbia still makes for an ideal destination for a digital nomad lifestyle. Some reasons for that include:

• Convenient geographic location in Southeastern Europe;
• More affordable cost of living than in other Western European countries;
• Excellent quality of life;
• Great digital infrastructure;
• English-speaking population.

For more information on working remotely as a digital nomad in Serbia, you can contact our specialists.