Personal accounts: Serbia
An honest assessment before work starts, the quote is fixed in writing.
| In short | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Without residence | Possible: dinar and foreign currency accounts |
| Visit | Not always: some banks verify identity by video |
| Deposit insurance | Up to €50,000, ~$57,000, per bank |
| Tax on interest | 0% on dinars, 15% on foreign currency |
| Murblz support | From $6,500 |
| Russian tax notice | Within a month for Russian tax residents |
Serbia is one of the most accessible places for a foreign account: the country is outside the EU, banks are used to foreign clients, and the rules for non-residents are set out directly by the National Bank of Serbia. A Russian citizen does not need a residence permit for an account, and some banks open one even without a branch visit.
Can you open an account in Serbia without residence or a visit
Under National Bank of Serbia rules, a non-resident may open a dinar account and a foreign currency account at a Serbian bank. The application goes to the chosen bank by email or at a branch, stating which account is needed.
A visit is not always required. The National Bank has allowed banks to verify a client's identity by video, so some banks open accounts remotely while others ask you to come in. Under the foreign exchange law, a foreigner is a non-resident in their first year of stay. Once they have a residence permit and have lived in Serbia for over a year, the bank moves them to a resident account.
Which banks accept Russians
Many Serbian banks work with foreigners, and their requirements differ in how much work they take:
- Most large and mid-sized banks open non-resident accounts under a standard procedure: passport, address, source of money and purpose.
- Some banks run a more demanding check, so support there costs more.
- Banks with video identification suit those who cannot travel to Serbia yet.
We check which option fits your profile before applying.
Documents for the account
| Document | Purpose | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Passport or other photo ID | Identity check | Valid document |
| Permanent or temporary address | Bank form | Lease or utility bill |
| Proof of residence over the last year | Requirement for non-residents | Passport or temporary residence registration certificate |
| White card registering your stay | Proof of address in Serbia | Police |
| Source of money and purpose of the account | Bank checks | Statements, contracts, income certificates |
Timelines and running costs
The timeline depends on the bank and the identification method: by video there is no trip, at a branch it takes one visit if documents are ready. Each bank sets its own fees.
The Deposit Insurance Agency protects individuals' deposits, residents and non-residents alike, up to €50,000, about $57,000, per bank; payouts start within 7 working days. Interest on dinar savings is tax-free, while the bank withholds 15% on interest on foreign currency deposits. Euro accounts are common in Serbian banks.
Murblz support for opening an account costs $6,500 at most banks and $8,400 at banks with a more demanding procedure.
From $6,500, but the main risk is the source of money
The law does not stop you from applying to a Serbian bank on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: an application without proof of residence over the last year, money without proof of origin, a stated purpose that does not match payments, a bank that does not open accounts remotely. Murblz support removes these risks: Murblz specialists choose the bank for your profile, prepare documents and run the application until the bank decides. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first filing.
Support is $6,500 at most banks and $8,400 at banks with a demanding procedure; a manager will go through details in chat.
Tax data exchange and notifying the Russian tax service
Serbia has no commitment to the automatic exchange of tax information. Since 2019 it has been party to the multilateral convention on mutual administrative assistance in tax matters, so exchange on request is available. This does not cancel your obligations to the Russian tax service.
Russian tax residents notify the tax service of opening a foreign account within one month, separately for each account, and file a report on account flows for the previous year by 1 June. Anyone who spent more than 183 days outside Russia in a calendar year is exempt from both. If the bank's country exchanges tax information with Russia, the report is not filed when no more than 600,000 roubles, about $7,100, came into the account during the year, but the opening notice is still required. How to file is explained in our articles on the foreign account notification and the account flow report.
Common refusals
- The source of money cannot be documented.
- The client or their money is linked to sanctions restrictions.
- The purpose of the account does not match expected payments.
- No proof of residence over the last year.
What we do
Murblz specialists assess the profile, recommend the bank where the odds are better, help prepare documents and the explanation of the source of funds and accompany the process until the bank decides. The decision stays with the bank, so we assess the chances honestly before work starts.
This topic in other countries
Accounts for non-residents in other countries:
- Bank account in Georgia for non-residents
- Bank account in Armenia for non-residents
- Bank account in Turkey for non-residents
- Bank account in Kyrgyzstan for non-residents
- Bank account in the USA for non-residents
- Bank account in Uzbekistan for non-residents
- Bank account in Cyprus for non-residents
- Bank account in Switzerland for non-residents
- Bank account in Singapore for non-residents
- Bank account in Hong Kong for non-residents
- Bank account in Germany for non-residents
- Bank account in Spain for non-residents
- Bank account in Portugal for non-residents
- Bank account in Thailand for non-residents
- Bank account in Argentina for non-residents
- Bank account in Paraguay for non-residents
- Bank account in Uruguay for non-residents
More on this country:
All countries and rules are in the overview a foreign bank account in 2026.
Fees
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Serbian bank account opening assistance (standard rate) | $6 500 |
| Serbian bank account opening assistance (higher rate) | $8 400 |
We will calculate online the cost of opening a personal account and maintaining it for a year.
See also
Company formation · Business account · Investment property · All country programs
FAQ
Why are there two rates for this service?
Do I need a Serbian residence permit to open an account?
Do I have to travel to Serbia?
What documents do you need to open a bank account in Serbia?
Can you open a euro account in Serbia?
Are deposits insured in Serbian banks?
What is the tax on deposit interest in Serbia?
Do I need to notify the Russian tax service about a Serbian account?
Opening a personal account in Serbia?
We choose a Serbian bank that opens accounts for non-residents of your citizenship, prepare the documents and follow the account opening. Every country is in the searchable catalogue.
The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.
Free consultation