Is Serbia Really an English-Speaking Country? What Expats Need to Know Before Moving

One of the most common things people hear before they move to Serbia is that “Serbia is an English-speaking country.” And in many everyday situations, that statement is not entirely wrong.

If you are going to a shopping mall, sitting in a café, visiting restaurants, walking through the park, or interacting with younger generations, you will often find people who speak at least conversational English. For basic daily life, Serbia can feel surprisingly accessible for English speakers.

However, this perception can become misleading once you move beyond surface-level interactions and begin dealing with real-life logistics, legal matters, and long-term settlement.

While English is common in casual environments, it quickly disappears in more complex and formal situations.

Government offices are the most obvious example. Serbian government institutions operate almost exclusively in Serbian. English is rarely spoken, and customer service expectations differ significantly from what many foreigners are used to.

But government offices are not the only challenge.

Many foreigners are surprised to discover that private-sector services — including real estate agencies, construction trades, utility companies, and installers — also frequently operate only in Serbian, even when the company advertises English-speaking services.

This gap often leads to confusion, delays, and costly mistakes.

A recent client experience highlights why relying on English alone can be risky.

The client moved to Serbia with the intention of purchasing property and obtaining temporary residency based on real estate ownership. Initially, he worked with Relocation Serbia to identify suitable properties. Several options were quickly ruled out:

• Weekend houses that do not qualify for residency

• Properties on agricultural land, which foreigners cannot purchase directly

• Properties requiring purchase through a company, triggering higher compliance burdens

Eventually, the client chose to work directly with a real estate agency to explore additional options.

At first, communication seemed manageable. The agent he met spoke English. However, once the process progressed, a manager took over — someone who did not speak English at all and refused to allow the English-speaking agent to continue handling the client’s case.

At that point, communication completely broke down.

The client began calling our team repeatedly, asking for immediate help translating conversations, understanding documents, and clarifying legal issues — sometimes while physically sitting inside the real estate office.

This created several problems:

• Conversations became unnatural and inefficient

• Important questions were not being asked or answered clearly

• Critical legal details were being overlooked

• Decisions were made without full understanding

Language barriers don’t just slow things down — they fundamentally change the quality of decisions being made.

One of the most serious issues arose when the client selected a new-build property.

The real estate agency assured him that the property qualified for residency. However, upon closer inspection, the apartment did not yet have official occupancy approval from city inspectors.

This distinction matters.

For temporary residency based on property ownership, the property must be legally inhabitable. If occupancy approval has not been granted, residency cannot be issued — even if construction is finished.

Despite being informed of this, the agency insisted residency could still be obtained. This was incorrect.

The client ultimately purchased the property, had to leave Serbia for approximately one month while occupancy approval was finalized, then returned to apply for residency. While the situation was resolved, it caused unnecessary delays, stress, and additional costs.

Once the client moved in, new challenges emerged.

Kitchen Installation and Interior Work

The property was delivered without a kitchen, wardrobes, or furniture — common with new builds in Serbia. The kitchen installer recommended was highly skilled but spoke no English.

Designing a fully custom kitchen involves:

• Layout planning

• Cabinet configuration

• Materials and finishes

• Countertop selection

• Functional decisions

Without shared language, every step required translation and coordination, consuming time and increasing the chance of miscommunication.

When the client attempted to transfer gas and electricity into his name, he encountered another obstacle.

Utility companies informed him that utilities cannot be transferred until the first bill has been issued — something he was not told beforehand.

Because he visited the utility office alone, he did not understand what was being explained and had to call for real-time translation.

This could have been avoided entirely with basic guidance before taking action.

New-build properties in Serbia typically come with warranties. After moving in, the client identified several issues that needed repair.

When he contacted the investor, he was informed that he had already signed documents confirming the apartment was in acceptable condition.

The problem?
He did not know what he had signed.

At the notary’s office, documents were signed in Serbian, without explanation, and without professional translation. As a result, enforcing warranty repairs became significantly more difficult.

This is one of the most common — and most expensive — mistakes foreigners make.

Serbia can feel English-friendly on the surface. But once you step into:

• Real estate purchases

• Contracts and legal documents

• Trades and installers

• Utility companies

• Warranty enforcement

English alone is no longer sufficient.

This does not mean Serbia is a bad place to live. On the contrary — it is an excellent place to build a life. But success here requires preparation, education, and proper support.

We strongly recommend that anyone planning to move to Serbia begin learning basic Serbian before arrival.

You do not need fluency, but understanding:

• Basic property terminology

• Utility processes

• Contract concepts

• Common administrative phrases

can dramatically improve your experience and reduce risk.

One of the primary reasons clients work with Relocation Serbia is not just English fluency — it is contextual fluency.

We understand:

• How systems work

• Where risks exist

• What information is missing

• When something “sounds right” but is legally wrong

This protects clients from costly mistakes and unnecessary stress.

Moving to Serbia can be an incredibly rewarding decision. But while English may get you through cafés and daily errands, it will not protect you when legal, financial, or contractual decisions are involved.

Education, preparation, and professional guidance make the difference between a smooth transition and a costly learning curve.

If you are planning to move to Serbia and want to avoid unnecessary risk, we strongly encourage you to book a paid consultation with Relocation Serbia. Proper guidance at the beginning can save months of frustration and thousands in avoidable mistakes.

Your Move. Our Mission.