Relocating to Serbia: how to settle in
Serbia is an increasingly popular base for a long stay and relocation: visa-free entry for citizens of many countries (typically 90 days in 180), low living costs, fast internet, and a large international community in Belgrade and Novi Sad. This section is a practical guide to settling in on the ground.
We start with the non-regulatory things everyone needs: housing, connectivity, banking, transport, insurance. Documents, residence permits, and taxes are regulated by the state, and they change periodically - for those we give direct links to official sources and are preparing separate breakdowns.
Documents and taxes change - verify with the primary source
The rules for entry, residence permits, business registration, and taxes in Serbia are revised periodically (for example, the boravak residence permit and flat-rate “paušal” taxation of sole traders). Don’t rely on retellings in chats and outdated articles - verify the terms as of the time of your move directly with the government bodies (mup.gov.rs / APR; links below).
That’s why we don’t fix specific deadlines, amounts, and requirements here as unchanging, but point you to the official sites - they always have the current version.
Where to start on the ground
Housing for your first weeks
For the first weeks it’s convenient to stay in a hotel, guesthouse, or apart-hotel, and look for a long-term rental on the ground, having seen the neighborhood in person. The largest local listing boards are nekretnine.rs, halooglasi.com and 4zida.rs; there are also many options through local Facebook groups, chats, and agencies.
SIM card and internet
A local SIM is sold with a passport at operators’ offices and shops - the main ones are mts, Telenor (Yettel) and A1. Mobile internet is fast and inexpensive, Wi-Fi is everywhere in the cities; this is one of Serbia’s strengths for remote work.
Bank account
An account and a card are opened for foreigners by the major banks - Banca Intesa, OTP, Raiffeisen, and AIK are among the larger ones. Requirements and check times are periodically tightened, so verify the document set and terms at a branch in advance.
Long-term rental
The lease is usually for 6-12 months, with a deposit most often equal to one month. Prices depend on the city and neighbourhood: central Belgrade (Vračar, Dorćol, Stari Grad) is the priciest, while Novi Sad and Niš are more affordable. Check the meters, the internet, and who pays for utilities.
Transport and getting around
In the cities - cheap public transport (Belgrade has the densest network of buses, trams and trolleybuses); between cities - frequent intercity buses and the fast Belgrade-Novi Sad railway. For freedom of movement many rent a car - how that works is in our rental section.
Health and insurance
There are public and private clinics; the level of private medicine in the big cities is good. For the move and for trips, medical insurance with coverage abroad is convenient - options are in our insurance section.
Daily life and community
The currency is the dinar (RSD) - cash is handy in smaller towns and at markets, while in the cities cards are accepted almost everywhere. Belgrade and Novi Sad have large international communities, and cafes and services often speak English - it’s easy to adapt even without Serbian.
Detailed guides
In-depth, non-regulatory how-tos for settling in - updated as things change.
- Cost of Living in Belgrade What Belgrade costs in 2026 for nomads and expats: rent by area, food, free transport, coworking and a realistic monthly budget in euros and dinars.
- Living in Belgrade as a Digital Nomad Belgrade for digital nomads in 2026: fast cheap internet, free transport, coworking, best areas to live, SIM and visa basics, and the honest trade-offs.
- Serbia Residence Permit (Boravak): A Guide How Serbia temporary residence (boravak) works in 2026: the grounds, the 2023 single-permit reform, how to apply, timelines and what to check with MUP.
Services for living in Serbia
What’s already on the site
Practical sections that come in handy when relocating:
Documents, visas, and taxes: official sources
For these topics we point you straight to government sites - they have the current rules, deadlines, and amounts. We prepare separate breakdowns relying on these same sources.
- Visa, visa-free entry, and length of stay Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia
- Residence and work permit (boravak) Ministry of Interior (MUP)
- Taxes for individuals and companies Tax Administration of Serbia
- Registering a company or sole trader Business Registers Agency (APR)
- Driver’s license and vehicle registration Ministry of Interior (MUP)
Nuances people ask about
- The language is Serbian (written in both Cyrillic and Latin), but in the cities you can easily get by with English: signs and menus are often duplicated.
- The money is the dinar (RSD). We show the current dinar rate on the home page in the “Right now in Serbia” block.
- Internet and connectivity are cheap and fast, which is why remote workers love Belgrade.
- Belgrade rents are noticeably higher in the central neighbourhoods (Vračar, Dorćol, Stari Grad) - worth keeping in mind for a long-term rental.