Buying property in Serbia: Your step-by-step guide to costs and the entire process

If you’re considering buying property in Serbia, you’ll be glad to know it’s one of the most straightforward countries in Europe when it comes to relocation and obtaining temporary residence.

However, there’s one important condition: foreigners can only purchase real estate in Serbia if they are citizens of countries that have a reciprocity agreement with Serbia. Most European countries, Russia, the United States, and several others fall into this category.

Here’s a clear breakdown of what to expect — from your arrival in Serbia to owning a property and applying for a temporary residence permit.

Registering your temporary address with the police

Upon arriving in Serbia, your first legal obligation is to register your temporary place of stay with the local police. This results in a document called a “white card” (beli karton), which confirms your address in Serbia.

This registration is typically handled by:

• Your hotel or accommodation host

• The landlord if you’re renting privately

• The real estate agency you are working with

Without this document, you cannot open a bank account, which is a required step in the property-buying process.

Opening a bank account in Serbia

To buy property in Serbia, you’ll need a local bank account — it’s the only legal channel for transferring funds to the seller.

Even without a Serbian residence permit, many banks do still open accounts for foreigners, including Russian citizens and other non-EU nationals. Our agents can help you identify the most cooperative banks and guide you through the process.

You’ll need:

• Your passport

• Your white card (temporary address registration)

Finding the right property

You can search on your own or with the help of a real estate platform or agency. City Expert is the leading digital platform for real estate in Serbia, offering thousands of listings from owners and developers. Each property features detailed descriptions, photos, videos, and 3D tours.

When you choose a property through City Expert, you get full legal support in English (or Russian) — completely free of charge.

The purchase process: How it works

Property transactions in Serbia are carried out at a public notary office, and the following people must be present:

• Buyer

• Seller

• Lawyer

• Two bilingual witnesses (Serbian + buyer’s language)

• Court-certified translator

• Notary

The notary reads the contract in Serbian while the translator provides a simultaneous translation. After signing, the buyer must go to the bank to transfer funds to the seller, then return to the notary to show proof of payment.

The notary submits the documents to the land registry (cadastre), and the buyer receives a "clausula intabulandi" — allowing for registration of ownership.

The keys are usually handed over on the same day.

Property registration

Final registration in the cadastre takes 2 to 3 weeks. 

Afterward, a government fee of around €50 is paid for the change of ownership. 

Once registration is complete, you are officially the property owner and can apply for temporary residence.

Buying new builds

If you’re buying a newly built apartment, be aware that you can’t register ownership until the building receives the final usage permit (called “upotrebna dozvola”). Even if you’re already living in the property, you won’t legally own it until this document is issued.

To avoid delays, many foreigners choose already built and registered properties on the resale market.

Taxes & mandatory fees

Here’s what you can expect in terms of costs:

Taxes:

• Resale properties: 2.5% property transfer tax

• New developments: 10% VAT (usually included in the purchase price)

• Annual property tax: 0.06% – 0.6% of the assessed value, depending on location and other factors

Foreigners must also apply for a tax identification number within 5 days of the purchase.

Additional costs

• Real estate agency fee: Usually 1.5% to 3%. But with City Expert, there’s no commission — our services are completely free for buyers.

• Lawyer, notary, and translator fees: Around 1% of the property price

Can you buy property in Serbia remotely?

Technically yes, but in practice it’s quite rare. We strongly recommend planning a trip to Serbia for at least two weeks, especially if you’ve already chosen a property and negotiated terms in advance.

Need help?

If you have questions or want help choosing a property, our Russian- and English-speaking team at City Expert is here to help — free of charge, from your first viewing to final registration.

Visit City Expert to browse verified listings and start your property journey in Serbia today.