Business Customs
Business managers in Serbia are highly conversant with Western-style market economy philosophy, customs, and business practices. Senior decision-makers, such as Managing Directors or Owners, typically hold significant decision-making authority within their companies. Relationship-building is fundamental in Serbia—business deals often require considerable time, with trust established through repeated meetings, consistent communication, and personal interaction. Serbian businesspeople are adept at spotting new opportunities and can move quickly when needed, but business processes frequently exhibit periods of unexpected delays or stops, influenced by evolving regulations, organizational changes, or personal networks.
Business dinners are common and are typically an important occasion for relationship development. Most traditional Serbian meals are meat-centric and expansive, but Belgrade’s modern restaurant scene now offers limited vegetarian options. At traditional venues, dietary preferences should be communicated to the host in advance, allowing them to plan accordingly.
The business calendar in Serbia closely mirrors other European countries, with significant downtime during the summer (July and August) due to vacations. Business activity is also minimal in the first several weeks of January (Orthodox Christmas and New Year) and around Orthodox Easter. Coordination of key meetings outside these periods is advised.
Travel Advisory
The U.S. Department of State provides up-to-date information on travel warnings, security conditions, and entry requirements for Serbia. Travelers are encouraged to review the U.S. State Department’s International Travel Information for Serbia prior to departure. Serbia’s visa regime continues to evolve: since April 2025, digital travel authorizations (e-visas) are available for many nationalities, simplifying entry for business and tourism.
Visa Requirements
As of 2025, citizens of the United States and many other countries may visit Serbia visa-free for up to 90 days within a six-month period for business, tourism, or transit. If they stay longer than 90 days, travelers must apply for temporary residence status. Business travelers requiring multiple or longer stays can apply for a “C” business visa online or through a Serbian consular post. Required documents typically include a valid passport (at least 3 months beyond departure), a completed application, an invitation letter from a Serbian company, financial means, health insurance, and accommodation proof. For the most current procedures, consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (https://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/citizens/travel-serbia/visa-requirements) or Serbia’s e-government portal (https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/).
For longer-term employment or residency, work visas or permits must be obtained before arrival. All travelers should verify entry rules via the Embassy of Serbia in Washington, D.C., or consulates in Chicago or New York. Upon arrival in Serbia, foreigners must be registered with the police within 24 hours—a process typically completed automatically by hotels, or by hosts for private accommodations. U.S. companies seeking to bring Serbian nationals to the U.S. should consult the U.S. Embassy Belgrade for B1/B2 or other relevant visas. Multiple-entry B1/B2 visas for Serbians can be valid for up to 10 years.
Visa applicants should go to the following links for more information:
Currency
Serbia’s currency is the Serbian Dinar (RSD), unofficially pegged to the euro (recent rate: ~117.15 RSD = 1 Euro). The USD/RSD fluctuates with the USD/EUR exchange rate. For up-to-date exchange rates, visit the National Bank of Serbia (https://nbs.rs/sr_RS/indeks/). Accessing cash is straightforward—ATMs operated by international and local banks (Raiffeisen, Banca Intesa, UniCredit, etc.) are widely available and accept most international cards. Note that ATMs commonly dispense 2000 RSD notes, but taxis and shops often prefer small bills (“sitno”). Foreign currency, up to €10,000, can be brought into Serbia cash without declaration; higher amounts require customs declaration and proof of origin.
Cash Withdrawal
Cash withdrawal using international credit or debit cards is easily available from bank ATMs, with most issuing large (2000 RSD) notes. As change in smaller denominations is preferred for taxis and daily transactions, travelers should break large bills in stores, banks, or hotels when possible. Standard ATM fees apply.
Changing Money
Foreign currency can be exchanged at commercial banks, hotels, post offices, airport kiosks, and numerous licensed “menjačnica” (exchange offices) found in city centers. Each post their rates, and banks may charge a commission. A passport is usually required for cash exchange. Receipts should be retained for larger transactions.
