The Serbian Digital Nomad Visa is suitable for foreigners with a confirmed income of more than 3,500 euros per month who wish to work remotely in the country and can prove this fact. This type of visa serves as a temporary freelancer residence permit, allowing work in the country for up to 12 months with the possibility of renewing the permit after a short departure from the country.
To apply and confirm an application for the Digital Nomad visa, registration at a local police station within 24 hours of arrival in the country is required. Simultaneously, an application is sent for a temporary residence permit to stay in the Republic for more than 90 days.
Specifics of the Freelance Visa
In addition to immediate registration with the police, a freelancer must take several more steps, the confirmation of which is required when obtaining the nomad visa:
- Rent accommodation.
- Obtain medical insurance.
- Open a bank account.
- Apply for a taxpayer identification number (relevant for both the self-employed and sole proprietors).
- Register a business if planning to work as a sole proprietor or a private limited company (OOO).
The program aims to attract specialists to the country who work remotely as employees in foreign companies or as business owners. However, it is important to note that in 2024 the Digital Nomad visa program has not been officially launched. This means that such residence permits are issued on an individual basis. That’s why a monthly income is so important. To obtain the visa, it is necessary to provide proof of earnings of at least 3,500 euros per month for the last six months. Similarly, family members of the digital nomad can also apply for a freelancer visa under similar conditions.
What Taxes Do Freelancers Pay?
For remote employees working in Serbia, the following tax obligations apply:
- Tax for the self-employed and sole proprietors. In this case, the tax rate is 10%. However, this condition applies to freelancers earning more than 54,000 euros per year. If the digital nomad is a resident of a country with which Serbia does not have a double taxation agreement (not relevant for Russians), then the profit tax is 20%.
- Tax for LLCs. In this case, a fixed tax rate is not applicable. The amount of tax depends on the company’s income. Essentially, this is a corporate income tax on profits, amounting to 15%. This rule applies to all LLCs regardless of their size and type of activity.
Cost of the Visa
When applying for a freelancer residence permit, you must have an amount equivalent to three months’ average income in Serbia, which is about 500 euros, on your bank account. A visa fee of 116 euros is also required.
When applying for a sole proprietor visa, it is necessary to create a business account in one of the country’s banks and deposit an amount equal to the average income in the country. Additionally, a visa fee of 173 euros and a national employment service fee of 116 euros are required. After opening a business, a registration tax of 16 euros must be paid.
Understanding all the bureaucratic intricacies on your own is sometimes not easy, but our experts are always ready to review your case and help on the path to a comfortable life.
Necessary Documents and Requirements
The following requirements are set for the documents needed to obtain a digital nomad visa in Serbia:
- Application form.
- A copy of a valid passport.
- Medical insurance.
- Two photographs.
- A statement indicating the reason for the visit and the planned duration of stay.
- Documents proving the fact of renting or owning property.
- Bank statement confirming the availability of funds.
- Documents proving the fact of remote employment.
- Confirmation of payment of visa fees.
Typically, the processing time for an application is about 30 days. It is necessary to submit the application no later than 3 months before the planned trip to Serbia.
Recent Changes in Visa Matters in Serbia
In February 2024, Serbia conducted a significant review of its immigration processes and rules. Changes affecting digital nomads included the launch of a new portal for submitting applications for visas and permits, an extension of the validity period, and an easing of the renewal process for issued permits. An official launch of the freelancer visa program is also expected.
Popularity statistics for Digital Nomad Visa to Serbia
All of the above changes in the program allowed the dynamics of demand for a Serbia visa to reach a new level, reaching a new peak value by August 2024 according to Google Trends.
