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How to Open a Bank Account in Serbia Without Visiting

Open a bank account in Serbia remotely, without residency requirements.

Overview

Open a bank account in Serbia without visiting is possible through a legally recognised Power of Attorney procedure that allows an authorised representative to manage every step of the process on your behalf. Serbia is one of the few European jurisdictions where both personal and corporate bank accounts can be established entirely remotely, with no requirement for the account holder to travel to Serbia, visit a bank branch, or register local residence at any stage. The authorised representative handles all interactions with the bank, including documentation submission, compliance coordination, KYC responses, and account activation. Once the account is active, the account holder receives full e-banking access, mobile banking, internationally accepted payment cards, SEPA connectivity for euro transfers at Eurozone speed and cost, and SWIFT access for multi-currency operations in EUR, USD, GBP, CHF, and other currencies. Whether you are an individual, a freelancer, an offshore company, or a business in the crypto, iGaming, or any other sector, the ability to open a bank account in Serbia without visiting makes Serbian banking accessible from anywhere in the world.

How to Open a Bank Account in Serbia Without Visiting

Remote Bank Account Opening in Serbia: How It Works

To open a bank account in Serbia without visiting, the process is conducted on the basis of a Power of Attorney (PoA), a legal instrument that authorises a representative to act before the bank on behalf of the account holder. This is not an informal arrangement or a workaround. The Power of Attorney procedure is fully recognised under Serbian law and accepted by Serbian commercial banks as a standard method of account opening for non-resident clients.

The account holder grants legal authority to a representative (typically a lawyer) who then handles every step of the process directly with the bank. The result is a fully functional Serbia bank account with e-banking, mobile banking, payment cards, and international transfer capability, established without the account holder setting foot in Serbia.

The Power of Attorney: What It Is and How It Works

A Power of Attorney for Serbian bank account opening is a formal legal document in which the account holder (the principal) authorises a named representative (the attorney-in-fact) to perform specific actions on their behalf before a Serbian bank. Understanding this document is essential for anyone looking to open a bank account in Serbia without visiting.

The PoA must be executed in a specific form to be accepted by Serbian banks. The requirements include:

  • The PoA must be notarised in the country where the account holder is located, before a notary public or equivalent authority recognised under local law.
  • The PoA must be apostilled (for countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention) or legalised through the appropriate diplomatic channels (for countries that are not).
  • The PoA must contain specific authorisations covering account opening, document submission, communication with the bank’s compliance department, and receipt of account credentials.
  • The PoA must identify the principal by full name, passport number, and address, and the representative by the same details.

 

In practice, the preparation of the PoA is handled by the legal representative in Serbia, who drafts the document to meet the specific requirements of the selected bank. The account holder then executes the PoA before a notary in their location, obtains the apostille, and sends the original document to Serbia. Once the PoA is in hand, the legal representative manages all subsequent interactions with the bank without any further involvement of the account holder beyond providing the initial documentation package.

Step-by-Step Process

The remote account opening process to open a bank account in Serbia without visiting follows a structured sequence:

Step 1: Initial Assessment

The process begins with a review of the account holder’s profile. For individuals, this includes citizenship, current country of residence, source of income, and intended use of the account. For companies, it includes jurisdiction of incorporation, ownership structure, business activities, and expected transaction profile.

This assessment determines whether the profile is suitable for Serbian banking and which bank is the best fit.

Step 2: Bank Selection

Not all Serbian banks offer the same terms, fee structures, or level of comfort with different client profiles. The selection considers the client’s nationality, the nature of their income or business, their currency requirements, and their expected transaction volumes. The right bank match is a critical factor in both the approval probability and the long-term stability of the banking relationship. 

Step 3: Documentation Preparation

The legal representative prepares the complete application package, including:

For individuals: passport copy, proof of address, source of income documentation, bank application form, and Power of Attorney.

For companies: corporate registration extract, constitutional documents, director and UBO identification, source of funds documentation, business description, bank application form, and Power of Attorney.

The PoA is drafted to the specific requirements of the selected bank and sent to the account holder for execution and apostille.

Step 4: Submission to the Bank

The legal representative submits the complete documentation package to the bank’s compliance department. This is done in person or through the bank’s designated channels, depending on the institution’s procedures.

Step 5: Compliance Review and Coordination

The bank’s KYC and AML teams review the documentation and may raise follow-up questions regarding the account holder’s profile, source of funds, or intended use of the account. The legal representative handles all communication with the compliance team, providing additional information or documentation as required. This compliance coordination is a critical part of being able to open a bank account in Serbia without visiting, as the representative manages all interactions that would otherwise require the account holder’s physical presence.

Step 6: Account Activation

Once the bank approves the application, the account is activated. The account holder receives:

E-banking credentials for online account management. Mobile banking application access. Internationally accepted Visa or MasterCard debit card (mailed to the account holder’s address or collected by the representative). Multi-currency account access (EUR, USD, GBP, CHF, and other currencies as applicable).

