Serbia is an interesting country to visit, live, work, start your business in, take advantage of its excellent banking, and so on. This is a very hospitable country where the locals are friendly to foreigners, and it has a rich history, stunning landscapes, and a lively culture. All these factors make the destination attractive to travelers from across the globe. But how hospitable are the local customs? Let’s take a look at the main regulations to ensure a trouble-free travel experience. If you are aware of the local requirements, you will feel more confident and protect yourself from unpleasant outcomes, and it will make compliance with the norms much easier. If you want to discover this wonderful Balkan state in more detail, please visit this site devoted entirely to Serbia.
Serbian Customs Regulations: Overview
There are several laws in Serbia that form the basis for customs regulations and deal with different aspects of currency and commodity movement across the border:
- Customs Law (Carinski zakon)
- Law on Foreign Trade (Zakon o spoljnotrgovinskom poslovanju)
- Law on Foreign Currency Operations (Zakon o deviznom poslovanju)
Serbian customs regulations are also modified by international agreements:
- CEFTA (Central European Free Trade Agreement) that promotes free trade between its parties.
- SAA (Stabilization and Association Agreement) with the EU that gives Serbia special benefits in trade with European countries.
Green and Red Corridor
The two different channels that help control the goods and funds being imported into the country are traditionally referred to as the green and red corridors.
The green corridor can be used by those who import goods that are not restricted/prohibited and are not subject to customs duties. If you go through the green corridor, you are not required to complete a customs declaration or undergo any additional baggage check. However, if the customs authorities suspect any possible violations, they are entitled to conduct extra checks.
Let’s look at the cases when the red corridor should be selected:
- A traveler carries restricted/prohibited items
- The goods to be imported require mandatory declaration
- The items a traveler carries exceed the limits set
If you opt for the red corridor, you will have to fill out a customs declaration and show it to the customs officer. In addition, you will be required to pay a customs duty that amounts to 10% of the products’ value and VAT (20%). It makes up 30% in total.
If your goods cost no more than 3,000 euros, you are subject to simplified customs procedures.
Currency Import Limits
When it comes to imports and exports of securities and foreign currency, the Serbian regulations are not very stringent. If their total amount per traveler does not exceed 10,000 euros, there is no need for a declaration. A 4-member family can import up to 40,000 euros without any restrictions.
If the amount is more than 10,000 euros per person, you will be required to fill out a declaration. In this case, you will have to prove the origin of your funds by providing relevant documents, such as salary certificates, bank statements, receipts from currency exchanges, and so on. In addition, you can export the currency you withdraw from your Serbian bank account if you provide a bank statement.
Two particular groups of non-residents can export amounts exceeding 10,000 euros from Serbia:
- The nationals of Serbia who have been living in a foreign country for more than one year on a work visa or residence permit.
- Foreign citizens that live abroad, including consular and diplomatic representatives of other countries in Serbia and the members of their families.
If you are a non-resident and you want to export an amount exceeding 10,000 euros from Serbia, you will have to provide the following documents:
- A certificate from a Serbian bank to confirm that the money was withdrawn from a Serbian bank account.
- A foreign currency import certificate that was issued by the customs service to prove that the amount was imported to Serbia when the respective person crossed the border.
- An exchange office confirmation which specifies that the money to be exported originated from the sale of the local currency (dinars) withdrawn earlier using a bank card in Serbia.
The amount you can export is limited to the one specified in the above documents.
Residents of Serbia who want to take out an amount that exceeds 10,000 euros will have to show official evidence of their emigration when they cross the border: a certificate of deregistration in Serbia and an emigration visa. Both documents are provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Money on Plastic Cards
The most relaxed customs rules are set with regard to money on plastic cards: both residents and non-residents can import as much money on a bank card as they want when they cross the Serbian border.
Failure to Declare Money: Consequences
If you fail to declare the amount exceeding 10,000 euros when you leave Serbia, the customs authorities may decide to seize the undeclared funds on a temporary basis by drafting a special report.
The funds they seized will be transferred to a designated account in the National Bank of Serbia within 2 days from the offense date. Following that, further investigations will be conducted under the local laws.
Import/Export of Goods
If you have only your personal belongings with you when you enter Serbia, you are not required to pay any import taxes. Here are the items that can be brought to the country without any additional fees:
- Car fuel in the car’s tank
- General fiction and scientific literature
- Medical equipment and medicines for personal use
- Perfume (no more than 25 milliliters) and eau de toilette (no more than 50 milliliters)
- Cigarettes (up to 50), cigars (up to 10), tobacco (up to 50 grams), cigarillos (up to 25, each weighing no more than 3 grams)
- Strong alcoholic drinks or wine (no more than 1 liter)
If the quantity of items you want to import exceeds the amounts above, you will have to pay a duty that equals 10% of the item’s value.
Serbia is a great country to discover, so do not miss a chance! If you want to read more or discuss relocation, business setup, or opening a bank account, please click on the above link.