Licensing

In this part of the CEFTA Web Portal, you will find information on the trade licensing system separately for each CEFTA Economy. The licensing system is divided into two parts: import/export licensing and trade licensing. This web portal focuses on import/export licensing. Trade licensing is mentioned only as a reference. Import and export licensing includes: 1.The procedures to be followed for obtaining an import and export license; 2.The documents that must be presented to the relevant authorities in order to obtain the approval of the license; 3.The official documents you will receive after obtaining approval of the license; 4.The validity period and scope of each license. If you would like to know more on how/when/where to obtain an import license, please refer to the import license section of the respective CEFTA Economy on this portal. If you would like to know more on how/when/where to get an export license please refer to the export license section of the respective CEFTA Economy on this portal. If you would like to know more about trade licenses, please refer to the relevant links in the licensing section of each Economy.




  • What is the treatment of goods that natural persons bring into Serbia for use in their households?

    The goods intended for use in their own households that natural persons bring into the economy as passengers or receive from abroad through postal traffic, whose value does not exceed EUR 3,000, except for the goods that are subject to the provisions of the Customs Law and the goods that are free of duty under the Customs Tariff, may be cleared in the co-called “summary procedure”, by applying the uniform customs duty rate of 10 %.

  • How to temporary import goods for personal use and sports purposes?

    Persons temporarily entering the Republic of Serbia customs territory where they do not reside regularly (foreign nationals and Serbian nationals living abroad for more than one year) may import temporarily the goods they need for personal use during their travel and goods for sports purposes. They include all articles, whether new or used, that are necessary to the passenger for personal use during travel, taking into consideration all the circumstances of travel, and exclude all commercial goods.

  • How to import foreign-registered motor vehicle?

    More detailed conditions for importation of motor vehicles into our economy are prescribed by the Ordinance on Importation of Motor Vehicles (“Off. Gazette of the RS”, 23/2010 – hereinafter: the Ordinance), which applies to motor vehicles belonging to M and N categories, according to the classification of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE), which is the integral part of the aforesaid Ordinance.

  • What is the regime for taking money in and out of Serbia?

    The following may be freely taken into the economy:

    • - foreign currency in cash;
    • - payment cards;
    • - cheques drawn in a foreign currency.

    Payment cards and securities acquired in accordance with the regulations may be freely taken out of the economy.
  • How to become an aproved exporter?

    Approved exporter is an economic operator that makes frequently shipments of products with preferential origin under Free Trade Agreements acceded by Serbia and providing such possibility; has sought for such authorisation and has obtained the approval of the Customs Administration for making out invoice declarations.

    On granting the status of approved exporter, an economic operator acquires a possibility to make out invoice declarations for the goods of preferential origin, irrespective of the value of the products concerned. This declaration could be given by approved exporter on an invoice, delivery note or any other commercial document which describes the products concerned in sufficient detail to enable them to be identified.

  • What is the level of Corporate Income Tax and VAT?

    Corporate income tax is the second lowest in Europe, while Value Added Tax is among the most competitive in Central and Eastern Europe.

    Corporate income tax has a uniform rate of 10%.

    The VAT rates are as follows:

    • The standard VAT rate - 18% (for most taxable supplies);
    • The lower VAT rate - 8% (for basic food stuffs, daily newspapers, utilities, etc.).
  • What are the advantages for investing in Free Zones in Serbia?

    There are eight free zones which are currently operating in Serbia: Pirot, Subotica, Zrenjanin, Kragujevac, Sabac, Novi Sad, Uzice and Jug. One more free zone is currently being prepared: Smederevo.

    When doing business in free zones, investors are provided special benefits and a favorable tax regime that includes exclusion from VAT and custom duties for raw material import for export goods production, machinery, equipment, and building materials. Additionally, imports and exports within free zones are unlimited. What is more, goods that are imported from free zones into the domestic market are subject to foreign trade regime.

  • How long does it take to register a business in Serbia?

    The business registration procedure in the Business Registers Agency of the Republic of Serbia typically takes 5 days.