From this point, the account holder manages the account independently through digital banking platforms. The legal representative’s role is complete unless ongoing advisory services are required.

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Timeline

For individuals with straightforward profiles and complete documentation, account activation typically takes several business days to one week from the date of documentation submission to the bank.

For companies, the timeline extends to one to three weeks depending on the complexity of the corporate structure, the jurisdiction of incorporation, and whether enhanced due diligence is required.

The most significant variable in the timeline is not the bank’s processing speed but the speed at which the account holder provides documentation and executes the Power of Attorney. Clients who prepare their documents promptly and execute the PoA without delay benefit from the fastest processing times when they open a bank account in Serbia without visiting.

What You Can Do With the Account Remotely

Once active, a Serbia bank account provides full remote banking functionality:

Send and receive SEPA transfers in EUR (since Serbia’s SEPA membership in May 2025). Send and receive SWIFT transfers in EUR, USD, GBP, CHF, and other currencies. View account balances and transaction history through e-banking. Initiate domestic and international payments online. Manage multiple currency sub-accounts. Use the payment card for purchases and ATM withdrawals worldwide. Receive incoming payments from clients, employers, or business partners.

There is no requirement to visit Serbia for any ongoing account operation. All banking functions are accessible remotely, which is the core advantage for clients who open a bank account in Serbia without visiting.

Who Benefits from Remote Account Opening

The ability to open a bank account in Serbia without visiting is particularly relevant for the following profiles:

Digital nomads and freelancers who need a stable banking base independent of any single country of residence.

Crypto companies and blockchain businesses that face banking rejections in EU jurisdictions.

iGaming operators and gaming service providers that need stable European banking.

Offshore holding companies that need European payment connectivity without restructuring.

Russian citizens and Russian-owned businesses that face nationality-based banking restrictions.

US citizens who face FATCA-driven account rejections at foreign banks.

International companies from any jurisdiction that need a SEPA-connected European bank account opened without physical presence.

Planning to open a bank account from abroad?

If you need a functional European bank account without travelling, we can manage the entire process remotely, from documentation and Power of Attorney preparation through to account activation.

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Common Questions

Can I open the account if I have never been to Serbia? Yes. There is no requirement to have visited Serbia, to hold a Serbian visa, or to have any prior connection to the country. Anyone can open a bank account in Serbia without visiting, regardless of whether they have been to Serbia before.

Can I open both personal and corporate accounts remotely? Yes. Both account types are available through the PoA procedure.

Which countries can the PoA be executed in? The PoA can be executed before a notary public in any country. For Hague Convention countries, an apostille is sufficient. For non-Hague countries, the document requires diplomatic legalisation.

How long is the PoA valid? The PoA is typically drafted as a one-time authorisation specific to the account opening procedure. It does not grant ongoing access to the account.

Do I need to visit Serbia later to maintain the account? No. All account operations are managed through digital banking platforms. There is no requirement for periodic in-person visits.

Conclusion: European Banking Without Leaving Home

The ability to open a bank account in Serbia without visiting removes the single biggest practical barrier to international banking: the requirement to be physically present. For non-residents who cannot or do not wish to travel, Serbia’s Power of Attorney procedure provides a legally sound, fully remote path to a SEPA-connected, multi-currency, digitally managed bank account within a regulated European banking system.

Serbia’s non-participation in the OECD Common Reporting Standard, its acceptance of a wide range of client profiles including those routinely rejected by EU banks, and the full functionality of its digital banking platforms make it one of the most practical banking jurisdictions available to non-residents in 2026. The fact that you can open a bank account in Serbia without visiting, and then manage it entirely from abroad with the same functionality as if you were banking locally, is what makes this solution work for location-independent individuals and internationally structured businesses alike.

Planning to open a bank account from abroad? If you need a functional European bank account without travelling, our Banking and Finance team can manage the entire process remotely, from documentation and Power of Attorney preparation through to account activation. To discuss your specific situation, please get in touch with us directly.

40+ Jurisdictions

Clients served globally from over 40 jurisdictions.

100% Remote Process

All accounts opened via Power of Attorney — no client travel required.

Remote Professionals

Digital nomads, freelancers, remote consultants, developers, designers and other location-independent professionals.

Structured Process

Clear and structured process from initial assessment to account activation.

Need legal support? Get in touch — our team is here to guide you every step of the way. When the law gets complicated, we make things clear — and get things done.

Email:

inquiry@injac.rs

Tel:

+381 11 2458 945

Address:

Makenzijeva 17,

11000 Belgrade - Serbia

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Navigating Serbia’s dynamic business environment requires sharp legal insight and reliable support. Injac Attorneys at Law delivers tailored legal solutions across Corporate Law, M&A, Dispute Resolution, Employment, IP, Real Estate, Data Protection, and Tax. Count on us as your trusted legal partner in every transaction.

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inquiry@injac.rs

Tel:

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Address:

Makenzijeva 17,

11000 Belgrade - Serbia

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