Relocating from the United Kingdom Updated June 2026

Moving to Serbia from the United Kingdom

British nationals can enter Serbia visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Serbia isn't in the EU and was unaffected by Brexit — entry rules for UK passport holders haven't changed. The most common residency pathways are company formation and property purchase, and a UK–Serbia tax treaty plus Serbia's flat 10% income tax make it increasingly popular with British remote workers and retirees.

Book my eligibility call → See the pathways
Visa-free entry: 90 days within any 180-day period — no visa required Brexit has no effect on Serbian entry — Serbia is an EU candidate, not a member UK–Serbia double taxation treaty — prevents most cases of being taxed twice Full process managed by a bilingual, on-the-ground team
UK → RS · PATHWAY Eligible
Visa-free entry90 / 180 days
Company (DOO) setup~5 days
Residence permit basisCompany / property
UK–Serbia tax treatyIn force
Brexit impactNone
90/180
Visa-free days
5d
Avg. company registration
10%
Flat personal income tax
Yes
UK–Serbia tax treaty
Post-Brexit

Brexit doesn't apply here

Serbia is not an EU member — it's an EU candidate country — so Brexit has no effect on a British national's ability to enter, live, or set up a business in Serbia. UK nationals are treated as third-country nationals here in exactly the same way as Americans or Canadians. If anything, post-Brexit Serbia has become more attractive to Britons who can no longer live freely across the EU.

What changes by nationality

What British nationals specifically need to know

Entry rules, tax treatment, document requirements, and banking considerations vary by nationality. Here are the specifics that apply to UK passport holders.

Entry & visa rules

Visa-free access

British passport holders enter Serbia visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period — the same rule as US and Canadian citizens. The entry stamp date begins the window, which is a rolling 180 days, not 90 consecutive days. Overstaying complicates future permit applications. For stays beyond 90 days, a temporary residence permit is required.

Tax treaty

Serbia–United Kingdom tax treaty

The UK–Serbia double taxation convention is in force. British nationals who establish UK non-residency under the Statutory Residence Test (SRT) generally stop paying UK income tax on non-UK income. Serbia's flat 10% income tax is well below UK rates. UK-source income — UK rental and pension income — typically remains UK-taxable, and the treaty prevents most double taxation.

Most common pathway

How British nationals typically obtain residency

Company formation (DOO) or property purchase — both popular with Britons seeking long-term residency, and the routes we most commonly process for UK clients. The documents required differ slightly by nationality; we provide a personalised checklist after the eligibility call.

Ancestry & citizenship

Serbian heritage in the United Kingdom

A smaller but growing Serbian-British community, with Yugoslav emigration waves from the 1960s–1990s. If you have a Serbian-born parent or grandparent, we run a lineage assessment to confirm eligibility for citizenship by descent — which requires no residency in Serbia and allows dual citizenship.

Your options

Three ways British nationals establish themselves in Serbia

Most UK clients use one of these three pathways. The right one depends on your goals, timeline, and whether you have Serbian ancestry.

For individuals & families

Residency via company formation

Register a Serbian DOO in about 5 days with €1 minimum capital. The company immediately qualifies you for a temporary residence permit — the most common route for remote workers, entrepreneurs, and the self-employed.

Learn about residency →
For long-term settlers

Residency via property purchase

British citizens can purchase Serbian property — the UK–Serbia reciprocity on property rights predates and is separate from EU membership, so Brexit hasn't affected it. Ownership is a recognised basis for a temporary residence permit.

Learn about real estate →
For those with Serbian ancestry

Citizenship by descent

With a Serbian-born parent or grandparent, you may qualify for Serbian citizenship without ever living in Serbia — and keep your UK passport, as Serbia allows dual citizenship.

Learn about citizenship →
What to avoid

Common mistakes British nationals make relocating to Serbia

These are the errors we see most often from UK clients. Each one is avoidable with proper preparation.

✕Confusing Brexit/Schengen rules with Serbian entry — Serbia isn't in the EU or Schengen, and UK passport holders have never needed a Schengen-style visa for it.
✕Treating the 90-day limit as 90 consecutive days — it's 90 days within any rolling 180-day window, counted from your first entry.
✕Not formally establishing UK non-residency before claiming Serbian tax rates — the Statutory Residence Test has specific criteria and HMRC applies it strictly.
✕Forgetting that UK pension and rental income stays UK-taxable even once you're non-resident — the treaty manages double taxation, but UK-source income keeps its UK liability.
✕Trying to register a company without a Serbian address — a registered legal address is mandatory.
Questions

British national FAQ

No. UK passport holders enter Serbia visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period — the same as US and Canadian citizens. Serbia isn't in Schengen and wasn't affected by Brexit, so the entry rules for UK nationals haven't changed. For stays beyond 90 days, a temporary residence permit is required.
No. Serbia is not an EU member state — it's an EU candidate country. Brexit has no effect on British nationals' ability to enter Serbia, live there, or establish a business. UK nationals are treated as third-country nationals in exactly the same way as Americans or Canadians. If anything, post-Brexit Serbia has become more attractive to Britons who can no longer live freely across the EU.
If you pass the Statutory Residence Test (SRT) as a non-UK resident, you generally stop paying UK income tax on non-UK income. UK-sourced income — such as UK rental and pension income — typically remains UK-taxable. The UK–Serbia double taxation convention prevents most cases of being taxed twice on the same income. We recommend consulting a UK-qualified tax advisor before relying on non-residency status.
Yes. The UK–Serbia reciprocity on property rights predates and is separate from EU membership, so Brexit hasn't affected British nationals' ability to purchase Serbian property. The process is the same as for other Western nationals: full purchase rights with a notary-certified deed and land-registry registration. Transfer tax is 2.5% and a typical purchase completes in around 30–60 days.
Yes. Many Britons in Serbia work remotely for UK employers or clients. The tax treatment depends on your structure — employed, self-employed, or through a Serbian company. Setting up a Serbian DOO and invoicing your UK clients through it is a common, efficient structure that pairs with Serbia's 10% income tax. We advise on the right setup on the consultation call.
Specific to British nationals · Bilingual team

Ready to move to Serbia from the United Kingdom?

Book an eligibility call. We'll confirm your pathway, timeline, and cost — no obligation.

Book my eligibility call → View all individual services