Removal Companies from Germany to Serbia: Costs, Customs on Household Goods and the Process

Logistically, moving to Serbia is not a major undertaking: the route runs through Austria and Hungary or through Croatia, and many removal firms run this route regularly. The decisive difference from a move within the EU lies at the border. Serbia is not an EU member, and household goods are subject to customs duty unless an exemption applies. This is exactly where many people relocating get a surprise, because in Serbia the duty exemption for household effects depends on a residence status that newcomers usually do not have yet. This article explains which rules apply to your household goods, which transport options exist and how to compare quotes from removal companies in a meaningful way. The administrative steps before and after the move, from deregistering in Germany (Abmeldung) to your registered address in Serbia, are covered in the checklist for moving to Belgrade (in German).

Customs: Who May Import Household Goods Duty-Free

The rules are set out in the Serbian regulation on the type, quantity and value of goods on which no import duties are payable (Uredba o vrsti, količini i vrednosti robe na koju se ne plaćaju uvozne dažbine). For foreign nationals, Art. 4 is decisive. Under it, the following are exempt from import duties on their household effects:

• foreigners who have been granted Serbian citizenship,
• foreigners who have been granted asylum,
• foreigners holding approval for permanent residence (odobrenje za stalno nastanjenje).

Motor vehicles are expressly excluded. The exemption applies to household items imported within one year of obtaining the relevant status. The written application to customs must be accompanied by the Ministry of the Interior's confirmation of the status and a list of the household items, stating type and quantity, in two copies. One copy goes with the customs declaration; the second is stamped and returned to you so that you can bring in further items within the deadline.

The Problem with Temporary Residence

If you move to Serbia as a German citizen, you first receive temporary residence (privremeni boravak). This status does not appear in the exemption rule for foreigners. Under current law, you can generally only apply for permanent residence once you have lived in Serbia for at least three years without interruption on temporary residence. For the actual move, the exemption therefore comes too late for most newcomers. How the path from temporary to permanent residence works is explained in the article Residence permit in Serbia step by step.

What this means in practice depends on the volume:

Whether temporary admission or another relief could apply in your case, for example if you are posted by a foreign employer, can only be assessed individually. Please have this confirmed by a Serbian customs broker (carinski posrednik) or directly by the Customs Administration (Uprava carina) before you hire a removal company. How much duty and tax you actually pay on used furniture depends on the customs value that the authority assigns to second-hand items.

Special Case: Dual Nationals and Returnees

The situation is different for people with Serbian citizenship. According to the Customs Administration, Serbian citizens who have worked abroad for at least two years without interruption can import household effects free of duty when they return permanently: up to a value of 20,000 euros after two to ten years of work abroad, and without a value limit after more than ten years. The import must take place within one year of the return, and the items may not be sold, given away or pledged for three years. If you hold a Serbian passport, you should therefore have this route checked before the move.

Vehicles: Separate Rules

A car is never part of the exempt household effects. Whether, and for how long, you may continue to drive your German-registered vehicle in Serbia as a foreigner with temporary residence is something you should have customs clarify in advance; the rules on temporary import and on switching to Serbian number plates are complex. Many newcomers sell their car in Germany and buy another one in Serbia. What import, homologation and registration involve is covered in the article Buying a car in Serbia as a foreigner.

Three Transport Options Compared

With a self-drive move, the border becomes the real risk. A fully loaded van with furniture is not treated as personal luggage at the Serbian border. Without a prepared list and without arranged clearance, you may face long waiting times or be told to have the goods cleared through a customs broker. Before you set off, clarify at which customs office clearance will take place.

Depending on where you start in Germany, the distance is roughly 1,000 kilometres from southern Germany and considerably more from the north or west. For a full-service move, plan time for customs clearance in Serbia in addition to the driving time. The removal company will state the specific transit time in its quote.

What a Move to Serbia Costs

There are no reliable flat rates for this route. Costs depend mainly on five factors:

1. Volume in cubic metres. Most companies charge by volume or by loading space.
2. Starting point and destination address. Distance, no-parking zones, floor and lift in Belgrade. Older buildings without a lift in central districts make unloading noticeably more expensive.
3. Scope of services. Packing, dismantling and reassembly, storage.
4. Customs handling. Fees for customs brokers in Germany and Serbia and, where applicable, customs duty and import VAT on the load.
5. Insurance. Transit insurance covering the current value of your household goods.

Obtain at least three quotes, all on the same basis. Ideally, arrange a survey on site or by video so that the volume is estimated realistically. Quotes produced only over the phone without a survey often lead to additional charges.

The Question Many People Forget

Before you compare quotes, it is worth taking an honest look at your household effects. If the exemption does not apply, you pay transport, duty and tax on used furniture, even though you could buy many items new or second-hand in Belgrade. For a large share of newcomers, a small load with personal belongings, keepsakes and valuable individual pieces is therefore more economical than a full move. Furnished rental apartments are also common in Belgrade.

What to Look for When Choosing a Removal Company

• Experience with Serbia. Ask specifically how often the company drives to Serbia and which customs broker it works with in Belgrade.
• Customs handling included in the quote. Clarify in writing whether export clearance in Germany and import clearance in Serbia are included and who pays any duties upfront.
• Inventory list. A good company draws up a detailed list with you that can be used for customs and insurance.
• Liability and insurance. Ask for the liability limits and consider whether additional insurance makes sense.
• Delivery date and storage. What happens if your apartment in Belgrade is not yet ready to move into?

The Process in Seven Steps

1. Clarify your residence status and the customs question before requesting quotes.
2. Go through your household effects and decide what to take.
3. Draw up an inventory list with type, quantity and approximate value.
4. Obtain at least three quotes on the same basis.
5. Secure an apartment in Belgrade and clarify the delivery address, floor and access.
6. Coordinate transport, customs clearance and delivery.
7. On delivery, note any damage on the delivery note immediately and photograph it.

How Exgentum Helps

Exgentum is not a removal company. However, we support people relocating from Germany wherever the move meets Serbian authorities and procedures, with a contact who speaks English or German: in clarifying matters with customs brokers, with the apartment search and handover, with accepting the delivery if you are not yet on site yourself, and with the residence permit. What a relocation service covers overall is described in the article Relocation Serbia (in German).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring my household goods to Serbia duty-free as a German citizen?

Personal luggage, yes. Household effects shipped as a removal load are only exempt for foreigners once they have obtained permanent residence, asylum or citizenship, and then within one year. With temporary residence, this exemption does not apply.

When can I apply for permanent residence?

Under current law, generally after three years of uninterrupted temporary residence in Serbia. Only then does the one-year period for duty-free import of household effects begin.

Is a part load cheaper?

For small volumes, usually yes. In return, you have to accept longer and less predictable transit times. Even with a part load, your goods must be cleared through customs in Serbia.

Do I need a Serbian customs broker?

For a load shipped by a removal company, the company usually works with a customs broker in Serbia. If you drive yourself, you should arrange clearance with a customs broker in advance.

Can I take my car with me?

Vehicles are always excluded from the household effects exemption. Whether and for how long you may use your German car in Serbia is something you should have customs clarify before the move.