SERBIA or GEORGIA? The HARSH TRUTH for expats in 2026
📨 Telegram channel "Where to Live" — practical analysis of emigration, visas, residence permits, and the cost of living, 2 posts per day:
https://t.me/gde_zhit_YT
In March 2026, Serbia fined a Russian for a visa run for the first time. The rule hadn't been enforced for three years, but now it is. Georgia has required $30,000 insurance since January; without it, entry is denied and a 300 lari fine is imposed. 150,000 people have 4-6 months to make a decision.
I analyzed Serbia and Georgia across 6 axes—visas, cost of living, banks, residence permits, taxes, regulations—with real cases from 2026, without any lip service.
🔍 What's inside:
— A case from Subotica: How Serbia started counting 90 days out of 180
— Harmonization of Serbia with the EU: the window for Russians narrows until the end of 2026
— $30,000 insurance for Georgia: Three verification agencies + a real case with a double surname
— Belgrade vs. Tbilisi: Real prices in May 2026
— Why Niš is half the price of Belgrade
— Banks that open for Russians: Poshtanska, Alta, API in Serbia / Credo, Liberty, Basisbank in Georgia
— Bank of Georgia closed the accounts of over 200 Russians without explanation
— 5 paths to a residence permit in Serbia (paušal, LLC, real estate, work, self-sufficiency)
— 6 paths to a residence permit in Georgia + the trap of a $150,000 threshold for real estate
— Georgian IT Residence Permit: Requirements and Applicability
— Permanent Residence and Citizenship: 3 vs. 6 Years, 8 vs. 10 Years
— 3 Solution Scenarios
⚠️ Appointment Date: May 19, 2026. Visa regulations, prices, and tax thresholds are subject to change—check the latest information before your trip. This is a factual analysis, not financial or legal advice. The decision is always yours.
#emigration #movingtoSerbia #movingtoGeorgia #residencepermitSerbia #residencepermitGeorgia #relocation2026 #visaSerbia #insuranceGeorgia #banksforRussians #wheretogo