Telecommunications/Electronics
The telecom market in Serbia is well developed: the primary mobile operators are MTS (Telekom Serbia), Yettel, and A1, with virtual mobile operators also present. GSM, 3G, and LTE/4G coverage is strong nationwide. 5G network is available in the larger cities, predominantly in the capital Belgrade. However, telecom operators are currently in the process of infrastructural preparations for wider deployment. According to the Government’s announcements, complete coverage is planned for 2027. Local pay-as-you-go SIM cards with data are widely available at kiosks (“trafika”) and can be activated with minimal paperwork.
Telekom Srbija leads in fixed-line telephony and Internet services. About 81.5% of households have broadband internet access, and Wi-Fi is standard in hotels, restaurants, business centers, and airports in major cities. Prepaid SIM cards, as well as top-ups, can be purchased inexpensively—a local can help with setup if required.
Business and social communications often use WhatsApp, Viber, and Signal, which are popular for secure and low-cost calls and messaging.
Transportation
Serbia’s main international airport is Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, managed by Vinci Airports under a long-term concession. The airport offers direct flights throughout Europe and, since 2016, direct service to New York and, since 2023, to Chicago. Other airports include Konstantin Veliki Niš Airport and Morava Airport, both being modernized.
Air Serbia remains the national airline, now fully state-owned, and operates both international and domestic routes. Low-cost airlines (Wizz Air, FlyDubai, easyJet, Pegasus) also serve Serbia. Rail, though modernizing, can be unreliable—ongoing construction affects some international lines. The newly launched Belgrade-Novi Sad high-speed “Soko” train provides rapid (30-minute) transit between the cities. The Belgrade–Budapest high-speed railway is nearing completion, with regular service expected to begin by late 2025 or early 2026. Some segments, such as the Novi Sad–Subotica section, are scheduled to open for passenger traffic as early as autumn and winter 2025. Progress on the project has been affected by delays stemming from construction accidents and ongoing safety inspections, including a notable incident at the Novi Sad station. While limited regional train service may operate on finished segments sooner, direct international trains between Budapest and Belgrade will remain suspended until the entire line is fully certified and officially launched. Major highways connect Belgrade to all regional capitals, with about 950 km of toll highways now operational.
Car rentals (Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Budget) are available at airports and key business districts. U.S. citizens can drive with a valid U.S. license and passport. Taxis, generally reliable and affordable, are easily called via phone, app, or from designated stands; the airport uses a regulated zone taxi/voucher system, and ride apps like CarGo are popular in urban areas.
Language
The official language is Serbian, but English is widely spoken among business professionals, especially in urban areas. Most younger Serbians and professionals speak very good English; German, Italian, and French are also present. Packaging and marketing materials should be in Serbian; Cyrillic remains official for government work but the Latin script predominates in private business. In Vojvodina, Hungarian and Slovak are also commonly spoken.
Health
Air quality can be poor in fall and winter due to coal use and agricultural burning. No mandatory immunizations exist, but Hepatitis A and B vaccines are recommended for long-term stays. Prescription medicines may require Serbian prescriptions and may not be available in the same formulation as in the United States. Private clinics (Medigroup, Euromedik, Belmedic) are modern, affordable, and well-acquainted with international patients. Emergencies: Military Medical Academy (VMA) and city emergency centers provide services for foreigners.
Fruits and vegetables are of high quality; standard food safety practices suffice.
Local Time, Business Hours, and Holidays
Serbia is on GMT+01:00 and observes daylight saving time between late March and late October. Typical business hours: state offices 8:00–16:00, private companies 9:00–17:00, Monday to Friday. The U.S. Embassy is open 8:30–17:00. National and U.S. holidays, as well as Orthodox Christmas and Easter, see widespread business closures.
Key public holidays in Serbia for 2025:
New Year’s (Jan 1–3)
Orthodox Christmas (Jan 7)
Statehood Day (Feb 15–16)
Orthodox Easter (April; dates vary)
May Day (May 1–2)
Armistice Day (Nov 11)
U.S. federal holidays are also observed at the Embassy. Regional and religious holidays (e.g., Catholic Christmas, Ramadan, Rosh Hashanah) are recognized.
Summer (July–August) and January are customary vacation periods; business slows considerably. Plan business visits accordingly.
For business appointments with the U.S. Mission in Serbia, contact the Commercial Service at +381-11-706-4112 or Belgrade@trade.gov. Visit U.S. Commercial Service Serbia for more information.